idk. i dont really like the assertion that mac is a poorly written gay character. i like how he is still a conservative asshole after he comes out - i think sometimes theres a tendancy to dull down queer characters once they come out and i just dont think he applies to that. i like how the gang knows hes gay before he does, or before he accepts it. i feel like that is such a quintessential queer experience. obviously i cant speak for everyone but i for one know damn well ive been on both sides of this; my friends knowing i was queer before i did and vice versa, with multiple people yk. i also like how he comes out multiple times. i like how he initially comes out in a very private environment and because, as the episode goes on, he doesn't think he'll survive to experience his queer identity in the real world. once the episode ends and their back to the status quo, he goes back in because ultimately 1. his religion and queer identity were still at conflict and 2. it's very different to admit something in private and then live it in the real world. with his other two coming outs, i like how he had a friend coming out and a family coming out. i also think thats a really common queer experience, or at least one that i can definitely relate to. you know, you have the casual come out to your friends who you know itll be okay, and then "the big one" for your parents. i also did a little show when i came out lol (and actually, much like mac, mine was unsuccesful. L) so i really relate to that. i like how finds his pride highlights the importance of found family, a concept that has always been very important to the queer community. if luther didnt get it, frank did, and maybe thats enough. i like how they marry his religion and his queer identity rather than having them seperated. i love how he didnt lose his faith and instead learned to accept them both. i love how mac compartmentalises his identites in a neat list in the ireland episodes. i love how clear his character development shifted from his main conflict being accepting his queer identity to the main conflict being his relationship with dennis. i mean, he comes out to the gang in s12 and then literally two episodes later he gives dennis a valentines day present. and then of course the season ends with dennis' double life. that just shows me that they (the writers) didn't feel lost or aimless after his main conflict for 12 seasons was resolved. again, thats an easy trap to fall into with queer characters, to have them become sort of listless after they "become" queer characters per say (THIS ONE GOES OUT TO YOU, GUILLERMO). he stays funny as well, like in the ireland episodes and when he tells his date he used to fuck lebron james lmfao (more proof for top!mac but i wont get into that.... today). and theres some really beautiful writing as well. like some really tragic stuff, like in goes to hell when he says "if there was a god, there's no way he'd make me queer" which is really really sad and a very common thought process. ultimately, i just think in terms of queer characters mac hits a lot of niche sort of experiences - as in, the ones that straight people wouldnt really know about. i just think theres a lot about him that i really relate to and see myself in man.
