If Saturday Night Live has felt a little more queer this season, it’s because of openly gay breakout star, Bowen Yang… and we love him for it!
Yang joined SNL in Season 44 as a writer before being promoted to a full-fledged cast member in Season 45. He was the show’s first cast member of East Asian descent, and the fourth openly gay.
Like a glass of ice water on a hot summer’s day, Yang’s been a breath of fresh air for the show (and the world) ever since, so it’s only natural he earn a spot on our 2021 Pride50 list.
In March, he stopped by “Weekend Update” to discuss the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States. He started the segment by light-heartedly encouraging people to share Instagram-inspired infographics like “Six ways to check in on your AAPI friends and tell them they’re so hot,” before taking a more serious tone.
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“If someone’s personality is ‘punch an Asian grandma,’ it’s not a dialogue. I have an Asian grandma. You want to punch her? There ain’t no common ground, Mama,” Yang said.
The segment went viral, with folks celebrating his ability to balance humor with commentary and brutal honesty.
But this isn’t the first time the Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens actor has kept it relentlessly real. In January 2020, he revealed to The New York Times that he underwent conversion therapy as a teenager after coming out to his parents.
Yang shared that his father set up the therapy sessions after discovering his AIM conversations with another man online.
Eventually, Yang stopped going to the harmful therapy, accepted his sexuality, and went on to great things. But it’s not just his realness people are falling for, it’s also his impeccable comedy chops.
For one thing, we’ll never be able to watch Titanic the same ever again…
Or forget that time he was 100% that trade daddy:
Not to mention, Yang’s pop culture podcast, Las Culturistas, which he co-hosts with fellow comedian and actor, Matt Rogers.
Aside from being hilarious and a must-listen for anyone with two ears, the podcast also includes the iconic “I don’t think so, honey!” segment, which gives guests one minute to rant about something within culture (and deserves its own place in LGBTQ history).
Whether exposing deep-seeded issues within society, breaking records, or pretending to be an iceberg, Yang has injected some much needed humor, heart, and unapologetic queerness into our lives at a time when it’s been needed most. His talent leaves us feeling anything but sinking, and for that, we can’t get enough.
Kangol2
He is a gifted comedian, and at times is laugh out loud funny. I also like that he is unapologetically gay and Asian American. His impersonation of Fran Leibowitz is one of his best and is a great tribute without being appropriative.
decampbell
No. No he’s not.
BoomerMyles
Too fem for me.
BLAKENOW
you are part of the problem not the solution. Love yourself more and stop judging others, even if he was more your type, with your ugly attitude he wouldn’t want you anyways. So knock it off with the labels.
DavidIntl
Sorry, but no. I am all for having LGBT representation in the cast of SNL as in the media in general, but Bowen Yang is doing more harm than good, because he seems incapable of acting. He is his same flamboyant self in every character he plays, whether it makes sense or not. So in some ways, I think he does more harm than good in terms of promoting LGBT acceptance in the mainstream. If, as a gay man and advocate, find his performances cringeworthy much of the time, how is that playing to the general audience?
Kangol2
So you have an issue with fem and flamboyance? That’s on you, not Bowen Yang. You state it clearly when you say, “If, as a gay man and advocate, find his performances cringeworthy much of the time”–that’s YOU. Equality and freedom do not mean confirming to hetero expectations; that’s not what people fought and died for. Also, your line about being flamboyant “[doing] more harm than good in terms of promoting LGBT acceptance in the mainstream” comes off as pure homophobia and effemophobia. You do realize that many anti-gay people don’t give a d@mn how butch and heteronormative you are, they still hate the very idea of gay people, right? And if gay men, as well as LGBTQ people, had worried about whether the gay activist pioneers who made it possible for you to live openly as a gay person were too “flamboyant,” we’d never have gotten anywhere. Seriously, think about how you’re confirming to cis-hetero/”straight” respectable expectations of gayness, and think again about letting gay people be themselves, however “flamboyant” they are.
DavidIntl
Kangol2, unfortunately you seem to have missed my point entirely. Of course, I support Bowen Yang, or anyone, being themselves. But he is meant to be an actor. Which means at times he is playing characters who aren’t flamboyant gay men. At which point he needs to be able to act. Just as the other cast members play characters who aren’t like themselves in real life. It is called acting.
man5996853
If his femininity and flamboyance offend you, that would make you an a$shole and not an advocate.
jrex100
“Like a glass of ice water on a hot summer’s day, Yang’s been a breath of fresh air . . .
Mixed metaphor.
twomen4u
As a retired pastor who not only went to church 3x a week when I was growing up, as pastor I had to be there in addition to holding a 40 hour per week job. Even if that clip was done tongue-in-cheek, I find it highly disrespectful of those that want to go. Apparently, she grew up Baptist as did I. Perhaps she needs to return to church at least once a week as she has drifted off course.
Jon in Canada
Is he funny? He most assuredly is.
Is he a National Treasure? No.
Is it up for debate? Absolutely.
National Treasure, like the word hero, is used far too often to describe people who, while noteworthy, are not as heroic/relevant as many want to believe. Is he an important part of continued queer visibility? That argument can be made; but please, don’t exaggerate his impact to the point of hyperbole, it helps no one.
As to those who say he’s too “femme” etc, know that you’re part of the problem where queer identity and progress are concerned. I present as masculine, but my hubby is effete and flamboyant and I dearly love him for it. To paraphrase Carlton from the Prince of Belair: “I have to jump the same anti-queer hurdles you do, so why are you tripping me up”? Food for thought.
Dixie Rect
Who?
johnny15
I love how you all think your opinion matters.