I really can’t stand it.  Sean Spicer – safe again!  I hope that by the time you read this, his tenure on Dancing with the Stars has come to an end.  Mind you, I am basing that not on politics, on his previous job, nor any feelings about him as a person.  I’m basing it solely on the fact that he CAN’T DANCE!  Alas, this is the downside of living in a free society.  You give people the right to vote, and have to pay the consequences.

The UK’s version of the show, Strictly Come Dancing, made a bit of history by having the first same-sex routine.  While they’ve previously featured mixed groups with some same-sex interaction, this was the first time that a routine was solely two men.  However, this dance was not part of the competition. It was two pros dancing while singer Emeli Sandé sang “Shine”.  The dancers were Johannes Radebe (who is openly gay) and Graziano Di Prima (who is not).  Reaction to the routine was largely positive.  Radebe said, “I’ve never felt so liberated.  For the first time in my life, I feel accepted for who I am.  That says so much about the people of this country.” 

Meanwhile, the Danish version of Dancing with the Stars (Vild med dans) has a same-sex couple competing.  When Jakob Fauerby, an openly gay actor, was cast, he was prepared.  “I had already thought that if they called me, I would ask if it was possible to dance with a man.”  Not only did he get a man – he got two-time mirror ball champion Silas Holst, who is also gay.  The pair topped the leaderboard four times in the past eight weeks.

There have been same-sex dances on similar shows around the world.  In 2011, TV host Alfons Haider danced with a male professional in Austria’s Dancing Stars.  The Israeli show Rokdim im Kokhavim featured female sportscaster Gili Shem Tov competing with a female pro.  And last year, Italy’s Ballando con le Stelle included an openly gay fashion designer, Giovanni Ciacci, competing with a male professional.  They made it to the finals.

Drag star Courtney Act competed on Australia’s version of Dancing with the Stars.  She appeared in drag and had a male dance partner, which technically makes it a same-sex match-up.  She did well enough to come in second!  These strides around the globe have been noted by the domestic powers-that-be at DWTS, and I hear they are considering using one of RuPaul’s girls next season.  Is it just me, or does this have Shangela written all over it?