Identity
After viewing The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, overall I agree with Robertson’s idea that the road becomes liberating for those in the film with a gay identity. The first example from the film that can be used to explain this idea of liberation is when Bob interacts with the three main characters; Bernadette, Mitzi, and Felicia. He is first introduced as a mechanic with a wife that participates in activities that he doesn’t approve of. When Bob’s wife ends up leaving him because of her unhappiness with him he takes to the road with Bernadette, Mitzi, and Felicia. As he travels with them he and Bernadette begin to have feelings for each other, which is very liberating for the gay identity because Bob shows his respect for them throughout his time with them. Another example of how the road is liberating for the gay identity is the connection that Mitzi and his son develop throughout the journey. Although Mitzi’s son isn’t present for most of the film, just the existence of the thought of him proves to be very liberating in the end. Throughout the entire film Tick possess many questions about the way his son is going to see him. He is nervous to finally meet him because he doesn’t want to be rejected. When he finally sees his son and realizes that his son knows about the kind of person he is Tick recognizes that his son is okay with who he is. Tick realizes that it is okay for him to be Mitzi because his son is okay with it and that is all that really matters to him. He finds liberation in the way he can interact with his son no matter who he is.