Spoilers for Bob’s Burgers follow, but you’re probably already aware of them. The only thing more unabashedly brilliant than the Belchers is Bob Belcher. Despite working in a “crappy restaurant,” this man is not only a brilliant cook, but he has also demonstrated time and again that he is an essential component of the LGBTQ+ community in his hometown.
Bob has revealed himself to be a supporter of the trans community, befriending a group of transgender sex workers. He never hesitates or reveals any underlying prejudice. He just accepts them as they are. Mr Fischoeder appears to have been correct when he remarked, “Bobs are once in a lifetime.”
But it’s not simply Bob’s allyship that has allowed him to flip his way into our hearts as deftly as he flips those burgers. It’s also his undeniable bisexuality. Still don’t trust us? If you’re expecting for the message to be pounded home loudly in every scene, it’s easy to miss. However, if you pay attention to the subtleties of Bob’s sexuality, you’ll notice the unmistakable signs of a bisexual guy emerge.
The famous grocery scenes from season four’s ‘Turkey in a Can’, perhaps, are what firmly cements his bisexuality as (un)official canon. That incident altered everything. It created such an impact that people are still talking about it eight years later.
At the time, fans and numerous gay news sources applauded the episode for assisting Bob in his transformation into the bi icon we know today. Bob’s bisexuality is so generally acknowledged that he has his own character page on Bi.org.
Throughout the show, Bob’s cherished turkeys keep winding up in the toilet, with the occasional slide into the litter box in between. Determined to make a fantastic Thanksgiving, which any fan knows is Bob’s favorite holiday, he continues buying a fresh bird to prepare. Tony, the deli counter employee, walks in.
At the time, fans and numerous gay news sources applauded the episode for assisting Bob in his transformation into the bi icon we know today. Bob’s bisexuality is so generally acknowledged that he has his own character page on Bi.org.
Throughout the show, Bob’s cherished turkeys keep winding up in the toilet, with the occasional slide into the litter box in between. Determined to make a fantastic Thanksgiving, which any fan knows is Bob’s favourite holiday, he continues buying a fresh bird to prepare. Tony, the deli counter employee, walks in.
To some viewers, Bob’s remark may appear to be a fluke, an inconsequential queerbait that entices but never delivers. However, when juxtaposed with other, more subtle encounters, Bob’s bisexuality becomes clearer.
‘L’il Hard Dad,’ from Season 5, is another excellent example that confirms Bob’s bisexuality. When Bob buys a Vanquisher helicopter from Terry at Hobby Hole, the two men wind up in an intimate hug. Terry puts his arms around Bob to assist him navigate the controls, and Bob remarks that the process is rather simple.
The creators might have depicted Bob backing away from Terry at this moment, the two of them feeling uneasy about the scenario. Instead, when Terry acknowledges that he doesn’t need to hold Bob in this position, Bob responds, “No, it helps.”
Later in the series, especially in ‘Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street,’ Bob remarks on how handsome Glenn, the “smell-nice handyman,” is. Then he says Glenn isn’t his type, which is quickly followed by him saying Glenn isn’t his type. It’s doubtful that a straight character would do something like that. They’d either say nothing or make a joke about not like males — kinds wouldn’t come into play. At no time does Bob appear to be kidding; he delivers the statement with the same deadpan seriousness as many of his previous lines.
Of course, such nuance complicates the interpretation of this figure. Bob’s sexuality remains mainly unclear since he never uses the term “bisexual.” We’ve seen it before with other cartoon characters, such as Lisa Simpson: viewers are offered repeated breadcrumbs of seeming proof, but it’s done in a way that never explicitly states what we all assume.
Given how LGBTQ+ friendly Bob’s Burgers is, it’s odd that they haven’t taken that bold and proud step yet. However, given that someone’s queerness isn’t their sole distinguishing characteristic, the authors’ decision not to shout from Wonder Wharf that Bob is bi has some realism to it. He’s at ease in his own skin and understands exactly who he is. The desire to make it a big part of the performance as soon as possible would potentially change the dynamics, making the move appear less real and emotional.
Perhaps one day the program will offer Bob a queer flashback to prove prior same-sex love interests, but it isn’t necessary to validate his bi identity. Bob Belcher is a man who is confident in his sexuality, regardless of who he has loved and/or been with. We don’t know what more to say if that isn’t classic bisexual enthusiasm. Every Sunday night in the United States, Bob’s Burgers airs on Fox. Season 12 will premiere on Comedy Central in the United Kingdom soon.
