Is Michel Gay or just French?

... he was always immaculate


The irreplaceable Yanic Truesdale as the usually grumpy Michel Gerard

First published 2014-17-12

Stars Hollow and the world of Gilmore Girls revolved around relationships, but never included an openly gay character or relationship. For heaven’s sake, the guys in the Bunheads ballet troupe came off more testosterone-y than many of the camp, eccentric and colourful characters in the Hollow. Do you think any of the Gilmore Girls characters was closeted?

There were a number of secondary characters whose backstories were never told. Andrew for instance, the bookseller at Stars Hollow Books who made a fine hunk (of marble) as Poussin’s statue, Moissonneur or The Reaper.

Mike Gandolfi as Andrew as the Reaper

How about Michel? His love for Céline Dion was legendary…

Michel I have been waiting forever to get this close to Céline. Oh, my God, I’m shaking like a leaf. What should I wear? What would Céline like me in?

… but his mannerisms often seemed to be attributed to his general eccentricities.

Gypsy the mechanic never seemed to be with anyone but she also never seemed to need to be with anyone.

Tobin the generous night desk clerk?

Sookie’s brusque midwife doula, Bruce?

Or Brad, Rory’s classmate and one-time Broadway starlet?

Brad Through good times and bad, Chilton formed us, brought us hope, honed our insight, gave us encouragement. Though my time here was briefly interrupted by my period spent on Broadway hanging out with Stephen Sondheim, I still consider Chilton the most rewarding experience of my young life. Now it had always been my plan in closing to recite a short poem I’d written. Louise (hopefully) But you reconsidered? Madeline Come on, Brad. Go out a winner. Brad But as I read it aloud, I realized the sentiments I wanted to share with my fellow students were better expressed in a favourite song of mine. [He takes a breath before bursting into The Association’s 60s hit] Cherish is the word I use to describe… Bong, bong! Bong, bong! Rory Oh, Brad.

For a show that was all about relationships, was a gay coupling noticeably absent?
What difference would having an openly gay character or couple in the recurring cast have made?
Who do you think might have been closeted? Or nobody?
And was Michel gay, just French - or something else altogether?