How Quantum Leap Predicted Allowing Gays in the Military

[@hopefulmonsters4407]

"I don't know how drinking tea came to be code for being gay -but that's none of my business." Can't believe no one's mentioned that yet.

[@brandchan]

Up there with movies in the 80s where drinking bottled water was code for being gay.

[@nehemiahmarcus308]

There was that Barney Miller episode where they were trying to figure out who was gay and when Harris shows a preference for tea, all eyes turn on him. Drinking Yamana's coffee was probably some kind of macho dare.

[@oof-rr5nf]

and that's the TEA, folks! ☕

[@hopefulmonsters4407]

@@696190 possibly, but the joke our host was making off that association was a play on "spilling tea" as gossiping. That's what I'm surprised no one noticed.

[@1987Confused]

It was or is basically only in America tea was and still is in some areas seen as a woman's drink. Kinda like how some "mocho" guys think sweet drinks at the bar are gay but suck down gallons of soda or sweet tea everyday....

[@SuperiorMario79]

i watched this with my mother when it aired. i was 12. i hadn't come out yet. i'll always remember how my mother's reaction of sympathy made me feel. it was very important to me.

[@suvariboy]

Stimptown - I 💓 this!

[@ccdj504]

❤❤❤

[@AvgJane19]

Thank you sharing❤

[@CupidCrux]

I was literally about to post the same thing. Except my mother wanted to change the channel and still does.... :/

[@oof-rr5nf]

@@CupidCrux Okay. We can be your family.

[@NotContinuum]

As someone one said, "If you are in battle and you're worried that the guy next to you is thinking about having his fabulous way with you instead of not dying, the problem just might be you."

[@marcgardner9865]

Well said!

[@dfangirl72]

in reality that could be said about anyone not just gay / lesbian anyone " different " than you .I understood Al side and unfortunately things have gotten worse .

[@masonallen3961]

The same year this episode aired Allen Schindler a gay naval officer was beaten to death by two of his fellow servicemen in a public toilet in Okinawa, Japan. The attack was so brutal that it left his face completely unidentifiable and his family had to identify him by his arm tattoo.

[@jman8904]

Mason Allen learned yesterday that a transgender girl that I used to talk to went missing and was never found. We have to keep these people in our hearts to remind us why we keep up the fight.

[@kyarabarrion4523]

Thank you for saying his name because this whole episode reminded me of that incident.

[@masonallen3961]

@Suffer No Fools What the f is wrong with you?

[@theorderofthebees7308]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@bracemere]

Allen Schindler's death is truly one of the most horrific murders I've ever heard of, and difficult to stomach. I cried several times thinking about what he went through. Such an important case, it's hard to believe how much it's completely forgotten now. There's needs to be a movie, documentary or television series on it, what happened to him shouldn't be forgotten.

[@jlafunk]

Tea became slang for going to a gay bar or being gay (like "I'm a friend of Dorothy") because pre-Stonewall, it was illegal to sell alcohol to homosexuals. So, gay bars sold their drinks in tea cups. Which is why there's Tea at 2-4pm and High Tea at 4-8pm (varying on where you might have lived). Its why we have Tea Dances (usually starting in the afternoon) and so forth. Spilling the Tea was going out and grabbing a drink to talk about what's been going o and has evolved into "dishing."

[@DB-oj7qf]

That commercial, ugh.. “special rights”. You mean same as you rights? 🙄

[@SweptAway529]

On a more shallow note, Scott Bakula is quite a hottie!

[@suzawilo]

Yeeeeessss 😍😍😍😍😍

[@carrotjuse]

Yep!

[@DravenGal]

Yep, still is.

[@Stevonniewolf3113]

Scott Bakula is hot.

[@christopherwilliams9418]

Even today... Did you see him on Always Sunny? Still pretty cute... ://P

[@beckymurphy4714]

Al was born in 1934; Sam was born in 1953. The military was Al's life - after his mother ran off with an encyclopedia salesman and his father died from cancer, he and his sister ended up in an orphanage. Al got out, but when he went back to get Trudy he learned she had died from pneumonia. Shortly after that he joined the Navy; he was POW in Vietnam from 1968 - 73, so he wasn't aware of Stonewall at the time. Sam was raised on a dairy farm in Indiana; his older brother Tom died in Vietnam (something Sam later changed) and his younger sister Katie ended up marrying a Navy lieutenant (after Sam changed things in his past that prevented her from marrying an abusive alcoholic). He was a genius with a "once in a lifetime" intellect who went through four years of MIT in two. He is very outspoken about equal rights, and often stands up for those being oppressed. He and Al frequently come at an issue from opposite sides, with Al speaking from his experience and Sam arguing "Just because that's the way it was doesn't mean that's the way it should stay," although Al usually agreed with Sam's stance. This was one of the rare times they fought over an issue, with Al stubbornly refusing to budge; that's why his change of heart at the end of the episode was so impactful.

[@Highcoleture]

What I think really sets this episode apart from a lot of other shows, is how absolutely INTOLERANT Sam is towards Al's homophobia. There's no "agree to disagree" aspect or this notion that, like, Al's got a legitimate case to make for not trusting homosexuals in the military... nope. Sam thinks it's bigotry and he calls it out for that, point blank. And it's up for Al to reflect on his opinions and change, not for Sam to learn how to accept Al's ignorance. Like, damn, Quantum Leap: STANDING 👏 OVATION 👏

[@bespectacledheroine7292]

Quantum Leap does this constantly. Whenever Al acts like a hound dog when it comes to women for instance, Sam wants absolutely none of it and doesn't back down. Al doesn't always change, kind of going along with Matt's assertion that he doesn't get many arcs, so that's what makes this episode special.

[@mercurydude]

The crazy thing is, a revival of the show is in the works and the usual suspects are screeching about how it will be too "woke" (they're saying this because the main character won't be a white man, btw.🙄) These pretend-fans have obviously never seen it, because it was ALWAYS "woke." It was even braver than any of the 90's Star Trek shows dared to be.

[@sandal_thong]

@@bespectacledheroine7292 Regarding Al's arcs: I think the actor Dean Stockwell wanted to play a superficial character. Bellisario said he wrote the episode about stopping Al's first wife moving on while he was in a POW camp, and Dean said, Don't do that to me again, I don't want to play with deep feelings.

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

​@sandal_thong8631 Not too sure about that, considering just how many deep/heavy moments the show had, but you could be right. If anything, we should ask KZbin's premiere Quantum Leap fan/historian... Allison Pregler! (Formerly Obscurus Lupa)

[@hosebeefstick]

5:05 "My god... humans having basic human rights??? NOT IN MY AMERICA!" People who are against basic civil rights for any group of people are scum. Despite being scum, I believe they deserve civil rights, because unlike them, I have empathy for other people.

[@AVAL2775]

"i disagree with what you are saying but i willdefend your right to say it till the bitter end" that basically what your trying to say?

[@hosebeefstick]

@@AVAL2775 I totally agree with that, because restricting what people can say (even the horrible things I hate to hear) is completely wrong, and only leads to more and more restrictions on free speech. I was saying that even though those dirtbags want to limit the civil rights of people in the LGBT community (and most other minorities), they deserve those same civil rights, because every person does.

[@ridanann]

@@hosebeefstick ah but one doznt have the to interfere with the rights of others so as soon as free speech becomes a public platform issues pop up. public speaking must be monitored for hate speech still aloud but restricted like how u wouldn't play porn at a public bandstand nor should hate speech be accepted publicly.

[@hosebeefstick]

@@ridanann I'm not entirely sure if I know what you're saying. I think that you're saying that although people should be able to publically say anything they want (hate-speach unfortunately included), that doesn't mean that it should be broadcasted, literally or figuratively, to every person around the world. If that is what you mean, I agree; people should be able the say whatever they want (things like threats and inciting violence is obviously not included, as that's a criminal act), but that doesn't mean we have to listen, nor even give them a public platform. Feel free to elaborate or correct me if I'm wrong in my assumption, of course.

[@ridanann]

@@hosebeefstickya basically i believe political correctness has its place that place just about anywhere public the streets schools parks shoping centres. it sort of allready is unacceptable to shout slures outside say a burger king but not as unacceptable as to stop determined people. eg in the street here anti social behaviour is normal an accepted whenever a football match is on the edl use such acceptance of public unrest to get away with hate speech. im not sure how criminal words should be but if public unrest is coursed enough police useually follow so theres law reaction of a sort.

[@Stevonniewolf3113]

I loved Quantum Leap. I'm a bisexual Non-binary person and Sam leaping into women and men gave me a gender fluid hero before I knew what gender fluidity was.

[@MrGreensweightHist]

The one where he is going into labor was amazing.

[@hosebeefstick]

If you look up 'charming' in the dictionary, you'll find a picture of Matt Baume. Great video, as always; keep up the amazing work!

[@oof-rr5nf]

Sounds accurate.

[@fableagain]

I don't have to check this to know it's true

[@raynarks]

There’s pictures in your dictionary? 😂

[@marquismiller5841]

I really appreciate the tip about POC and stonewall. I’m so glad we are spreading the correct information. Thank you. 👏🏽

[@MagnusSkiptonLLC]

I was wondering if you were going to get around to this Quantum Leap episode. I really like it because it's an episode where Sam and Al's friendship is really strained by being on different sides of the issue, in most episodes they're just trying to save someone from a bad fate (usually death). And Al having his change of heart at the end was great too.

[@dmmoctober]

Skippy the Magnificent Ironic, though, that Al is meant to be from the future. Rather short sighted of the writer.

[@MagnusSkiptonLLC]

@@dmmoctober Well, I think Al is meant to represent what a lot of Americans thought of the issue in 1992. Plus the "present" in QL was only about six years after the air date of the episode, so he wasn't from that far in the viewer's future. I'm sure there were a lot of people in 1998 who were still against LGBT people serving in military.

[@emilyk6166]

Skippy the Magnificent Al was also significantly older than Sam (20 years) although he doesn’t look it. He’s from a different time and unlike Sam served in the war which may play into his bias.

[@comicconcarne]

I love how the episodes let you piece Al's story together. He was orphaned with his mentally disabled sister. He did odd jobs to try and support her, but she died neglected in an institution. Angry at the world, he joined the Navy. He met his true love and married her before being shipped to Vietnam. He was a POW for four years and declared dead, and since his wife remarried, he never held down a stable marriage again. He was smart enough to be assigned several intelligence projects and work his way up to admiral. He met Sam while venting his frustration at a project onto a vending machine. Sam shared his "string" theory of time travel, and Al helped him vouch for Project Quantum Leap. After Sam leaps, he starts having a steady relationship with Tina, one of the scientists who doesn't mind his wandering eye (and appears interested in the same women as him). You get all of this, just from a line or two each episode that ties to the issue being addressed, plus maybe three focused episodes.

[@howardkerr8174]

@@MagnusSkiptonLLC As someone who served in the military up to 1991, you are 100% correct. The Navy and Marine Corps would have pockets of hardcore macho men even going into the 21st century.

[@jlkjlkjkljklj9162]

The reference to the German newspaper in Nazi times reminds me of a German movie called "Anders als die Andern", Different from the Others, that was in favour of homosexuality and gender issues. Note: the movie came out in 1919.

[@MattBaume]

Ohhhh I'm definitely adding this to my list of things to talk about in future videos!

[@jlkjlkjkljklj9162]

​oh my god oh my god @@MattBaume is considering one of my ideas *fans herself in asexual* Seriously though, I'm so glad! Much of the movie is lost (turns out not many were a fan at the time, surprise), but what's left is so enlightened it wouldn't be out of place in modern discourse. Plus, first movie representation of a gay bar!

[@GothosRedux]

It was written in part by Magnus Hirschfeld, who deserves his own segment.

[@semperfi818]

@@MattBaume In addition to screening the two seminal German films suggested here, you might want to read _The Celluloid Closet,_ Vito Russo's indispensable, scholarly 1981 treatment of gay people and themes in film, and/or watch the 1995 documentary based on Russo's book; from either of these, I would wager that you might derive topics for several thoughtful pieces, and certainly much food for thought. BTW, I would also love to see you produce a segment on Magnus Hirschfeld, whose pioneering work deserves to be more widely recognized.

[@drsnova7313]

I know there was also at least one lesbian magazine in Germany's 20s.

[@twodollars4u]

Quantum Leap was a very good and bizarre show. One of my favorites. I expected a run of the mill sci-fi show and got a really goofy, surprisingly heart-felt, and oftentimes socially progressive series. Great video!

[@TomLloyd-18]

not to mention some delicious eye candy in SB

[@shaderax_storm6165]

I just remember the last series where god and the devil sent people back in time or something like that and it didn't make much sense when that was the case... Like in sliders where eye ball eating Nazi cavemen where taking over different universes... The 90s were weird.

[@bluedragon4]

I was one of those protesters in 1992. I was 19 and very militant. I was going to college and we had kiss ins, turned the fountains red for world's AIDS day and were on TV being interviewed. I did speakers bureaus at dorms about what it's like to be gay and about safe sex. I was at the 1993 March on Washington. ACT up was throwing ashes of those who have died of AIDS on the front lawn of the white house. We had meetings once a week and we would tackle all kinds of issues. A little funny note, Basic Instinct was out in 1992 and my gay group was pissed about it. They had pins made that said, "Catherine did it". I didn't wear a pin. I loved the movie. We would also watch TV episodes like this one. I believe we watched a coach episode that had come out around this time also and something else. Things really changed once Undressed came out on MTV. People say Will and Grace, but Undressed really opened the flood gates.

[@gblatt8472]

I remember seeing this in a marathon at my Grandmother's house. She far off, in the kitchen and didn't understand English, but still, I scooted closer to the screen and turned down the volume just a bit. It was probably the first time I heard the word "gay" and understood what it meant, and I instinctively knew that it would be best if my conservative, Abuelita didn't catch me watching this.

[@therealsocialgadfly]

Thanks Matt. It’s nice to hear acknowledgement from you younger guys about how important the activism by us older geezers was. 👍🏼

[@j.munday7913]

Thank you for being brave and fighting for acceptance so my daughter can live in a better and more accepting world.

[@missnaomi613]

Whatever your activism contribution was, thank you! When I attended my first Pride celebration this past summer, I kept bursting into happy tears. I just couldn't stop thinking about how grateful I am to live in a time and place that my kids (3 young adults, 2 of which are trans) are relatively safe and free to live authentically. I've been trying to make a difference as well. Time will tell.

[@foxesofautumn]

As a queen Catholic teen who most certainly wasn’t out this episode stirred a lot of feelings in me. I was encouraged by the positive spin and the empathy shown here.

This was such a powerful episode. I remember friends, and gay people in general, talking about not missing this episode. GREAT video!👍😊

[@collectornick4270]

That's why I always loved quantum leap, they tackled super edgy topics especially for the time period. Not only that but Sam and Al were a great team.

[@singe0diabolique]

Cute tag line. "There's some guy I need to jump into." I'll just bet. LOL

[@widowkeeper4739]

I was 15 when this aired and very confused and worried I might be bisexual. This episode really touched me, but it was also a very poignant warning. I didn't feel safe enough to come out until my late 20's over a decade later. I had a secret girlfriend at one point. It was rough.

[@NikkyKicks]

The coach's speech - I'm not crying, you're crying!

[@Sticklemako]

Quantum Leap was a really good show... It had really good stories about important issues...

[@ThatTheologyTeacher]

Yes! I loved this show! (But too bad the series finale stunk). What a clever episode, too with the thematic focus on the need for community. Thanks for sharing your analysis.

[@MattBaume]

Oof, that finale. Like Lost, probably best to just go with your own headcanon.

[@DrTssha]

@@MattBaume The only bit I liked was that he spent the rest of his life helping people, leaping into one person after another until...old age, I guess? Anyway, at least that part was fitting.

[@korisx]

It's Travelers based on this?

[@vsilverisisv]

Actually, if you go over to movie nights channel she has a video on a recently discovered alternative ending.

[@multitudeofidols]

That episode was intended to be the jumping off point for the sixth season, but then NBC decided not to renew and did a little editing to turn it into a series finale.

[@BugMed]

This show was so important to me as a young adult. It taught me history and gave me the opportunity to learn about differing perspectives that I never could have in my small town. I didn't totally understand who I was, but knowing that others existed, fictional or otherwise, meant a lot to me.

[@suzawilo]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@TheSuzberry]

I took my daughter to the Mall in Washington when the AIDS quilt was spread out. I wanted her to appreciate that all people have loved ones and that all people matter.

[@GRAHFXENO]

I prefer the way it's done in the Canadian military; Instead of "Don't ask, don't tell" it's "Who cares" or more specifically "Be respectful and open minded when asking or don't bother and if you want to tell than that's your right as a human being. We're all on the same team here"

[@suzawilo]

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@ddrissel]

“Don’t ask don’t tell” ended around a decade ago in the US under President Obama. LGBTQ people can now serve openly in the US military; though Trump temporarily brought back the ban on trans soldiers. Biden reversed the ban.

[@daveconroy6854]

Interestingly anti gay people protested the episode forcing them to make Sam's 'host' not be gay which made the episode even more powerful

[@gregoryeatroff8608]

It's been a while since I've seen the episode, but I thought they left it ambiguous.

[@hetmobi]

it wasnt confirmed the host was not gay but that 'it didn't matter if he/the host was or not' by way of the pre-'jumping out of host' clip that Matt used near the start of this vid

[@hatorigirl1202]

I really liked Quantum Leap. I watched it with my brother growing up sometimes in syndication, but I watched I think the first 2 seasons on netflix dvds. As far as weekly dilemma sci-fi/fantasy shows went, it was pretty solid. I know I liked it more than Early Edition.

[@HavnaBlast]

Aww yeah, Quantum Leap was my jam. They never aired enough episodes of him shirtless and I was intrigued when his reflection in the mirror was a woman. So glad YT recommended your channel!

[@sonorasgirl]

I know it was cheesy and sometimes over dramatic, but I LOVED quantum leap. Yes, the morals were the progressive of the time, so not progressive by today’s standards, but it genuinely tried to be equal and kind to all, and even when it wasn’t quite spot on, that intention shone through. Ugh. I could continue to gush, but thanks for the vid ☺️

[@manthony225]

This was a such a thoughtful and well-done episode of Quantum Leap. Scott Bacula was my dream husband 😍

[@youdontseeyouwant]

I recently discovered that my late uncle used to be one of the people tasked with rooting out gay servicemen in the army. This revelation was disquieting, to say the least. Thanks for running this great series. You’re doing important work. One minor correction, though: its EDWARD Everett Horton, not Howard. He played a lot of gay coded roles in 30s comedies, and thus might be a great Culture Cruise subject himself!

[@raysangel1973]

Beautiful story. The way Al came around was honest. I was in the military in the 1990s. I lost friends to DADT. They did not realize that they were not alone. I also was a proponent of getting people in the military tested for HIV so that they knew their status. And knowing was not always a death sentence in the early 2000 like it was in the 80s and 90s.

[@melissafradette479]

This is a compelling episode. It’s so important to remember that lgbtq rights are about the right to live.

[@missnaomi613]

Amen!

[@vincentprice713]

omg the youtube algorithm really is on point. My mom just sat and watch his series and I walked in on this episode by chance and watched it. Now this video pops up on my recommendation 3 days later.

[@cynatnite]

There is an old series called Starsky & Hutch that was filmed in the 70's. There is an episode called "Death in a Different Place" about a murdered police officer who was gay. I think it's a very powerful episode and in some ways resembles the themes that were in this episode of Quantum Leap. It also addresses other aspects that you might find interesting. You really should check it out and I would love to know your thoughts.

[@tejaswoman]

Trying to think if Starsky and Hutch even exists on DVD or VHS... I don't think any of the nostalgia channels show it.

[@lucie8827]

@@tejaswoman I've seen it on my tv lately

[@viperbites3184]

This episode is now even more topical then I guess was intended based on what happened today. Thank you for making this episode.

[@GameJeannie]

Another wonderful analysis! I remember seeing this episode when it was repeated in the late-nineties, but, since I was still a child, didn't fully understand the context in which it had been created. Thank you!

[@ChristyAbbey]

This ep made me cry so hard when it first aired, as a loved ex was dying and wouldn't admit to anyone it was HIV-related so he could get buried with his family. And now a person who reached out to me when I finally came trans out in my 50s is about to be kicked out of the military... Let's just I had to pause to get some tissues, and my eyes were blurry.

[@joelmaqueira4851]

I love you all.

[@TheHopperUK]

This episode had a huge impact on me. Sometimes I wonder how many of my social and political opinions were formed by Quantum Leap XD

[@arlosmith2784]

Matt I am impressed with your knowledge of LGBTQ history. I personally knew Harvey Milk. In the 1970's I thought the best we would achieve was non-discrimination, not full acceptance. However here in San Francisco the public was becoming accepting. Openly gay candidates were being elected as early as 1972. Harvey Milk finally got elected supervisor in 1977. I learned a key lesson from Harvey: The secret to changing minds is to come out. We beat the homophobic Briggs Initiative in 1978 because many folks came out and told friends and family to vote NO🌈

[@KaiseaWings]

The fact I can exist happily in relative peace is thanks to this history. The fact I have a *choice* about how active to be in the Pride community is amazing.

[@BruceWayneOfOz]

I was in The Biz and worked on a series in the early 90s that Scott guested on. Cool guy. I saw him Jogging one day, wearing only blue nylon shorts...and kick myself to this day for Not having my Camera!!

[@mercurymarz3343]

Hell yeah I love quantum leap and I loved your. In depth review of this episode!!

[@bea4156]

7:15 “I don’t know how drinking tea came to be code for being gay, but that’s none of my business.” I see what you did there Matt 😉🍵👏

[@Genevieve1023]

🐸

[@aroyd6212]

I like your commentary on this and agree that although they could have gone about it better, it’s good they mentioned stonewall. I hope this show helped some people, corny as it was

[@Erin-Thor]

A Turney - Corny? I loved that show as a kid! LOL!

[@CupidCrux]

right like no white gay EVER worked at stonewall or helped it get started...

[@Erin-Thor]

CupidCrux - Videos and news footage shows people of all flavors were involved.

[@SimonPrefontaineGames]

I just want to applaud the last line of this video. Well done, 10/10.

[@redrose1806]

I still need to watch the video- just so happy that someone out there realized the actual cultural jem that this show is. Thank you Matt! now I will watch the video.

[@Moonbeam143]

This is why I love Quantum Leap so much.

[@heyelliew]

You should do a review on "The Doctor is Out" from the last season of Frasier when he (spoiler alert) walked into a gay bar, was "outed" on his show, and became a "friend" to Sir Patrick Stewart.

[@cruzcflores]

It is amazing how affecting this show is in all it's cornpone, Americana square liberalism. While so much of TV tries to capture Peter Finch yelling in Network whereas this show was Gregory Peck explaining why racism is wrong in To Kill a Mockingbird. By all accounts its politics should have turned off middle America and its style should have turned off the urbanites, but instead it works.

[@georgeboole3836]

What compels me most about this channel is Matt's flawless presentation. The topics - while super interesting - are secondary, and that says a LOT. This is definitely not a subject that I'd normally look for but when you are just this good at presenting material... I feel like I could watch him discuss the finer details of an income tax!

[@Prestidigitoreum]

A Quantum Leap episode? YESSSSS!

[@sadtitties222]

@Prestidigitoreum Omg, you have the same icon that I have on my Amazon account. Love Lilo and Stitch! 😁👍

[@Margarinetaylorgrease]

I get teary at the loneliness and lack of acceptance. I'm straight but it still resonates. I'll be pleased when it's all finished.

[@RLucas3000]

This premiers the same day the (Trump loaded) Supreme Court upholds Trumps right to ban Transgenders in the military (though it still has to get through the lower courts now). Going back in time indeed. I’m very sad, thank you for posting this.

[@joelmaqueira4851]

This farther proves that the fight isn't over.

[@rabirayrana7648]

That's not going back in time, its progress

[@hokusman100]

So after this video I went out and watched the episode. And, so yeah, I'm crying like a baby right now

[@nedhugar5790]

This is such a good video, Matt!

[@BadgerOWesley]

Straight guy here. I love you Matt and this whole idea. Thank you for all of this. I learn so much great stuff.

[@jennthehuman1491]

These videos are really interesting and informative. They're great.

[@leejganderson7827]

*thank for your show it teaches ALOT!!!!* ✨🌟🌅❤💚💜🌅✨🌟

[@sallyversace]

This was really hard to watch, for exactly the reason mentioned in the warning, but still very interesting and necessary. Thank you.

[@kurtdenter1799]

Very good video. I'm always looking forward to a new episode from you :D

[@MattBaume]

Aww thank you! Let me know if there are shows you want to see me cover!

[@fourcatsandagarden]

Quantum leap taught me about LGBT rights as a kid, and its really exciting to learn this episode came out the year I was born. I also remember watching this episode the first time with my mom and grandma. ... come to think of it, we watched the MASH episode together too. They never said anything or explained or drew attention, and I never asked. I learned "dont try to kill people for no reason" and gayness was a "no reason." Which is kind of huge considering how dont ask dont talk about it the communities I grew up in were.

[@sign543]

Wow, it’s surprising to me NOW...how emotional this episode is. I forget the 1940s and 50s actor who played the older guy...but he was a famous child actor...he played in that weird movie about the kid with green hair.

[@tejaswoman]

Alexa reminds me that his name was Dean Stockwell.

[@TheSuzberry]

As a teen in the 60s, I was aware of homosexuality and family members who are gay. This episode of QL was one of my favorites.

[@zigmenthotep]

Still waiting for that video on physique magazines.

[@dj4123]

Outstanding video! I lived through the 60's and the secrecy and fear were real. So happy things have changed!

[@tejaswoman]

Totally off-topic... 🐶 AWWWW! Cute schnauzer in your avatar! 😍

[@dgemini2]

Okay, hands up. Who only watched the show because they had the hots for Scott Bakula and he was always taking his shirt off?

[@TheHopperUK]

I kinda had the hots for Dean Stockwell but he was too old to be 'cool' to like as a teenager so I kept it quiet :D

[@Call-me-Al]

@@TheHopperUK I had the hots for Al's garish wardrobe. I was so envious regarding a lot of the fun outfits he wore

[@Taijifufu]

So many depressing things: those political ads from the '90s that send the same message many still try to espouse today; and the Supreme Court decision that went along party lines banning trans folks from the military. But the end of the video always picks me right up and makes me believe things *will* get better. Thanks Matt. 😊

[@echoskolumne1962]

Oh I remember watching this as a kid. I was amazed! Loved it!

[@MattBaume]

It was such a fun show and I wish it had left more of a cultural impact! Everyone watched it but we so seldom talk about it for some reason.

[@QueenMegaera]

This makes me remember an episode of The West Wing where they discussed DADT, and an older black general (?) saying: "when I joined the army, they said black and white soldiers couldn't serve together because it would disrupt the unit. You know what? It did disrupt the unit. The unit got over it."

[@markmh835]

That "older black general" on The West Wing was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- a General Colin Powell counterpart. But even in the rarified world of The West Wing, President Bartlet and his team could not get the military's gay ban repealed in the early 2000s. Just wasn't the right time yet....... And thousands of trained service personnel continued to be discharged each year during the 20 years of DADT.

[@edenu.3868]

I love this show and when I first saw this episode, I thought it could have been handled better but it’s really interesting to see a viewpoint on it with the context of when it aired bc I hadn’t thought about that. Great video!

[@rebelleparrish4937]

I loved this show growing up and looking back its amazing how it shaped me and my viewpoints. I love yr breakdowns. The queer coding is great and youre fun to follow along with

[@YodaMan-420]

i remember this episode. i wasnt allowed to watch it when it aired. i had to wait for a re-run to watch it when my parents werent around. a very....ill call it stressful...time in my life.

[@belizeguy]

Loved the show and this . Thanks

[@thundahorseful]

Great episode! I'd love for you to cover underground magazines and comix at some point

[@dmmoctober]

Yeah speshlly the muscle ones.

[@marywatkins9438]

Quantum Leap was one if my favorite shows.

[@formerx]

What a fantastic edition! I especially liked seeing “The Middle”’s Ron Donahue at an earlier age.

[@JustinSCampbell]

Great video Matt! I love tv and political history and really appreciate the hard work and research you put into these videos. As a Fraser fan I loved that video.

[@MattBaume]

Thanks! I've got another Frasier one in the works!

[@javasparkles7330]

I watched this when it came out and I've spent 28 years thinking about how Sam crossed his legs and why it was "bad"

[@Nopperabou]

I like how positive this series is.

[@yngvildrthevoracious]

I remember watching this while very young, dubbed in French, with a closeted gay mom. 10/10 would watch again.

[@liamatsutv]

I was 14 when this aired in the UK... and (oh boy!) nothing on TV had ever spoken to me so directly, and so urgently. Unfortunately, I had to process & appreciate it alone... all these years later, we seem to have gone through a global liberal awakening, followed by (today, right now) the rise of a global conservative dark-ages that threatens to undo all the progress of the last three decades. I choose to remain positive. Shows like QL help.

[@Directionless.Sponge]

*sarcastic gasp* Republicans refuse to treat gays like humans? What else is new?

[@KenMabie]

Yeah it's not like Hillary Clinton never said she was against gay marriage ... Oh wait... She did... She must be one of them evil republicans right?

[@stormcloudsabound]

@@KenMabie Oh no, we triggered a conservative, whatever shall we do?

[@xblade149]

@@KenMabie link

[@FrenkTheJoy]

Yeah saying you're against gay marriage is definitely the same thing as comparing gays to Nazis!

[@maxdamage8418]

@@KenMabie Source please.

[@janciepants]

Loved QL, watched it with my mom!

[@davidfrederick1971]

In the Matthew Broderick film "Biloxi Blues" a military person finds two apparent gays messing around in a closed room. One was caught, one jumped thru a window. The drill sgt said "the other unidentified person jumped thru that windows with the dexterity of a paratrooper"

[@dmikewilcox]

Another great episode. Thank you.

[@reuben854]

As an aside, Scott Bakula played a gay man in HBO's Looking.

[@JDDoyle-yr4jm]

You're doing fine work, Matt!

[@raymonds6227]

I saw quantum leap when I was younger, and boy oh boy did Sam have a great rump! Woof!

[@mdstudio]

Great episode. Thanks, Matt!

[@NekoKasumi]

I was born in '89 and its so fascinating to look back at my past through the lens of media and the media my parents watched (like All In The Fam, ect.) Its no wonder I was so deep in the closet I thought I was in a guest bedroom.

[@johnnytownsend4204]

I spoke with Buddy Rasmussen, who was kicked out of the military in the 1960s for being gay and decided he would only work from then on somewhere where being gay wasn't an issue. He became a bartender at the Upstairs Lounge and led 25 people to safety when the bar was set on fire. (32 others, including his lover, didn't survive)

[@bunkertons]

Quantum Leap is one of the best shows ever made. Fight me.

[@mr.pavone9719]

So here's a fun story. I won't credit the outcome of the story to this show but I did see this episode when it first ran. It was the summer of 1992 and I had just finished basic training. I was shipping off to Germany, flying out from Boston so my buddy from basic told me to stay with him and his parents for a couple days before shipping out. We visited his aunt and her "friend" for lunch the day of our departure. He seemed a little on edge and I couldn't understand why. I met his aunt and her partner, immediately sized them up as lesbians and set myself up in front of the NES they had in the guest room. I was jonesing for some video games BAD, so I quietly played while everyone caught up and lunch was prepared. My buddy came in the room and asked me if I was ok... "Sure, what's up?" "So, uhhh, does my aunt bother you?" "No, not at all. I just really like Contra. Sorry if I'm being anti-social." "No, it's not that. A lot of people freak out when..." "They figure out she's a lesbian and that's her partner?" "WHAT? YOU KNEW?" "Yeah, they're really gay." "Aaaaand, it doesn't bother you?" "Nope. Should it?" "Uh, no. It's a relief. They have to hide it from new people so much that I was a little worried." "Nope. It's fine with me. When's lunch?" I bet y'all were hoping my buddy was going to say he was into me. We saved that for another conversation.

[@kbck884]

Coincidentally, 1964, the year in which the episode is set, was the year of the founding of The Council on Religion and the Homosexual in San Francisco. The party CRH threw on January 1, 1965, which the police tried to shut down, and regarding which they made numerous bad faith promises, resulted in a major court victory against the police and some serious changes in police policy toward homosexuals. Silly side note: The police tried to intimidate those who attended the party by photographing them as they entered. That didn't bother the drag queens. Hell, they loved having their picture taken! It's true that Stonewall was a milestone in gay activism, but the common idea that there was no gay activism before Stonewall is a misconception.