# Waylan Smithers- gay? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 30, 2002, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605 "2002-05-30T20:07:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/1 "2002-05-30T20:07:44Z")
Well, of course! I figured there’s been a few threads lately about minor Simpsons characters, so why not another? “I am partial to jolly ranchers.” “So this is your sick mother?” “Don’t do this to me, Waylan.” Smithers’ computer at startup: “Hello Smithers. You’re quite good at turning me on.” ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/2 "2002-05-30T20:23:18Z")
Mr. Smithers: “People like dogs, sir!” Mr. Burns: “Nonsense! Dogs are idiots! What would you say if I came into your house and started sniffing your crotch and slobbering all over your face?” Mr. Smithers: “If you did it sir?” ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/3 "2002-05-30T20:28:45Z")
The first Hint they ever gave (Treehouse of Horror III) As far as I remember I think Women and Seamen don’t mix Burns: We know what you think ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/4 "2002-05-30T20:42:33Z")
“I don’t believe they allow photography at this resort.” ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/5 "2002-05-30T20:53:02Z")
Smithers isn’t gay. He’s burnsexual. ---
**Author:** ![Spudo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Spudo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spudo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/6 "2002-05-30T20:59:36Z")
Smithers: So, this is your"sick mother"? John: Don’t do this to me Waylon ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/7 "2002-05-30T21:00:01Z")
I’m with you, **Ender**. Smithers may be gay, but the more important facet of his personality is that he gets off on such a powerful (in some senses) and cold person being so completely dependent on him. If Burns were an evil old woman instead of a man, Smithers would be just as infatuated. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/8 "2002-05-30T21:06:36Z")
**Mr. Burns** “You see me as a god, don’t you, Smithers?” **Smithers**" Absolutely, sir." **Mr. Burns** “And you’d get down on your knees in front of me?” **Smithers** “Boy, would I!” ---
**Author:** ![A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/46a35a/32.png) [@A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_wizard_song_for_thee)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/9 "2002-05-30T21:10:05Z")
Wait, if Smithers isn’t gay, why does he, in the episode in which Homer takes over for him while he’s away, vacation at what is obviously a gay resort? ---
**Author:** ![downbylaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@downbylaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/downbylaw)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/10 "2002-05-30T21:16:24Z")
smithers is as gay as they come. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/11 "2002-05-30T21:20:29Z")
kingpengvin wrote: > [@](#): > > [Smithers:] I think Women and Seamen don’t mix > > Burns: We know what you think Mr. Burns said this? I thought one of the ongoing gags was the Burns was totally oblivious, both to Smithers’ affections for him and to his being gay. (And probably to the very existence of homosexuality, for that matter.) ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/12 "2002-05-30T21:23:07Z")
Burns: Mothers, lock up your daughters! Smithers is on the town! Smithers: Uh. (looks away) Let’s not forget the closet float in the gay-pride parade. “We’re queer, we’re glad, but don’t tell mom and dad.” The more intiguing question is whether that was Marge’s sister in there with him. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/13 "2002-05-30T21:50:49Z")
A writer for the Simpsons that gave a talk at my school (how cool is that?) confirmed that Smithers was gay. In fact, he seemed to take it for granted that everyone was aware of this fact. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/14 "2002-05-30T21:51:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\*kingpengvin wrote: > Mr. Burns said this? > I thought one of the ongoing gags was the Burns was totally oblivious, both to Smithers’ affections for him and to his being gay. (And probably to the very existence of homosexuality, for that matter.) \*\* It was during a Halloween episode, and therefore not regarded as canon. Yes, I am a loser. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/15 "2002-05-30T21:56:49Z")
Marge’s sister, Patty, has been hinted-lesbian, saying “That’s girl stuff!” dismissively and being photographed coming out of Belle’s burlesque house. Then again, she likes MacGyver, so all bets are off. [This site](http://www.snpp.com/guides/smithers.sexuality.html) throws some light on the issue. The earliest possible hint of Smithers’ sexuality was in the seventh episode: “The Tell-Tale Head”. When Burns is overcome with emotion, he tells Smithers that he loves him. Smithers replies, “The feeling is more than mutual, sir.” ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/16 "2002-05-30T22:10:36Z")
“Oh, who am I kidding? The _boathouse_ was the time.” ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/17 "2002-05-30T22:18:29Z")
In a flashback to Homer doing gymnastics, Waylan is the announcer: “Enough of the women, now let’s bring out the men!” ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/18 "2002-05-30T22:21:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\*kingpengvin wrote: > Mr. Burns said this? > I thought one of the ongoing gags was the Burns was totally oblivious, both to Smithers’ affections for him and to his being gay. (And probably to the very existence of homosexuality, for that matter.) \*\* If I’m not mistaken, there was an episode with the following exchange. Smithers: Mr. Burns, I love you. Mr. Burns: Great, thanks for making my last moment on earth uncomfortable. It might have been the one with the comet, but I’m sure I heard that exchange. ---
**Author:** ![Protesilaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Protesilaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Protesilaus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/19 "2002-05-31T03:23:33Z")
**Stuffy** , I think that’s from the episode where Homer saves the plant from a meltdown with “eeny meeny miney moe”. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605/20 "2002-05-31T03:46:39Z")
In “TV Guide,” it was noted that, in Smithers’ first appearance, there was originally a line about him having a wife and children, but the line was cut. Not that having a wife and kids would AUTOMATICALLY preclude him from being gay, of course. And it’s not like the show pays that much attention to rules anyway – this IS the show with children who haven’t aged a day in a dozen-odd years. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waylan-smithers-gay/111605.md?page=2)