Happy Pride! 

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Welcome back to Lez Hang Out, the podcast that would never, under any circumstances, put a Baby Gay in the corner.

This week, Leigh (@lshfoster) and Ellie (@elliebrigida) hang out with Emmy-nominated TV writer (Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Amber Ruffin Show) and comedy performer, Jenny Hagel (@jennyhagel), and talk about why the 1987 hit movie-musical, Dirty Dancing, Should've Been Gay.

We thought we were big Dirty Dancing fans, but Jenny one thousand percent has us both beat. When this film was released, it was the talk of the school for anyone whose parents allowed them to see it. For Jenny and all the others whose parents said “no way”, sneakily watching Dirty Dancing at a sleepover was basically a right of passage (and a spiritual experience). Ever since the first time Jenny laid eyes on Jennifer Grey, Dirty Dancing has been playing on a loop in her head. 

Very few things need to be changed to make Dirty Dancing a canonically queer film. Francis “Baby Gay” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) is already a clear lesbian. There’s literally nothing more lesbian than rolling into an unfamiliar situation and deciding it is now your job to solve a crime (and then solving that crime!). Francis’ big clipboard energy is off the charts.

Patrick Swayze as “Johnny Castle" isn't exactly giving heterosexual either. His whole persona reads as more ‘butch lesbian’ than straight dude. Not to mention that just 8 years later, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar was released starring Patrick Swayze as the drag queen, Vida. It’s not exactly a leap for us to view this cult classic as a Dirty Dancing sequel where Johnny is finally living his truth. 

We know one thing for sure, Dirty Dancing Should’ve Been Gay.

Don’t forget to pick up your own copy of Jenny’s debut book of essays, “Advice No One Asked For” available now! 

Give us your own answers to our Q & Gay on Instagram and follow along on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and BlueSky @lezhangoutpod. Email us @[email protected]. Connect with us individually: Ellie Brigida (@elliebrigida). Leigh Holmes Foster (@lshfoster).

Support the pod by shopping small for your Pride #ootd at bit.ly/lezmerch & picking up our Lez-ssentials songs on Bandcamp.

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