"Homer's Phobia" is the fifteenth episode of The Simpsons' eighth season, which originally aired on the Fox network on February 16, 1997. It was the first episode written by Ron Hauge and was directed by Mike B. Anderson. John Waters (pictured) guest starred, providing the voice of the new character John. In the episode, Homer disassociates himself from new family friend John after discovering that John is gay. He worries that John will have a negative influence on his son, Bart. "Homer's Phobia" was the first episode to revolve entirely around homosexual themes, with the title being a pun on the word "homophobia". Originally, due to the controversial subject, the Fox censors found the episode unsuitable for broadcast, but this decision was reversed after a turnover in the Fox staff. It won four awards, including an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) and a GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding TV - Individual Episode".
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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1214: Philip II of France decisively won the Battle of Bouvines and took undisputed control of the territories of Anjou, Brittany, Maine, Normandy and the Touraine. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bouvines)
1714: Great Northern War: The Imperial Russian Navy defeated the Swedish Navy at the Battle of Gangut in the waters north of the Hanko Peninsula. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gangut)
1865: A group of Welsh settlers arrived at Chubut Valley in Argentina's Patagonia region. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_settlement_in_Argentina)
1949: The de Havilland Comet, the world's first jet airliner, made its maiden flight. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/de_Havilland_Comet)
1953: Korean War: A cease-fire was signed, creating a demilitarized zone approximately 4 km (2.5 miles) wide running across the Korean Peninsula between North and South Korea. (Joint Security Area pictured) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Demilitarized_Zone)
1996: Centennial Olympic Park bombing: A pipe bomb exploded during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, killing two and injuring 111. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Olympic_Park_bombing)
_____________________ Wiktionary's Word of the day:
hierarchical: Of or pertaining to an ecclesiastic or priestly order. (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hierarchical)
_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:
A heart, a heart that hurts, is a heart, a heart that works. -- Juliana Hatfield‎ (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Juliana_Hatfield%E2%80%8E)