'Glee:' 'Born This Way' Episode Has Sparks Flying
Sparks between two male characters are garnering outrage from conservatives.
April 26, 2011— -- When "Glee" and Lady Gaga, two of conservatives' favorite targets, team up for the "Born This Way" episode tonight, you can bet there will be sparks flying -- on and off the screen.
On screen, the musical comedy-drama about a fictional high school will revisit its gay-bullying storyline, when the openly gay student Kurt Hummel, played by Golden Globe winner Chris Colfer, returns to the school, only to be bullied again by his classmate, David Karofsky.
But this confrontation has a happier ending. Karofsky, a closeted homosexual played by Max Adler, is expected to declare his sexuality to the world by singing Lady Gaga's "Born This Way."
And -- spoiler alert -- last week an extra on the set revealed via Twitter that Kurt would be named prom queen and Karofsky, prom king. Executive producer Brad Falchuk angrily tweeted, "Hope you're qualified to do something besides work in entertainment."
Off screen, tonight's show is already drawing other angry responses from conservatives.
"This is (creator) Ryan Murphy's latest depraved initiative to promote his gay agenda," conservative media critic Dan Gainor told ABCNews.com.
He called fictional William McKinley high school the "gayest high school in the history of mankind."
"This is clearly Ryan Murphy's vision of what growing up should be, not most of America's," said Gainor, vice-president for business and culture at the Media Research Center. "It's a high school most parents would not want to send their kids too."
Last month, "SNL" alum Victoria Jackson, now an outspoken political conservative, sounded off about a kiss between Kurt and another gay character, Blaine.
"Did you see "Glee" this week? Sickening!" Jackson wrote in her new column for WorldNetDaily.com. And, besides shoving the gay thing down our throats, they made a mockery of Christians -- again! I wonder what their agenda is? Hey, producers of 'Glee' – what's your agenda? One-way tolerance?"
Lady Gaga, to whom producers pay homage in tonight's episode, has also taken her share of hits recently. Last week Catholic League President Bill Donohue slammed her for scheduling the video release for her new single, "Judas," over Easter.
"It's all intentional," Catholic League President Bill Donohue told ABCNews.com. "It's done to take a few shots at Catholics. ... She has to make a quasi-political statement by releasing the video on Easter and tweaking Catholic sensibilities."