The Gay Gladiator

by Adam Amel Rogers · 2010-03-02 11:02:00 UTC
Topics:

Modern entertainment focusing on historical happenings is almost exclusively heterosexist. The significant global history of same-sex attraction is very rarely showcased in a fair and accurate light.

I expected no different from the Starz original series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. The first few episodes were heavy on the sex and violence –- as most depictions of Ancient Rome are -– but I was still left to wonder where the gays were.

That is until it was revealed that Barca, one of the most powerful gladiators who also serves as a bad ass bodyguard/hit man, is in a relationship with Pietros, the adorable male slave.

The “gay” (a modern word used to bring understanding, even though the definition was not needed in this time of full acceptance) storyline started off as just sex, but over the last few episodes they have really shown how the two men are in love and are planning to buy their freedom so they can live a peaceful life together.

Barca and Pietros are so sweet together –- they have no problem being affectionate with each other and it is quite evident that the delicate Pietros calms and tames the giant trained killer. However, the most beautiful part of their relationship is the blasé attitude about it. The relationship was not questioned, criticized or made to feel any different or less than any heterosexual relationship. The other gladiators and the slave owner refer to Pietros as Barca’s “lover” –- a term they use without judgment or negativity.

SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals plot details from the February 26 episode of Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

Sadly, in true Roman fashion, Barca was brutally murdered after Pietros was tricked into revealing damning evidence about Barca’s botched hit job. The worst part being that they told Pietros that Barca purchased his own freedom and left Pietros behind.

While it is devastating that the Spartacus gay relationship has been decimated by murder and lies, it is also uplifting that none of the drama arose out of anti-gay sentiment. Hopefully Pietros will again find love, and other historical dramas will openly explore gay storylines as well.

Photo credit: Adam Amel Rogers

Adam Amel Rogers studies the impact of entertainment on society at the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center. Previously, he worked at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
PREVIOUS STORY:
Focus on the Family Flips Out
NEXT STORY:
Bullied high schooler convinces MPAA to change ‘Bully’ rating to “PG-13”

COMMENTS (8)

    Comment Policy

    · All fields are required to comment.

    [X]

    Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the campaign on Change.org. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments which, as determined solely in our discretion: (1) are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; (2) include content solely intended to personally attack the campaign creator, (3) are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them; and/or (4) violate our terms of service and/or privacy policy. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion. Please also be advised that: (A) we do not actively curate and/or monitor in any manner whatsoever the comments made on the Change.org platform, and (B) the creator of each campaign on Change.org may remove any comment at her/his/its discretion.