Is Red vs Blue's Donut Heterosexual?

I finished watching the long running fan-made web series, Red vs Blue, which parodies the Halo franchise and military life. There is one character on the show that got me thinking, and his name is Franklin Delano "Donut".

His sexual orientation remains dubious and has become a bit of a running gag. Some fans insist that he is without a doubt gay solely because he fits the gay stereotype - namely by wearing pink, acting girly, using sexual innuendos, and talking in a manner that would suggest feelings towards people of the same gender as himself. However there are some, myself included, who believe Donut may be a heterosexual or metrosexual who just happens to act in a manner that is consistent with the homosexual stereotype.

1.) It's Not Pink. It's Lightish Red: Donut adamantly refuses to acknowledge his armor is pink throughout the series. Insisting instead that it is "light red". He did not choose the color and is even genuinely confused when Griff and Simmons tell him that his armor is "pink", saying "you guys must be colorblind" and "why would they [command] give me pink armor?"

Throughout the first five seasons Donut is ashamed of it and keeps calling "dibs" on the armor of others. He later admits that at first he hated his "light red" armor, but has since grown rather fond of it, adding that it is very comfortable to boot. Church later backs this statement when he takes possession of Donut's body, commenting on how "cozy" it is. And just because someone happens to wear or like a color that society does not associate with their gender does not automatically indicate sexual preference.

2.) Sarge Said So: There is an early episode in which Simmons insists there was a tank in the area, but no one else has seen it. Sarge sarcastically teases Simmons, saying "I believe you. You saw and enormous tank that appeared miraculously... and your the only one that can see it. Just like signs of donut's heterosexuality." There seems to be some divide among fans and how they interpret this quote. Some insist that it just proves Donut is gay, while others say it further backs the argument that Donut is heterosexual but shows no signs of it. Not to mention the fact that the "invisible tank" which does exists, but was only seen by a few people (two - Simmons and Grif) is a good metaphor for the latter interpretation.

3.) Joke Ending: Alternate ending five "Where Are They Now?" of season five has text appear on the screen explaining what became of each of the Red vs Blue cast. "Donut married an exotic dancer named Tiffany. They have twelve children." appears onscreen. These alternate endings are meant to be taken in jest with each one getting sillier than the last. However, they remain true to the character's personalities.

4.) It's Always Been a Running Gag: The creators of Red vs Blue initially planned for the series to only run for eight or nine episodes. Donut's armor starts off as the "standard red" and his personality in these early episodes is drastically different. He is portrayed as logical and serious. The color change to pink was intended for the last episode as a joke. Matt Hullum became more involved as a writer after the series was extended and Matt has been described as someone who really "loves a joke" and just ran with it.

Watching the show from start to finish I saw the character start off as someone who was very grounded until the pink armor gag. Donut then took on a homosexual stereotype persona that become more pronounced and dramatic as the series went on. If you couldn't tell already, I am a bit annoyed with the recurrent "he wears pink and acts gay so that makes him gay" argument.

Donut is a great character with some funny moments and who has, sadly, taken a back seat in the most recent seasons. It is always great to have more diverse characters in any medium and if the creators of Red vs Blue ever do confirm Donut to be homosexual that would be completely fine. Though admittedly I would be disappointed - not because he is gay, but because he would be the gay stereotype. I am not saying that there can't be well written "gay stereotype" characters. I would just find it much more interesting for there to have been a character who for so long acted in a way and liked things that made so many assume he was of a particular sexual identity simply because he blatantly fit the cliché of such.

 

 

First posted to videogamegeek.com on January 1, 2016.