A comedy group called Content Machine recently uploaded a video to Facebook about diversity hires that is filled with gay jokes with a few vague homophobic microaggressions thrown in for good measure.
The minute-and-a-half long bit kicks off with what appears to be a cis white straight male sticking his butt out toward the camera, peering over his shoulder, and declaring, “I’m Tyler and I’m gay for pay.”
“I said I’m gay on my cover letter to become a diversity hire,” he explains. “You know, with the current job market, and with companies asking applicants to self-identify who they prefer to have sex with in their cover letters, I figured I had to do what it takes to set myself apart and provide for my life.”
The next minute of the video is chock full of gay stereotypes about sporting cashmere sweaters, wearing briefs instead of boxers, and loving wine and charcuterie.
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“40% of people lie on the resumes already,” Tyler says at one point. “Job skills, past performance. What’s wrong with saying I’m a sloppy power bottom?”
We could go on, but we think you get the point.
Watch.
The video has received a range of responses. Some people find it hilarious. Others find it upsetting.
“Excellent, you’ve made me laugh out loud,” one person commented.
“This is risk-free comedy aimed at a religious audience,” someone else said. “Even the ‘edgy’ sketches follow the well-trodden path and do not deviate from the safe stereotypes.”
“That ass tho,” a third person wrote.
Personally, we think it’s just another boring example of milk toast hets thinking they’re being edgy. Content Machine’s Facebook page is actually filled with similarly stupid videos featuring the same group of actors.
Like this one about “coming out” to your family about being a realtor.
Or this one about a gay stylist named Maurice…
Now, we admittedly don’t know (or care to know, for that matter) much about the guys behind Content Machine or the actor featured in these videos. Maybe he’s queer. Maybe he’s not. Either way, he probably shouldn’t quit his day job.
Thad
It worked for George Santos.
AmblinGuy
I thought it was a rather humorous skewering of the ridiculous nature of quota-based hiring. It’s one thing to actively work to remove bias in hiring (which is a fantastic pursuit for any company), it’s another to simply ‘meet a number’ which only exacerbates tokenism and actually works against creating inclusive, equitable work environments.
I can imagine, however, that social media offense-fetishists are hardcore wanking to this opportunity to spin what is a satire into their newest oppression-orgasm.
dbmcvey
Who is doing quota based hiring for gay people?
Kangol2
Are you a chatbot that has been gorging on right-wing media, or did you really come up with “social media offense-fetishists are hardcore wanking to this opportunity to spin what is a satire into their newest oppression-orgasm” all by yourself?
AmblinGuy
Kangol2 – It’s weird, right? How putting words together can create meaning and convey one’s own thoughts. It doesn’t require AI (though ‘bots’) nor does it require ‘gorging on right-wing media’…it really can be a reflection of one’s own observations and experience.
Now, if by what you actually meant was “I do not agree with your observation” that’s perfectly fine, just say so.
dbmcvey
It would be funnier if it had any basis in reality.
Pier
All of its offensive and oppressive and repressive. I come here for hard hitting news and get this. Its all so horrid and Im shook and all that
dbmcvey
You come to Queery for hard hitting news?
Dymension
What?? Don’t be ridiculous. I’m as gay as they come and I come here to be entertained. I seriously can’t take much of this serious. This was pretty funny.
Brian
“milk toast” … omg, it’s milquetoast
blf49
The best comedy is often at the line of beyond the pale. In my experience, this was true for TW3 (That Was The Week That Was) through In Living Color. I like it. And when I am in the cross hairs as the target, I keep my perspective by thinking of the tiny grain of truth.
dbmcvey
Who is doing gay diversity hiring?
bachy
These guys are not very funny, but I kinda thought the Maurice: No 1 Stylist in Los Angeles skit has potential as a sendup of Queer Eye. The line “if I weren’t straight I’d be all over you like a hog on slop” made me squeal like a little girl.