<The strips that got Lynn Johnston
in so much hot water, back in the day...*>
One of the most overused expressions in the English language is probably, "I remember it like yesterday," whether it's some Boomer invoking their memory of the Kennedy assassination, for instance, or one of those shows that blew your teenage mind, which you can't help but relive, over and over and over again ("The TwerpTones showed me you could write about the collapse of the stock market, in three minutes or less, and make it rock!"). You get the gist.
However, any other phrase seems redundant, when the past reaches out and grabs you, like these strips. I was literally trying to explain their meaning to The Squawker the other day, but without the visuals, I found myself struggling -- until somebody posted them on Facebook, of course.
For those who need the backstory, For Better Or For Worse ran from 1979 to 2008, and focused on the ups and downs of a Canadian family, The Pattersons, who aged in real time, along with their creator, Lynn Johnston. (The strip lives on, though, in roughly 2,000 US and Canadian papers -- and 20 countries -- opting for straight reruns, or in reworked form, depending on the outlet.)
However, she didn't just focus on the warm and fuzzy stuff. Many of her strips focused on the struggles of Elly Patterson, the family matriarch. One of the most poignant that I remember is "Sunshine And Shadow," which dealt with the death of Elly's mother, and definitely struck me as a comic landmark of the time. Others dealt with alcoholism, child abuse, Elly's return to the workforce ("The Last Straw"), and sexual harassment ("Home Sweat Home").
But few strips proved more divisive than "There Goes My Baby," in 1993, when Lawrence -- the best friend of Elly's son, Michael -- came out as gay. Knowing what types of reactions awaited her, Johnston had prepared a series of alternate strips, which papers could run in lieu of her planned storyline. Ironically, however, her well-intentioned heads-up didn't quite go according to plan:
"Within a few days of receiving the package, forty newspapers declined the series and asked for the alternate strips. Many, however, for one reason or another never read the accompanying letter (or the strips) were taken by complete surprise when the story appeared on their comic page and their phones began to ring."
For those who need the backstory, For Better Or For Worse ran from 1979 to 2008, and focused on the ups and downs of a Canadian family, The Pattersons, who aged in real time, along with their creator, Lynn Johnston. (The strip lives on, though, in roughly 2,000 US and Canadian papers -- and 20 countries -- opting for straight reruns, or in reworked form, depending on the outlet.)
However, she didn't just focus on the warm and fuzzy stuff. Many of her strips focused on the struggles of Elly Patterson, the family matriarch. One of the most poignant that I remember is "Sunshine And Shadow," which dealt with the death of Elly's mother, and definitely struck me as a comic landmark of the time. Others dealt with alcoholism, child abuse, Elly's return to the workforce ("The Last Straw"), and sexual harassment ("Home Sweat Home").
But few strips proved more divisive than "There Goes My Baby," in 1993, when Lawrence -- the best friend of Elly's son, Michael -- came out as gay. Knowing what types of reactions awaited her, Johnston had prepared a series of alternate strips, which papers could run in lieu of her planned storyline. Ironically, however, her well-intentioned heads-up didn't quite go according to plan:
"Within a few days of receiving the package, forty newspapers declined the series and asked for the alternate strips. Many, however, for one reason or another never read the accompanying letter (or the strips) were taken by complete surprise when the story appeared on their comic page and their phones began to ring."
Other papers took a "wait and see" attitude, and ran the alternate strips, while still others summarily dropped it. This is four years before Ellen came out on TV; three years, before a judge in Hawaii ruled in favor of three gay couples' right to marry (later overturned); and a year before Clinton's election placed the notion of gays in the military on the national radar. Any way you slice it, Johnston was ahead of the curve (as she again proved in 2001, with the storyline of Lawrence's wedding, which you can read about via the Comic Book Resources link).
My hometown newspaper, The Forerunner Press, came up with its own characteristic variation. To its credit, management didn't dump For Better Or For Worse, choosing instead to move the gay-themed strips onto the editorial page for the duration of the controversy. No explanation required, it seemed, since management didn't bother to venture one -- at first.
My hometown newspaper, The Forerunner Press, came up with its own characteristic variation. To its credit, management didn't dump For Better Or For Worse, choosing instead to move the gay-themed strips onto the editorial page for the duration of the controversy. No explanation required, it seemed, since management didn't bother to venture one -- at first.
Finally, however, after enough letters poured in, from the pro- (What do you think you're doing? This is censorship by any other name) and anti-gay rights quarters (Why are you running this Satanic trash?), the Forerunner offered an explanation -- of sorts. Management claimed that it had moved the strips to the editorial page, because that's where it felt the material belonged, in light of its topicality. On that score, management chirped, it welcomed the resulting free exchange of ideas, and all that, blah-blah-blah, yada-yada-yada.
Looking back now, I don't think anybody bought the rationale, such as it was. Anti-gay readers still threatened to cancel their subscription, not happy at seeing these apparent agents of Satan enjoying such free rein; pro-gay readers questioned the notion of sequestering the strip away from its original home.
The overall effect, some argued, smacked of sticking the dirty magazine or record under the counter, and daring the customer to ask for it aloud. Who, in their right mind, wanted to feel that way? And why put anyone in that position, especially over something as trivial as a comic strip? Surely adults could sort out the relevant issues themselves, no?
Apparently not, in our case, because the Forerunner offered no further explanations -- in my recollection -- as management simply allowed the debate to play out over the editorial pages. Eventually, of course, the storyline wrapped up, and without another word, For Better Or For Worse returned to its designated slot on the comics page. No further explanation required, or so it seemed, anyway.
At some point, the world moved on, as it does, and the whole business faded away. I myself had long forgotten it, till the above reminder on Facebook jogged my memory. I found the whole episode noteworthy, having just started my editorial career, and while I understood the rumpus -- to some extent, knowing the reactionary streak running through our fair little town -- it didn't sit well with me, by any means.
The overall effect, some argued, smacked of sticking the dirty magazine or record under the counter, and daring the customer to ask for it aloud. Who, in their right mind, wanted to feel that way? And why put anyone in that position, especially over something as trivial as a comic strip? Surely adults could sort out the relevant issues themselves, no?
Apparently not, in our case, because the Forerunner offered no further explanations -- in my recollection -- as management simply allowed the debate to play out over the editorial pages. Eventually, of course, the storyline wrapped up, and without another word, For Better Or For Worse returned to its designated slot on the comics page. No further explanation required, or so it seemed, anyway.
At some point, the world moved on, as it does, and the whole business faded away. I myself had long forgotten it, till the above reminder on Facebook jogged my memory. I found the whole episode noteworthy, having just started my editorial career, and while I understood the rumpus -- to some extent, knowing the reactionary streak running through our fair little town -- it didn't sit well with me, by any means.
What feeling did the strip's temporary banishment give those who cheered it on? Their triumph would have proven temporary, since the Forerunner didn't drop it. Same for those who canceled their subscriptions, or stopped reading the strip. It wouldn't change the possibility, at some point, of having to deal with a gay friend, neighbor, relation, or workmate. Surely, it's better to go into those situations with a more nuanced view, instead of a cartoonish one?
Back I circle to that Public Image song ("Acid Drops"), nagging at my brain: "What is not dirty, what is not clean?" Sending out signals, I see the smoke screens." (As you can imagine, "Acid Drops" made for a powerful stage highlight, as I recall, from seeing that particular tour.) It's one thing to feel uneasy about somebody's sexuality, but quite another, to actively go about policing it; and a totally different matter to try and shove it underground, and punish it, preferably with some combination of blunt force trauma by law. "What should we not hear? What shouldn't be seen?" Indeed.
So what would I have done, sitting in that seat? I didn't have to deal with the letter writers, pro and con, let alone take their phone calls. The more virulent among them, undoubtedly, would have expressed themselves in "language not fit for a family newspaper," as the saying goes. (Or, to coin a phrase from "Acid Drops": "The zealots are marching, with Bible in hand/Keyed to the roof, 100 proof.")
So I can't honestly say what moves I would have made. All I know is how I, and those in my inner circle, felt at the time. We largely viewed the Forerunner's workaround with contempt. Nice try, but no cigar, the consensus went. You can't make everybody happy. You can't be the maverick, and the conformist, at the same time.
On another level, things have changed, even in the provinces. Several years ago, our hometown parade managed to include a trans-themed float, which also raised a public kerfuffle, though it died down quickly. Our town also has an out center, that's highly active and visible. Surely, that's a sign of major progress, isn't it?
Yet the center is struggling to get a permit for an event it wishes to hold in a neighboring town this summer. The reasons remain murky, which has prompted a Freedom Of Information Act request, to determine why City Hall is stonewalling the center so hard.
After all, what's the problem, if the criteria seems straightforward enough, and the relevant organization meets it? Apparently, none -- until the H-word gets dropped. That reality is impossible to separate from the sharpest attacks against free expression seen in years, and another confirmation, as if anyone needed it, that old habits die hard. As it turns out, however, some habits die harder than others.
How do I know? Because I've seen a mere comic strip trigger them, pushing buttons that end up causing people to lose their minds, and bring out those attitudes roaring into the open. I saw it happen in real time. And I remember it like yesterday. -- The Reckoner
Links To Go (Now Is Not
The Time To Hold Your Tongue):
Comic Book Resources:
How "For Better Or For Worse"
Handled The Controversy Over Its Gay Character:
https://www.cbr.com/for-better-or-worse-lawrence-gay-controversy/
Yet the center is struggling to get a permit for an event it wishes to hold in a neighboring town this summer. The reasons remain murky, which has prompted a Freedom Of Information Act request, to determine why City Hall is stonewalling the center so hard.
After all, what's the problem, if the criteria seems straightforward enough, and the relevant organization meets it? Apparently, none -- until the H-word gets dropped. That reality is impossible to separate from the sharpest attacks against free expression seen in years, and another confirmation, as if anyone needed it, that old habits die hard. As it turns out, however, some habits die harder than others.
How do I know? Because I've seen a mere comic strip trigger them, pushing buttons that end up causing people to lose their minds, and bring out those attitudes roaring into the open. I saw it happen in real time. And I remember it like yesterday. -- The Reckoner
Links To Go (Now Is Not
The Time To Hold Your Tongue):
Comic Book Resources:
How "For Better Or For Worse"
Handled The Controversy Over Its Gay Character:
https://www.cbr.com/for-better-or-worse-lawrence-gay-controversy/
Hartford Courant: Comic Tackles Controversial Issue
As Character Announces He Is Gay:
https://archive.ph/dZIGX
[Fascinating "of the time" clipping from 1993]
Ramen Noodle Nation:
One Picture, 1,000 Words: A Censored Doonesbury Strip:
https://ramennoodlenation.blogspot.com/2025/03/one-picture-1000-words-censored.html
Tampa Bay Times: Comic Controversy: PART II:
https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2001/09/04/comic-controversy-part-ii/
One Picture, 1,000 Words: A Censored Doonesbury Strip:
https://ramennoodlenation.blogspot.com/2025/03/one-picture-1000-words-censored.html
Tampa Bay Times: Comic Controversy: PART II:
https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2001/09/04/comic-controversy-part-ii/
[Another interesting snapshot, this one involving the later controversy, from 2001]
(*Reckoner's Note: This block of strips reflects what the papers would have received, since syndicated comics typically run over three, four or five panels, depending on the nature of the storyline. Seems obvious enough, but for those who wonder, the reader wouldn't have seen a single large block like this one, right off the bat.)
