Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for March 28, 2017

yep… Leslie is flabbergasted with a jaw drop

Les obviously needs some time to process, during which time he would be well advised to keep his mouth shut.

Well, we all wondered how Les would react, and so now we know it’s stupid and caustic.

Les: open mouth, insert foot…

there are people that you can look at and swear that they are gay. and there are others who are, but don’t look it.

Les should wear an “I’m a sociopath” shirt… or something.

Hey… Mrs. Berger still doesn’t have her tea!

I know I can be accused of being a preaching I know better than you type personna, and I do not mean to be that way, but I think on the gay tip this is brilliant. I love her comment in the last panel, questioning whether she should wear a gay sign or something, I suppose women with really short hair need to wear a tag, that I am not gay for example. Being a light complected African-American I don’t have to wear a tag, and my brown-skinned wife definitely does not have to wear one, to be marginalized in people’s (white) perceptions. A gay person who does not conform to what so-called straight society thinks he or she should be has the same problem in reverse. No wonder it has been a long journey for gay people to come out. Anyway, I still hold out tiny hope that the foster child angle might actually be a doorway to even more surprises, but even if not, and I will admit to being all wrong, I think the comic is doing a fantastic job of dealing with this phenomena in this arc. And having bad by Les being the protaganist in the arc is really good. Those who are bored are missing the point. You know Luann has dealt with all kinds of issues in a gentle, funny way. NOw the difference is that these characters are young adults, not grammar or high school kids anymore.

Well, you might want to drop a hint when a male gives you expensive jewelry and invites you to an expensive dinner, seeing as how you were just bragging about how well you read people.But since Les is a designated villain, and Pru is a designated good guy, it’s cool, I guess.

Speaking as a member of the LGB community, I do appreciate this arc. Misunderstandings happen. It is uncomfortable when I have to tell an admiring woman that I am queer. Even if Pru was straight, Les handled things the wrong way, by manipulation and deception. Pru did nothing wrong except that she did not see Les; motives earlier.If anyone is interested in seeing how complex sex, gender and orientation are, check my blog at www.waycyber.com

The elephant is still standing in the room (Pru accepting the expensive gift and the expensive dinner). She may have a little fessing up to do. Her persuasion isn’t the point here. A girl doesn’t have to be gay to refuse a guy’s advances – it actually would have seemed more harsh if Pru was straight, and Les was forcing her to say why she’s not attracted to him…

What?? You didn’t know Pru was Gay, Les?? Everybody knew she was Gay. Heck Even Gunther knew She was Gay, but He didn’t tell You because He said He wanted You to make FOOL out of Yourself and.. …, Oops….,

Cookies on Valentine’s Day. There’s a heterosexual stereotype I haven’t heard before. Of course, I was secretly hoping Leslie would say, "I watch The L Word on TV and you don’t act like anyone on that show.

Mrs. Berger needs to wear a shirt or have a sign that says, “I’m still waiting for my tea”

I’m at a loss for words with this arc and confused by its intent, so when in doubt, go search for some ice cream. Vanilla, please, with chocolate syrup…….that cures a lot of problems.

Maybe brand “GAY” on their foreheads to save Les some awkward moments?

All things considered, I think Les is taking the news about as well as could be expected.

She forgot her badge.

But yes, would have thought Les would be majorly upset due to the cash he spend so far.

That last panel reminded me of this Steven Wright late-show appearance I saw a long time ago:

Late show host: “Have you ever seen a psychiatrist?”

Wright: "Hard to say. It’s not like they carry signs over their heads. "

As my pal Bugs would say about Les, “what a maroon”.

like my 83 year old mom just said about my child…ever since she got the gay…

WOW! 5 days and the ice still hasn’t melted.

Now she is just having fun with it.

“Well, yeah, that would help.”

Pru is very respectful bringing Les up to speed. Where will it go from here? Stating tuned.

Frankly, Les is taking this a WHOLE lot better than I expected him to!

Custom T-shirts are expensive Pru, you can save money by sticking a post-it note, on your vest!

Les was nearly a victim of a gay kiss when he was under the mistletoe waiting for Pru back at the New Year’s Eve party.

By the way, the reason the ice isn’t floating is that there is no tea or water in the glass.

This conversation could be done in two minutes in real life. Mrs B hasn’t been waiting all that long

Les is shocked Pru doesn’t wear her orientation on her sleeve (or on a shirt)? Who does he think she is, Batwoman?

Pru could have just said that she was not interested, she did not have to bring up her sexual orientation. She does not need to hand out a card, she just tells people.

Worst. Service. Ever. Both these clowns should be fired & replaced with people who care about customers.

it IS kinda odd that the ice cubes aren’t floating.

I’m outta here!!

Maybe this is another community that is suffering from lead in its water supply.

Well Pru, you could maybe wear maybe a rainbow bracelet, necklace or pin. Maybe a tattoo if you’re into that kind of thing. Most people know what the six-color rainbow symbolizes.

What is interesting to me about this arc is that Pru is accepting the friendship needs of Les, but not his romantic attention. Will Les throw away the gold that is being offered, in favor of an illusion?

Priceless… you don’t look gay

Well, if a server mistreats a customer, Ma Berger is the safest possible choice.

Pru: "And I forgot my “I’m GAY!” button, too – one of my ‘objects of flair’!"

.

Les just BARELY pulls off looking ‘innocently surprised’ – still looks stupid, though. This looked to be really headed downward at first, but at least Prudence looks mildly amused in the last panel. It’s LES-son time for Les!

I’m offended by the “looking gay” comment. How does somebody “look gay?”

8

.

For me, this is going quite well. Leslie, while proclaiming some rather “stock” ideas about his surprise and lack of awareness about Pru, is not getting angry and mean so far. He is surprised, and (unfortunately) like many folks who may not know many people who are homosexual, Leslie does end up saying some things that are over-the-top. But, the good thing is that I think Leslie is doing a reasonably job at working through his surprise here.

.

Now, of course, it is impolite to suggest that Pru should “let people know” as Leslie suggests. But, again, for a kid who was/is smitten about Pru, we have to acknowledge his surprise and realize his initial response here is far better than his past behavior suggested it could be. I think he is trying to understand, and I suspect Pru, with her very calm demeanor is going to be able to educate Les in some important ways here, and also remain friends. Is it Pru’s requirement to do this? No, of course not, but it is very much in keeping with her character’s demeanor that we have seen thus far.

.

I think Greg is doing an excellent job here showing a realistic situation of misunderstanding and ample potential for growth in Leslie. Luckily, Pru’s character is kind-hearted enough to be able to allow here to not be offended (or at least not extremely offended) at Les’ suggestions here, and she will be able to help Leslie grow.

Knowing Les, I’m surprised he said gay and not the q-word or “You’re a d*ke?”

Some people here yesterday were expecting Les to be disposing of Pru’s body by now…SHEESH

On the upside, now Les can pay his bills and stop taking grief from his uncle about it.

Time for Ma Berger to show up – looking for her tea. Ma hears Pru saying she’s gay. Ma says, “Oh no, Dear – you just haven’t met the right guy! You should go out with this nice young man…”

Disbelief was not what I was expecting.

So . . .

It does bother me that Pru accepted an expensive gift and a paid dinner. As a dating adult, she knows what those mean. She simply did not want to tell Les unless she had to, like today. She had no choice but to tell him about her sexual orientation. It tells me Pru does not like saying she is gay. She avoids it if she could. Today she no longer could avoid it, sweep it under the rug, whatever. She realized Les told everybody about his crush on Pru so she had to stop it. Sorry, Pru. Hopefully, today’s lesson will compel you not to avoid but to address right there when it happens, to nip it in the bud, and that will mean less problems.

They do have all sorts of Pride symbols one can wear – jewelry, shirts, hats, anything.

I once saw a woman wearing a t-shirt that read “Nobody Knows I’m A Lesbian.”

I honestly don’t care for this arc at all. Okay, so Pru is gay and Les gets his heart broken. He might be a jerk and a thief and what not but he’s human and too many people have been hurt because of situations like this.

If the arc was maybe a few days long, it would be funny but to drag it on like this…

These characters are cartoons, and I look at them as such. Paper puppets that Greg uses to tell a tale, and time has proven that he does it well. I might think that Pru reminds me of Lily Tomlin, but I don’t want to start thinking of other actors trying to assume the identities of these cartoon folk. Let them tell their story from their own world. Maybe Saturday Night Live could portray them in a sketch, that could be fun.

well, you could begin by wearing “sensible shoes”…and hey, no need out there to tell me that it’s just another stereotype

and oh , by the way can I have the necklace back, or at least the money I had to embezzle to buy it?

Evidently, today is “learn somebody is gay” day in the comic universe. Here is another comic that had the same theme. But is a lot more fun. http://www.girlswithslingshots.com/

Pink triangles make me break out in hives.

Les is reacting better than we (I) thought… surprised, puzzled, confused…..but no trace of anger or violence…… he had preconceived notions about gay persons and now he has to revise them….. this arc is about Les going up the learning curve of how to get along with people and make friends. I think he and Pru will eventually agree to just be friends and that Pru will go on being a stabilizing force in Les’s life……we hope…….

Some people wear their identity on their sleeve… (T shirt) ; others don’t.

And Les doesn’t LOOK stupid or dishonest! Maybe he should wear a tag! If Pru did go out with Les, then she could wear a “I’m with stupid!” blouse!

I’m gay and don’t look/act the part either. I am a mechanic by trade and generally am into things that would be associated with straight men: Hunting, fishing, cars, building things with steel and/or wood, etc. When I came out to close friends & family 18 years ago it was quite a shock. When I announced my engagement to my partner of 18 years last year, shortly after the Pulse terrorist attack, it was even more of a shock to not-so-close friends and Facebook acquaintances. The Pulse attack was actually what prompted me to “fully” come out – I wanted to show people that so-called “normal” people (people who don’t show the stereotypical traits) can be gay, and also as kind of a big middle finger to those who would try to surpress us.

I kind of take issue with the fact that he was clearly showing interest in her, and she didn’t pick up on it. Gifts, invitations to dinner… I’m gay and I think it’s useful to pick up on those clues from both men and women and drop the appropriate hints to let them off the hook gracefully.

I believed Les would react just as he has. They are going to be good friends. You watch.

“Isn’t there a lesbian version of the swishy male stereotype you could do so people will KNOW????”

Leslie is not very quick on the up-take, and he certainly is not a smooth and facile responder! But, slow as he is, at least he’s trying to process this new (to him) information. And Pru is too nice a person to continue tweaking him much beyond what she has already said. I think we may see a reconciliation of sorts—at least until Leslie’s criminal activities become known to the other Luann characters….

This seems really familiar to me. In another day and age, I can remember people saying, “Gee, you don’t LOOK Jewish.” (Think Paul Newman in “Exodus.”) But, gosh, how is a gay person supposed to look? Different somehow? Not everybody is a flamer. (Is that the right term?) Anyway, the arc is going fairly well, I think. Les is bewildered and Pru is actually doing a fairly good job of educating without being preachy. I guess.

tomorrow’s question: Will Mrs. Berger change her mind and want lemonade instead?

@SCHRODINGER’S DOG, Or change it to a "Long Island " tea.

We all should wear cards, like “I’m a total bore.”

I don’t know… In the last panel, Pru looks as if she is having fun with Les’ befuddlement.

Congratulations to Greg & Karen. This arc generated a lot of interest.

“You’re Gay!?”

A little louder, dude. I don’t think those in the parking lot herd you.

Why do I think Tiffany has a hand in this?