Friday, September 15, 2006
"Drag Queens & Stereotypes"

A harangue by Jason Heath-Fitzgerald:

My husband recently received a comment via Internet that he and I both found quite offensive.

The comment came from another gay man and somewhat surprised us. I'm not going to quote the comment, because I doubt Matthew would want me too, however I will say that the sender seemed to be troubled that my husband (Oklahoma's Cowboy Crooner, Matthew Heath-Fitzgerald) was scheduled to perform in the same show as 'Drag Queens.'

He was troubled because he believes men in Drag promotes 'gay stereotypes' and makes homophobic people think that all gay men want to be female.

This situation made me think quite extensively about many things today. First and foremost, something I've told folks before: Drag Queens are generally performers who dress in Drag to entertain audiences for pay; they are men and live as men. Guys who dress up in women's clothing in day-to-day life are cross-dressers. Guys who want to have their thing cut off and become women are transsexuals. There is a HUGE difference there and if people would take their heads outta their asses for a second they just might realize that.

There are many kinds of Gay people, just like there are many kinds of Straight people. You've got the nelly guys who you usually see on the news at pride parades, you've got your gay cowboys, leather men.... blah, blah, blah... on and on. Every June when the all the news networks are covering the Pride festivals across the country, they usually tend to focus on certain aspects of the festivities- yes, usually the nellier gays and drag queens.

Also every June I hear gay people bitching about the nelly fags that are shown on TV.

Well, get over it. That's the media for you and there's no changing it. What everyone, Gay & Straight, should realize is: There are nelly fags out there and IT IS OKAY. Gay people SHOULD NOT have to 'act' like straight people to be accepted. People are people, everyone is different and if some guy wants to sache down the street with his hand on his hip, he should be able to. This is a free country, right?

I hate it when people say things to me like: "You really seem straight, I wouldn't have guessed you were gay!" What the fuck? Is that a compliment? I know it's meant to be, but I just don't see it that way. I don't see myself as 'Gay acting' and I don't see myself as 'Straight acting', I just see me as being myself. I'm me. If I seem Gay, well, fuckin' great. If I seem Straight, I really don't give a shit. President Bush, the Republican Party and Organized Religion can kiss my ass either way.

As for the 'Drag Queens'; I've worked around the entertainment side of the Gay community for quite a few years and have been proud to call several of the Drag Performers my friends. Ginger Lamar, Tabitha Taylor, Stephanie DeBarge, Kris Kohl- I could go on and on. These people are backbones of the Gay community and have probably given more to our organizations and charities than anyone could possibly imagine.

It would be nice if the Gay community would take a step back & look at where we would be without the Drag Queens. Whenever your organization needs to raise money, who do you call? DRAG QUEENS. Whenever you're putting a pride picnic on in the park and you need entertainment, who do you call? DRAG QUEENS.

What about Stonewall? I think we owe a big 'THANK YOU' to those Drag Queens.

There was a time in Oklahoma when Drag Queens were not allowed in the Gay Pride Parades. What a sad thought. Those parades must have been very colorless. When Ginger Lamar took it upon himself to ride on the back of a big convertable Cadillac and force himself right into the middle of the Oklahoma City Pride Parade, history changed. What a person to admire.

The next time you think you're better than a Drag Queen, stop and ask yourself "What have I done for my community lately?"

DRAG QUEEN: n. Slan. A man, especially a performer, who dresses as a woman.

IN DRAG: Wearing clothes normally worn by the opposite sex, as in All of the actors in the revue were in drag. This expression originally alluded to male actors wearing women's apparel on stage, especially for comic purposes.

TRANSVESTITE: A person who dresses and acts in a style or manner traditionally associated with the opposite sex.

TRANSEXUAL:
1. a person having a strong desire to assume the physical characteristics and gender role of the opposite sex.
2. a person who has undergone hormone treatment and surgery to attain the physical characteristics of the opposite sex.

CROSS-DRESSER: to dress in clothing typically worn by members of the opposite sex.

BIGOT: One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.