0037 - Patty Bouvier (Patreon)

Writing characters like these over 30 years is an interesting experiment. As I've indicated in other work, people tend to evolve over time, but these characters are frozen in one place for eternity. So I find it interesting which elements from their initial conception stick, and which fall to the wayside. 

Early in the show's lifespan - "Principal Charming" - we are told that Patty "chose a life of celibacy", which could lead an audience to believe that she is asexual, or at least aromantic. Little attention is paid to her love life, as the focus seems to be on Selma's dating exploits (and even that is rare.)

But over time this interpretation changes and Patty is revealed as a lesbian later. Cementing this is likely a response to the changing public attitudes towards LGBT+ representation. By the time Patty is openly gay, audiences would have been more receptive to this idea, so it is beneficial to the show to commit to this as an aspect of her character.

The exploration of Patty's character could have gone many different ways, but to make a member of the extended family gay, even if it comes a little late, should be applauded.

(Side note, Patty actually talks to Marge on the phone early on in the episode, but her appearance in our timeline marks the first moment she appears on screen, late in the episode.)

This post is part of my "Every Simpsons Character Ever" series. For a list of my rules in this project, click here.