IMHO: "Real World: Brooklyn" (Ep. 6) "The Battle of Gettysburg"

Episode 6 is a very LGBT episode indeed: there’s community outreach, an AIDS benefit, and the tricky swinging of a closet door.

But mainly it’s a battle of the sexes in the Brooklyn house, and Katelynn lies in the middle. She’s proud to be post-op, but just as she’s becoming comfortable with her feminine features, the roommates are becoming sick of her flaunting them. While the boys are aware of her identity, they’re forced to wonder when she’ll confirm the truth as she parades around in booty shorts.

Speaking of booty shorts, how gay is this episode?

Booty shorts

Before the trip, the cameras catch Ryan and Chet listening in on Katelynn in the confessional speaking about having her “new” body for only three months. The boys bring up what they overheard to JD, who replies, “She did it in Thailand … This shit didn’t come from me. We need to let her come out on her own terms … even though I may have spilled some beans.” 

I may have spilled some beans

For the road trip to Gettysburg, the house divides by gender. The separation continues (and escalates) during most of the episode, but the roommates briefly come together at a bar in awe of Katelynn’s lack of inhibition – specifically her pole-dancing efforts that take place around a support-beam, and her dance floor grinding with an octogenarian. 

Gettin' jiggy with it

On the return trip home, Katelynn tests the open waters with Devyn, who’s unsurprised and supportive. Meanwhile, Scott wonders why Katelynn hasn’t revealed herself to him. Ryan feels the same way, and takes control of the situation by asking her bluntly, “You were born a guy weren’t you?”

She confirms his suspicions, and his reaction is mainly that of a curious child’s.

“You’re like Pinocchio. You want to be a real girl, but you were a boy.”

Katelynn is happy that Ryan seems to be opening his mind, and a moment of silent understanding occurs that I've been waiting the season for.

You're like Pinocchio

Helping me realize that straight boys gossip just as much as their gay counterparts, Ryan tells Scott that Katelynn has come out to him. Privately, Scott questions his friendship with Katelynn because of the secret. But in yet another insightful moment, he reminds me why I adore him.

“It doesn’t matter to me whether you’re a boy or a girl or whatever – you’re still a person. It’s the soul that makes you who you are; not what your body looks like.” Ah, swoon. 

In case you need a reminder as to why I adore Scott

It doesn’t take long before Katelynn learns that JD has been outing her. They briefly discuss the matter while Scott overhears them. He asks her why she’s letting her blood pressure rise because of JD, and the brief question’s subtext acts as confirmation in his mind, soothing him.

Afterwards, with Katelynn as wide open as (if I was familiar with soccerball’s nomenclature, I’d insert a “wide open” position here) my mouth upon a glance of Scott’s abs, she loosens up around the boys. Finally, her integration into the house now appears as successful has her integration into her new sex.

This episode’s up-arrow is a no-brainer for me. The topic of gender identity and transgendered individuals (the oft less-discussed T that follows the LGB) needs to be in the national dialog, and the Brooklyn cast tackles it with open hearts and minds.

How do you feel about Katelynn flaunting her “new” body in front of the housemates? How do you gauge Ryan’s reaction? Do you feel JD misstepped by somewhat revealing Katelynn’s “secret”? Do you think this episode in specific and this season in general will be remembered as a marker (whether positive, neutral or negative) in trans history?