The arts and homosexuality

Madame Pandora

Deliciously Aware of Impending Sins
Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Posts
1,627
Being southern pretty much guarantees me that I will have at least one family member who is prejudiced against every subject imaginable. Homosexuality is, of course, a biggie.

Over the holidays, when I was trapped in rooms with family members, one of my uncles made the remark that "All those people in Hollywood are nothing but a bunch of faggots."

Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas...

Still, I hate to give the ass credit for anything, but it did get me thinking - there does seem to be a common perception that gay men and women only indulge in flamboyant, creative pursuits. I find, in my life, that this is certainly not true. Most of my gay friends have regular, boring jobs. Not all their homes look like a page out of Martha Stewart, and they dress pretty much like everyone else.

I see as much "straight" as I do "gay" in the arts, if not more. Where does this preception come from? Any ideas?

MP
 
The power of publicity.
Ellen coming out makes the cover of Time and Newsweek.
A bricklayer coming out doesn't. But there are probably as many gay bricklayers as there are performers.
 
Madame Pandora said:
Being southern pretty much guarantees me that I will have at least one family member who is prejudiced against every subject imaginable. Homosexuality is, of course, a biggie.
...
I see as much "straight" as I do "gay" in the arts, if not more. Where does this preception come from? Any ideas?

Just a SWAG based on some of the "rednecks" I've known, but...

I think there is a perception that actors and other artist "don't have a real job" and anyone who doesn't have a real job must not be a real man. (obviously, women in the arts must be gay, or they would have husbands and be at home cooking.)
 
I agree with Nitelight & Weird Harold. I have lots of friends who are gay, most of them live quiet lives, do their job, take care of their families. I know a few people who work in television, but they are behind the cameras, so don't get the publicity.
 
Madame Pandora said:
there does seem to be a common perception that gay men and women only indulge in flamboyant, creative pursuits. Where does this preception come from?

From the fact that a lot of gay men and women do indulge in flamboyant, creative pursuits.
 
It's easier to stigmatize and dehumanize someone if they are made out to be something separate from how you identify yourself. If the good ol' boys had to come to grips with the fact that - in addition to flamboyant artists - bricklayers, construction workers, waiters, mill workers, mechanics, yes even their fellow good ol' boys could possibly be 'like that' or 'one of them' they might have to come to grips with the fact that gays, lesbians, and bisexuals are human too.

But since some book says they're all going to rot in Hell, they have to be judged and condemned. The illusion has to be created that they're all in Hollywood, all acting like a buncha queers, that their pursuits are frivolous and not 'real work', and that they're after your children. Then there is the safety of distance, the reassurance that you could spot one in a crowd, and the moral standing to discriminate, beat up, kill... after all, they're after your kids. It's self defense.

It's just easier to hate people if you don't have to look at them as people.
 
Isn't it interesting...

how most "manly" pursuits become stereotypical male homosexual lust fantasies?

Personally, I think that those who cannot create are afraid of those who can, and we all know what happens when people are afraid of those who are perceived different...

btw, if anyone is keeping count, the Pope actually came out and admitted last year that as long as one "lives a life like Christ" (i.e. actually being NICE to people, remember that?) will go to heaven, no matter what their beliefs. Maybe it's me, but that's progress!

I want to say so much more on this subject, being a creative person, and having good friends of all sexualities, but the beer has gone to my head. ;)
 
Back
Top