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James' Debatable Sexuality

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fruitsmoothierevenge

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You knew it was coming. XD

So, it's pretty much agreed that in the Japanese version of Pocket Monsters, Kojiro is very much straight. He's even got a song, "Lucky Lucky", to back it up. (OK, maybe that was a dream. Still...)

But in the American version, James seems to be a bit more confused. Thanks to the writers, James has said some a lot of comments with blatant homosexual innuendo, especially in the last few episodes.

What do you think?

No bashing, nothing offensive, debate encouraged!

Maybe I'll start a running list of quotes soon...
 
Despite some lines 4kids has James say, I think it's more of a running gag than anything else.

I wouldn't really say James is gay, maybe bisexual at the most. He's always had a "feminine" quality to himself, especially with the roses and the crossdressing.

But I honestly don't believe 4kids WANTS James to be gay, they're just poking fun out of his character.

So yeah, I'd say he's bisexual at the most and even that is pushing it. I still have yet to see 4kids have James say anything that meant he was only interested in men.

Notice how everytime James says a line that's questionable it's meant to be comic relief more than anything else? Makes me believe that it IS just done for humour, and isn't meant to be taken seriously.
 
Before I knew about how James in a pretty boy in the Japanese verson. I always thought he was bi. I did for years.
 
Scott85 said:
So yeah, I'd say he's bisexual at the most and even that is pushing it. I still have yet to see 4kids have James say anything that meant he was only interested in men.
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Well, he's had some lines here and there. Remember when he gave a shoulder rub to that bruiser in the Tyranitar episode? But those lines could also be construed as kissing up.
 
Interesting "asexual at the moment" theory, Blackjack. Although anyone that crazy could scare a lot out of a person.

Personally, I don't see him as being gay, or even that bisexual. I completely understand the comedic factor of the lines they give him. But it's getting odd. It's not even once every few episodes. They've got it every week now. But I'm not quite sure it's getting old...

Does anyone else know if they have innuendo in other foreign language versions? I thought that most of the other countries translated from the English script.
 
I think Kojiro is straight, but James is bi. The only reason I don't think James is gay is because he's fallen for females before. I seem to recall someone telling me that the voice actor that portrays James (gah! Can't remember names...) even tried to make him seem more flamboyant and stereotypically gay. Can't vouch for the reliability of that person though, especially since I don't even remember who said it x_X.
 
I said before, and I'll say it again:

As far as I'm concerned, James is not gay. All people, male or female, tend to be either dominant or passive, or a combo of both. In which case James is definitely teh passive one, while Jessie is mostly dominant. All humans have a bit of, um, "male" characteristics, and "female" characteristics. Some of us have so many of each it makes us pretty gender neutral, but we still tend to go one way or the other (i.e. in relationships). And, since sensitivity, style, sweetness and passiviness are usually seen as "female" thing, James is naturally thought of as homosexual.

Note that male and female it's in quote because it is only assumed that these characteristics are one gender ore the other [i.e. who the hell said playing with cars was a guy thing, etc.], plus they are usually done by one gender or the other [i.e. ladies often/usually like dresses, thus wearing a dress is seen as a female thing].

It's interesting how people have this concept that homosexual women are masculine, while homosexual men are femenine, yet there are homosexual women more feminine than other straight women, and homosexual men who are more masculine that straight men.

Which proves my theory that sexual preference does not influence whether one is the dominant or passive one in a relationship, and that James is as straight as other male characters.

Does anyone else know if they have innuendo in other foreign language versions? I thought that most of the other countries translated from the English script.
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AHA! GOOD POINT! If people heard Ash's voice in the French dub (which I've seen), they'd say he's not straight! Lol!

Yeah, me has heard James. Sounds fine, like any other man speaking French ^^. Although, most people would say that French makes one's voice "gay" or "homosexual-sounding" because of the way words are said, etc. In fact, many males think the French language is "gay". Which leaves me thinking how gender-obsessed we are. Now even languages are "straight" and "gay". Gooid Lord!, as Joseph would say X_X. (Don't ask :-D).
 
I don't think it is about being dominant or passive. No one has suggested that Jessie is a homosexual. But with James, you have the stereotypical flamboyancy, along with all the innuendo.

If you want proof that James is not gay, just look at "The Ghost of Maiden's Peak" or "We're No Angels". James has shown attraction towards women, but not men. And if Kojiro is straight, then James can't really go very far towards homosexuality.
 
FabuVinny said:
I don't think it is about being dominant or passive. No one has suggested that Jessie is a homosexual. But with James, you have the stereotypical flamboyancy, along with all the innuendo.

If you want proof that James is not gay, just look at "The Ghost of Maiden's Peak" or "We're No Angels". James has shown attraction towards women, but not men. And if Kojiro is straight, then James can't really go very far towards homosexuality.
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Jesse's sexuality totally depends on who she can make to do things for her in Scary!mode. And I'm pretty sure a few passionate Tatushippers remain alive on the Intarweb. Maybe not the writers whom have suggested it, but I'm sure there are still those who think of her as nothing more than the butchest-yet-classiest lesbian aliiive~

Furthermore, I've seen TGoMP (I've even got it recorded somewhere) and I don't think that episode is proof at all into James being straight. It neither adds nor takes away from the argument.

Now, for the interest of debate, I would come out and say, "hell /yes/, James is gay! And this is why:", but I neither have the energy, or the desire to be the one to do it (not to mention it's not something I'm all passionate to defend). I don't care one way or another about his sexuality, unless he's part of a focus in my writing. If I wish him gay, he'll be gay; if I want him bisexual, he'll be bi; if I want him straight--

You'll have to convince me pretty hard. ^_^;; One episode in 400+ doeth not make a man yearn only for the flesh of women when innuendo of American script says otherwise. I haven't seen We're No Angels yet, so I can't exactly tear it apart with reverse logic (because it does go both ways, as do characters), but it doesn't matter in the end anyway. His sexuality is irrelevent and more importantly, an opinion. *shrug* And being made a stereotype or not, I think not. While it may be Stuart poking fun at James' feminine-ness, I like looking forward to it, and not because it makes me feel like homosexuality subtly resides in the Ultimate Anime 4 Kids. XD James is just so cute when he squeals.
 
Well, we know for a fact that Kojirou is at least a little bit interested in women - although since he's only ever had three crushes total in the entire history of the show, one of which was under the influence of freaky voodoo magic, I don't consider that anything like evidence enough to confidentally declare him straight. He doesn't seem to have much of a sex drive at all.

James, on the other hand - my God, SO gay.
 
That's 3 women to no men.

It isn't as if everyone else is crushing all over the place!
 
Yeah, I mean other than Brock, the other males in the show aren't exactly crushing over every girl they see either.

Ash, Tracey, and Max (lol) aren't exactly going ga-ga for every cute trainer girl they see, but this doesn't point to evidence which way they go, because none of these characters have ever gone for any boys either.
 
You want gay? See Harley and the transvestite in the original Rokon episode.

Kojiro isn't gay. James isn't either (they're the SAME CHARACTER), but Eric Stuart makes it seem that way. Not once has he shown romantic or sexual interest in another man, but he has shown attraction toward females.

The way I see it, the flamboyancy is a gag. That's the way I treat it. I enjoy and even make the jokes at Pokemopolis, but I don't seriously think he is gay.

BTW, this should probably be in the Character forum.
 
And thus I move it to the proper forum. *does so*

As others have stated before, it's Eric Stewart's fault for making James so gayish. The truth is, as Argy said, he has never shown any interest in guys at this point. Unless proven otherwise, he is straitght in my eyes.
 
I'm rather indifferent to the subject, but I'd like to point out something to all the people who are saying James can't be gay because Kojiro is straight. How many gay characters have been turned straight by dubs? Cousins anyone? Just because a character has a set orientation in one language doesn't mean it's the same for all languages.
 
I agree, it shouldn't. But it does and will continue to be until a time when a gay cartoon character won't cause hoardes of screaming soccer moms to attack.
 
Please note: The thread is from 21 years ago.
Please take the age of this thread into consideration in writing your reply. Depending on what exactly you wanted to say, you may want to consider if it would be better to post a new thread instead.
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