WATCH: The DADT-Repeal Soldier Comes Out To Pizza Delivery Guy
Are You Surprised—the YouTube handle for Randy Phillips, the gay military airman who came out to his dad and mom soon after the day “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” got repealed—has just posted a new video where he comes out to the person who really matters most—his pizza delivery guy.
OK, so it’s not actually Phillips—it’s Fausto Fernos, the editor of Feast of Fun, sporting a tight t-shirt and a blonde dye job (nice look, Fausto). Only this time, Phillips puts the pizza guy on the defensive right before the pizza guy places his own order for Phillips to deliver a little extra beef. Cut us off a slice of that!
Hmmm….. perhaps I’m just being a curmudgeon, but this just seems entirely in poor taste to me. What the soldier did was important, and even brave. Trivializing and making fun of it just feels rude, even irresponsible.
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@tenshinigami
I see where you’re coming from…but even though it’s cheeky, I don’t think it’s disrespectful. I think it comes from a place of love and real sympathy for the kid. Randy Phillips, the soldier it’s based on, has even favorited the youtube video. His comment: This is the best thing? I have ever seen…I hope you get a billion views.”
And I think it speaks to an experience shared by a lot of gay guys. The first person you come out to: it’s such a nerve wracking, terrifying experience. But the sense of relief afterwards is such a profound feeling. And then when you come out to a second person, itss easier and the feeling of well being increases. Coming out gets easier and easier, and the sense of self acceptance grows and grows. That was my experience coming out in my late teens. I think I got a little addicted to coming out, now that I think about it. It’s very empowering. Coming out to strangers over the phone? I don’t think it’s such a huge leap.
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Thanks for the compliments! So flattered.
Marc and I made the video to celebrate the bravery of Randy Phillips (and all the other LGBT soldiers) coming out. We also wanted to poke fun at the ridiculous notion that anyone has to come out at all. In a perfect world, love would be the only thing that matters.
And of course we made the video with hopes that Randy himself would notice, and will come on our podcast, Feast of Fun to share his experience in detail. Stay tuned…
One thing that this video has really illuminated to me is how difficult it is for some of us in our community to smile, laugh and find the humor in the challenges we face every day. There is a lot of pain, and making a comedy video for gay folks about gay folks is really hard.
But why bother coming out as gay when you can’t smile, be gay, joyful or happy?
When I came out, it was so SO nerve wracking, but then it got easier. Now sometimes I find it a bit odd when I have to come out in every day life, to the mailman, pizza delivery guy, or neighbor. It’s none of their business, but at the same time I do want them to get to know me, and being gay is an important part of who I am and my culture.
But then again, if you have to explain the joke, it ruins it. We had a good time, and so did Randy Phillips. Randy and I are going to get together and make a pizza. Want to watch? Be nice.
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Just because he says he support the original video and coming out doesn’t make this less stupid or funny.
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The idea is funny and theory. The execution … not funny. They needed to shave 5 minutes off.