If you grew up watching tv in the 70s and 80s like I did, you are very familiar with the “animagic” works of Rankin and Bass: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964), Santa Claus is Comin to Town (1970), and my eternal favorite, The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) with Heat Miser and Snow Miser.
Well, I did an article exploring what the hell was wrong with the “Island of Misfit Toys” doll from Rudolph (in short: she’s a nut job) and now I have finally found an answer to the age-old question of how fantastically gay Rudolph is. Did you know he was voiced by a woman (they changed the spelling of her name from Billie to Billy in the credits to hide it?) Even his nose is flaming!
Shout outs to Bill Felty and his piece “Rudolph the Big Gay Reindeer” and J. Christopher Arrison and his fab article “Coming Out in Christmastown:”
“In recent years, perhaps no group has identified more with Rudolph’s central story than the gay community, many of whom believe that the special’s creators, Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass, intentionally created an allegory depicting their struggle for acceptance. Rudolph exhibits sheer flamboyance. He was born this way and should not need to conceal his true self.
With his grand swoop of blonde hair and delicate speaking voice, Hermey is a closeted elf desperate to follow his heart’s desire amongst belligerent peers.”
Well, don we now our gay apparel- I knew it!
They need to change the lyrics to:
Then all the reindeer loved him, as they shouted out with cheer,
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, you’re our favorite Christmas queer!
And J. Christopher? Needs to tackle how gay Heat Miser and Snow Miser are next.
Read the whole article Coming Out in Christmastown.
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