Between Glee, One Direction and Lady Gaga, there’s no shortage of pop culture turing America’s upstanding, potential vag-loving boys gay. Way back in the day — like, the ’90s duh — kids had to decode a bit more if they wanted to become degenerates. Thank god so many of us did.
Here are 26 things that turned ’90s kids gay, one fore each year someone born in 1987 has been alive.
1. Zack Morris
Who among us didn’t have a crush on this Saved By the Bell leading man child? Even better that Mark-Paul Gosselaar certainly doesn’t mind.
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2. Nickelodeon Gak
Getting this sticky, sploogy gak all over you would become a lifelong pursuit.
3. X-Men
A bunch of societal misfits who band together and form strong community bonds. Then fight bad guys in their underwear. Enough said.
4. Water Snakes
Where to begin? If you could manage to keep one of these in your hands for more than 8 seconds, you’d be prepared for the slipperiest of situations life could throw you.
5. The SoloFlex Infomercial
This revolutionary fitness product that promised a “fast, smooth pump” (seriously) should have come with a disclaimer: may cause wet dreams in questioning youth.
6. Skip-it
The greatest thing of all was there was a counter on that god damned ball.
7. The Blue Ranger
Now-out actor David Yost (forever dreamy blue Billy) says he was harassed on set for being gay. Must have made for some uncomfortable moments in the Megazord.
8. Pretty Pretty Princess
Anyone with a sister who didn’t sneak into this game to put on ALL the jewelry at once is a downright liar.
9. Push Pops
Not so subtle, marketing masterminds.
10. Leonardo DiCaprio in Growing Pains
The same show that launched Leo’s career also left us to deal with homophobic has-been Kirk Cameron. We’ll take that deal any day.
11. Little Nemo
A sweet, nightmare-prone boy goes on a quest in his pj’s to assuage his daddy issues. Oh, and there are like a million puffy rainbow clowns along the way. If you have some time to kill and want a heavy dose of nostalgia, the entire film is available on youtube.
12. Tomogatchi
If you currently have a dog that could fit in a handbag, chances are you had at least a few of these dangling from your JanSport.
13. Ouija Boards
You may have asked if Brittany (or Stacy, Ashley, Morgan or Alexis) had a crush on you when your friends were over, but when they left you made the same inquiry about Tyler (or Justin, Kyle, Cody or Cameron). Also, one word: Coven.
14. Calvin Klein
Kids in the ’90s couldn’t be caught dead rocking tighty-whities in the locker room. That sure didn’t stop them from dreaming.
15. Bananas in Pajamas
They came down stairs, in pairs, chasing teddy bears, ’cause on Tuesdays they tried to catch them unawares. Soo what you’re saying is…there’s a Tuesday night bear party at The Eagle I should be going to?
16. Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Bright
One rode a unicorn and the other an organic tricycle, but their impacts couldn’t have been more similar.
17. WWF
All the theatrics of a Liberace concert and the skin of an A&F quarterly, while still a socially acceptable obsession for a 10 year old boy.
18. Glitter Magic Wands
Casting spells on bullies worldwide.
19. The Angry Beavers
Subliminal cartoon programming to infiltrate young impressionable minds.
20. Tinky-Winky
Cute bag, girl.
21. Sky Dancers
Countless hours of entertainment and a valuable lesson in twirling.
22. Trolls
There’s a pink one, and a green one, and a blue one and a yellow one. And they’re all pretty gay.
23. The Gromble from Ahh! Real Monsters
Femme voice? Check. Phallic nose? Check. Two pairs of matching red high heels? Check. Favorite character on the show? Absolutely.
24. Barbie Power Wheels
You were the envy of the cul de sac once you got behind the wheel of this bodacious ride.
25. Disney Princesses
You can sing every word to Part of Your World and A Whole New World, and wished for a world where your dress-up box had Jasmine’s cute two-piece.
AND FINALLY….
26. THE INTERNET
Kids in the ’90s had the unique, insane experience of witnessing the birth of the information age as they were coming of age. We’re talking creepy AOL chatrooms, secret online boyfriends, and all the internet porn your 56k modem could handle. Talk about a game changer.
balehead
These don’t turn kids gay…just the sad queens….
hudson
lol
these didn’t turn us gay, but they certainly held a certain intrigue to us then youngsters trying to find ourselves.
the other Greg
Oh I’m sure Kirk Cameron turned some boys gay. How he must hate that. 🙂
Kieran
I think you need to speak for yourself Dan. You seem to confuse being gay with being an effeminate flower. Not all boys who grew up gay wanted to put on “Pretty Princess” jewelery or ride a “Barbie Power Wheels”. Stop perpetuating homophobic stereotypes.
Black Pegasus
I remember fantasizing about the soloflex models lol. Still can’t believe how ridiculously expensive those machines were back then.
Cagnazzo82
Um… How did you manage to leave Baywatch off the list?
Lol, those shirtless abs running on the beach definitely had me questioning a few things 🙂
(Also, I would give a nod to Xena and Buffy for the les side. Although I was a big fan too)
crazycorgi
Here are 26 things that turned ’90s kids gay, one fore each year someone born in 1987 has been alive
Wow, I guess that the right-wingers have been correct all along, I guess the “liberal media” is responsible for indoctrinating and recruiting people into the “gay lifestyle”. Here all this time I thought that I was born gay, but I guess I was deluding myself, I was a victim of the “gay agenda”.
I find it extremely insulting to read words such as these on a website that is supposed to be gay positive suggesting that kids in the ’90s were “turned gay”. I would expect to see something like this on a site for One Million Moms, or any other GOTP website.
Nice to see that Queerty has been hijacked by the right-wing propaganda machine that insists that being gay is a choice, or that we are somehow recruited.
Homophile
I see all the self hating queens are out in full force this morning.
zaneymcbanes
Great list!
BBellairs
@crazycorgi, I think you need to look up the word “satire” in the dictionary. While you are at it, look up “sarcasm” too!
Chris
I know it’s a joke but I also don’t think using that wording is very smart… Not everyone can get sarcasm from text.
😀 I also hate perpetuated stereotypes, maybe it’s just me but calling something “pretty gay” is insulting and reminds me of high school.
Ps: No Furbys???
Oh and “for” is misspelt… Unless it was intentional 🙂
Rant over.
Captain proton
I don’t know why, but I’m getting an urge to buy one of those glitter wands (which are still readily available on Ebay)
Tracy Pope
Funny list.
I broke one of those water snakes trying to, well, you know… 😉
Niall
WWF definitely. It was actually one of the first things that made me realize my appreciation for the male form, even though today, I can’t stand the WWE and I’m not so much into guys with the bulky, muscley, wrestling build
Stache1
I’m surprised they didn’t pick Mario Lopez from Saved by the Bell. Maybe it became more obvious later on.
NateOcean
Last, but not least, “AOL”.
And remember, without AOL, we wouldn’t have AOL-inches!
thesmart1
Yo, I spent a lot of time with the Solo Flex dude. I was in love with him.
boring
Nostalgia is gross for people who realize they’re going to die so they have to retreat in their childhood. Just about everything listed here is genuine garbage not worth revisiting.
Including the Internet.
gaym50ish
How could they leave out the Abercrombie and Fitch catalog?
KittyLitter
I thought water snakes were sex toys. The predecessor for fleshlights.
JohnnyCorby
Didn’t the Solo Flex dude end up doing gay porn? Or was it the Nordicflex gold guys?
Tracy Pope
@JohnnyCorby: Do you mean Scott Madsen? He was the original model – and apparently homophobic. I think it was different models in the 90s though.
I don’t know if the machines really worked well but the infomercials were way more interesting than strawberry shortcake commercials!
ppp111
@Tracy Pope:
I tempted to say the second model is Randy Potter but I’m not certain. Scott Madsen was in the mid to late 80s. I know there was a second model in the 1990s.
Respect4all
@Kieran:@crazycorgi: @boring: Get a sense of humor. This is obviously meant to be funny. You don’t have to appreciate the humor, but don’t take it so seriously. Lighten up.
BillZaumen
#20: Teletubbies? Remember when Jerry Falwell was excoriated for suggesting that was “gay propaganda”? Why include it on this list and feed that ridiculous sentiment?
Stache1
@BillZaumen: Yeah, lets not show the Teletubbies lest they think we really were using them for gay PR.
Like it or not they were part of the 90’s and who gives a sh** about what JF thought. The joke was on him.
Mezaien
THE ONLY THING THAT MAKE ME HOMO, IS FUCKING CHRISTIANITY.
Bob LaBlah
Though I was in my 20’s at the time the show was on (Saved by the Bell) I always felt Mark-Paul Gosselaar got pushed to the side in favor of that little Mexican queen Mario Lopez. I used to pray there would be an episode with him wearing a pair of tight speedo’s.
In my day Casper the friendly ghost, Doctor Smith and Uncle Arthur (along with Maude) had a lot to do with me realizing I was gay. The negative comments from my sanctimonious family also helped as well.