Instrument-based pseudo-homophobia in my hometown!

[bbernardini]

Well, it may not be homophobia, but being a music teacher, I have to wonder. This is from an article about the Memorial Day parade:

The parade also included the Downingtown High School Marching Band, which stopped occasionally to play patriotic songs, including the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Mary Jane Harns, 4, of Uwchlan, rode in one of the parade Corvettes. She said her favorite part of the parade was the band. "I like the girls playing the flute," she said.

Her younger brother, Evan, 3, said he also liked the flute players. But then his father, Dave, suggested that the tuba was a more admirable instrument.

"The tuba," Evan then said. "I like the tuba."

[SoxFan]

1. It's not a tuba, it's a homophone.

[Richardo]

3. OK that's funny

:applause:

[DarkTirade]

2. I don't think its homophobia, but rather a reinforcement of societal gender roles.

For some reason certain instruments are expected to be male only and certain ones are expected to be female only. The only person in my youth orchestra who broke that taboo was a home schooled kid who wouldn't have been exposed to any ridicule from his peers when he started playing. And when I was in college, the only female string bass player was a rather tomboyish girl.

Personally, I think playing an instrument that society has deemed not 'masculine' is great for straight guys. They'll be surrounded by members of the opposite sex from a young age, and that'll give them a huge advantage when they get old enough to date. They'll be the only one of their peers who knows how to talk to and hang out with the girls. :P

[mitchum]

4. But isn't a flute phallic...

while a tuba has a prominent opening?
I'm surprised Georgia O'Keeffe didn't paint a bunch of pictures of tubas.