wearetheyoungandtherestless:

clstone:

sseureki:

Because that’s the way the story of the gay guy and the straight girl is always told, isn’t it?
He broke her heart. Poor her. But you were just being who you are.

I’m not sure if many watched this show back in the aughts, or are watching its reboot, but this scene was a terrific moment. A perfect moment not just for a show about the LGBTQIA demographic, but about how often its portrayed in media that the straight person in a gay coming-out story is the victim.How in a lot of these kinds of stories, it’s the straight person that comes at the gay person as hurt, as how they’re betrayed, as how they’re damaged and their reputation matters in the narrative. This episode, and this scene in particular destroys all of that and focuses on that person realizing that, yes, your life is changing as a result of your partner’s decision to come out and your relationship sexually and lovingly is over, you likely do NOT comprehend all that your friend has been, and is still dealing with on the other side.
No queer/trans/bi/etc person should ever have to apologize solely for hurting someone because of their sexual orientation. This scene hit me so goddamn hard this week, and trying to explain this feeling to friends this past weekend had me ultimately crying and sobbing to help them understand that coming out and coming to terms with what your life may now hold is one of the most difficult things they will do.
Even if you have no interest in Will and Grace and never watch another moment or episode, please understand just how important what is being said here is for millions of people.

Transcript:

Will: We don’t have to talk about it.

Grace: No, we do. I have to. You were tortured. And I never even thought about that. When I got to the part where you write: “Grace, I don’t want to be gay. I just wish I was normal.” …Oh my god, Will. That broke my heart.

And then the part where you said that you were thinking about hurting yourself? I mean, is that true? (Pause) Sweetie?

Will: It was a long time ago.

Grace: Okay, look. This might be 30 years too late. But I just got smart in the last hour. (Audience laughs) You’re right, I didn’t think about your pain. I only thought about mine, because that’s the way the story of the gay guy and the straight girl is always told. Isn’t it?

He broke her heart. Poor her. But you were just being who you are, and you were scared to death that the world was gonna find out and hate you for it.

Will: Wow….You did get smart. (Audience laughs)

Grace: And you were right, it is why I never say “I’m sorry.” And I have been playing the victim. So… I am going to say it now. (Pause)

Grace (emotionally): …Doesn’t it feel good? (Audience laughs)

Will: Still haven’t said it. (Audience laughs)

Grace: I didn’t? Oh! I am sorry. I am sorry for not being there with you. I am sorry, Will. I am sorry for not being there when you needed me most. And I am so, so sorry that I never said this to you before now.

The fact that you are a gay man did not ruin my life. It made it so much better.

Will: Mine too.

(They hug and Audience applauses)