Back to the post
Back to the post
Back to the post
A Student Uprising for Gay Marriage in California
Back to the post
23 Comments
No. 4 ·
lejoneric
Personally- I totally agree with the point that is being made about “established” GLBT organizations. They are stuck in the past- full of stagnent thoughts- and not young and progressive enough to think outside the closet. Way to go!!
Whatever help I can provide- please let me know.
Jon
Apr 17, 2009 at 12:14 pm · @Reply
· Flag
· Flag
No. 6 ·
Hunter
Gosh, I had no idea it was an “either or” choice, as to who we needed to have in front of the cameras. I’m not in the 70 year old demographic, but let me just speak on their behalf for a moment.
Our culture, the gay culture in particular, is so frickin’ agist, to the point of being tragically so. What have the older gays seen? They fought at Stonewall, they mobilized and fought through the AIDs crisis in ways that those born in and after the 80′s just couldn’t possibly conceive of. Every homosexual was deemed diseased, folks jumped out of pools if someone thought to be gay and infected jumped in, and some pools were even drained. They were told repeatedly that they finally received their death sentence, had earned it, and had better be quick with it. The social condemnation was absolute, but somehow, Larry Kramer (who most folks, gay and straight, just chalked up to being a wack job), mobilized gays who had been badly beaten down, and moved them into action through Act Up.
The 70 year olds have more insight to the civil rights movement than Dave Valk could possibly imagine. Those in their 40′s and 50′s rose up against incredible odds, fighting for and winning funding for AIDs research–their fight was particularly arduous, in that they were not only dismissed for being deviants, but also for being diseased, infectious, and worthy of death.
Everytime I see an older couple getting married, two thoughts spring to mind: 1) well, it is about time–there is something so special about these two people who fought so long to finally be able to marry; and 2) thank God they were willing to get up there in front of the cameras, because the younger generation is failing to show up.
I am thrilled that a younger generation is coming in to fight this battle, and they absolutely must do so. They are needed, and this is their fight, but this moveement needs a face that represents the full spectrum of the GLBT community, from fresh faced 18 year olds willing to put themselves on the line, to those craggy faced 70 year olds who have fought their battles and have taken up yet another one to fight for the generations behind them.
This movement needs everyone one of us, and if we don’t all come together, we will make no progress whatsoever.
Apr 17, 2009 at 2:01 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 7 ·
GAYPETCLUB.com · Member · 8 comments
I Repeat- How in God’s name could Barack Obama run a national grassroots campaign upon the foundation of young people going door-to-door asking people for money and support? But the No on on 8 campaign, not only did they not incorporate young people, they shut them out, because they made it completely hierarchical. It’s the end of the system. The system completely died. In ten years, someone’s going to write a paper about what happened [in the last few months.]
Apr 17, 2009 at 2:25 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 9 ·
Captain Freedom
I think some of the anger is misguided here.
It is very wrong to aim our anger at older gays who indeed have fought battles we ourselves dare never dream to fight. They stood up to the bigots of Anita Bryant, Richard Nixon, the exterminationists who created the Religious Reich. Even worse they stood up to AIDS which further exposed the agenda of the Religious Right and Ronald Reagan.
They stood up to Jerry Falwell and televangelists who OPENLY called for the extermination of gay and lesbian Americans in concentration camps. In fact, they had to deal with lobbyists who approached the Reagan Administration calling for AIDS victims to have tattoos on their foreheads.
Old gays are not the ones who deserve the criticism. If anything, that criticism goes to HRC and the Establishment Gays in DC who keep taking our money to throw big parties and bankrupt the LGBT communities in America. They acted Machiavellian during the campaign and in my mind should either get out of the way this time or be a help and not an obstacle.
Apr 17, 2009 at 6:29 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 10 ·
John from England(used to be just John but there are other John's)
@Hunter:
Completely agree BUT I don’t think he meant it the way you intepreted it.
He was being pragmatic and talking ‘image’ instead of working together etc with various ages/groups which he seems to mention towards the end of the interview, so I’m not sure why you felt Valk wasn’t all about unity?
The bottom line and it sucks but ‘image’ is everything and when you are fighting a fight and trying to translate a message to a digital nation brought up on MTV with gay characters on Reals World OR to middle America white/Blacks who are dripping in religion and bigotry..
You need an image that will have an effect to make them think, empathise and relate..
Now what are the ‘Youth’ who you need to recruit to empathise have in common or be able to relate to a 70 year old gay campaigner who doesn’t talk their language?
And what would a religous conformist family/person be able to relate to a 70 year old gay campaigner that they feel is ‘typical 60′s/70′s hippie who spread aids in the 80′s?
However unfair or untrue it is…that’s people..
So when you have young black or white kids that look like thier friends, themselves or THEIR kids…
People can relate..
That’s all.
Like I said it sucks, but I think Valk is on your side as he stated.
We’re living in a branded world, esp since the turn of the century with the growth and power of advertising and imagery…it won’t go, however ‘real, honest and genuine’ your method is…the person who delivers it is equally if not more important..
:(
Apr 18, 2009 at 10:01 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 12 ·
Dan
Most young people support LGBT rights. They’re a pool of millions of people that we could recruit just as Obama did for his campaign. They could help change everyone’s mind, making the younger generation even more pro-gay and influencing older generations as well.
The 70-year-old couple who want only to get married have an important role to play as well. They may be most effective in influencing other older people, and they have a certain emotional appeal to many others as well.
Do the established groups have a role? I think so – especially the cagey legal groups like Lambda Legal and NCLR. Their successes over the past several years have been incredible. Where would we be today if they hadn’t got the Supreme Court to knock down the few remaining discriminatory sodomy laws, and established, for the first time at the federal level, that gay people are included in the constitution?
The victory in Iowa just days ago was a culmination of seven years of planning by LGBT legal groups. The marriage victory in Massachusetts was partly a result of an effective ad campaign. The established groups can’t do it alone, and they haven’t always succeeded. But I think that they too have a role.
Won Together has brought many diverse groups together to support LGBT equality – a tremendous advance. The more people and groups we have in our corner, the more successful we’ll be.
Apr 18, 2009 at 1:34 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 14 ·
Andy (age 48)
“You can’t just have LGBT community fighting. You have to expand the us’s” ??
Yet you spend a good part of your intro dissing older Lesbians. How precisely does that “expand the us’s”? It’s as trite and stupid as the phrase “don’t trust anyone over 30″ was a few generations ago.
Worse than that, it’s plain sexist. Apparently Valk has no problem with (older) gay men like Cleve Jones being on his program, but as for older Lesbians, he goes out of his way to saying he wants them invisible, apparently because they’re not “marketable” enough. Are we so shallow and susceptible to bigotry as all that?
Apparently some of us are, as Volk’s statement provokes the first poster above to use the “B” word. How is that any more acceptable than using the “N” word to refer to African Americans, or straight people to call us faggots or dykes? I would have hoped that leaders and would-be leaders in the LGBT community would have learned something from the disastrous attempts by some to scapegoat African Americans for Prop 8′s loss, but apparently not. Divide-and-conquer blaming of any group, whether African Americans or older Lesbians, is apparently still okay for some.
Students can and should have their own conferences, organizations and actions — controlled by them, run by them. Historically, that kind of autonomy served the African American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s quite well, with groups like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) making invaluable contributions.
But a little humility and investigation about what previous generations have contributed, and are continuing to contribute, is necessary to avoid repeating mistakes of the past. One of those devastating mistakes, which the Civil Rights and anti-war movements learned the hard way, was that sexism is poisonous to our movements, stunting the voices and contributions of those who might help us win more easily.
It’s an old sexist canard that male TV personalities can age on screen, but women personalities are out the door once a few sags and wrinkles set in. It’s sad when our own movement reflects these bullshit superficialities.
Apr 18, 2009 at 11:57 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 15 ·
Bob Schwartz, age 70
The real issue here is strategy for change, not the age of the people carrying it out.
First of all, do we defeat LGBT liberation by a top down, corporate driven campaign as occured in the fight against Prop 8, or do we organize democratically from the grass roots? (The Obama electoral machine was at its heart a corporate campaign as shown by his Wall Street agenda, but let’s save that debate for another time.)
Jeff Kohrs and Lori Jean and their national counterparts in HRC and the Task Force think our interests are advanced by alliances with the Democratic party and by skillful issuance of press releases and focus group-driven media products. In fact, direct action sometimes coupled with timely legal maneuvers is what carries the day.
Sure, I’m pleased to see thousands of young activists in the field angry and pushing for equality following the Proposition 8 debacle. But I’m also proud to stand along side “70 year old ladies.” And isn’t the preferred term “women?”
Thanks to Robin Tyler, Diane Olson and–the even older pioneers– Phyllis Lyon and the late Del Martin.
Apr 19, 2009 at 12:18 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 16 ·
Lee
“Who is she? Who was she? Who does she hope to be?” Valk? Valk? Isn’t he the guy who thought Obama’s elevating Rick Warren to the President’s Personal Pastor a cool idea?
Or is this the Valk who wrote about how Rufus Wainwright is the gay movement’s Bob Dylan because everyone at all the gay demos now are singing Rufus songs en masse?
Regardless…he can clearly match any queen of any age in self-adoration and delusion. Jesus, Mary, & Joseph Hill! He’s already imagining the history books HE’S going to be in! Hurry and get your pre order in on Amazon!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for new ideas, but he doesn’t have any. Alliances with other groups have been tried over and over and over, from the sinister ….the Communists successfully exploited various minority groups until Russia’s initial pack with Hitler … to the superficial….the anti Vietnam War movement, led mostly by pale skinned children of privilege, inspired Phil Ochs to write and sing “Love Me I’m A Liberal” while they formed skin deep alliances with the poor and Leonard Bernstein held cocktail parties for the Black Panthers…to the sincere of all types doomed to failure because they confused the means with the end.
Gatherings of people with card tables and pamphlets on a college campus? STOP THE FUCKING PRESSES! Revolutionary! Wait ’til he invents tie dyed shirts and sex! “I think I shall call it a ‘penis’.”
This is just another $250 a ticket black tie dinner circle jerk in which no one actually comes except the tickets don’t cost $250, street clothes and visible boxer waist bands will substitute for black tie, and there won’t be any dinner, and the only ones who’ll come themselves will be the Valkettes.
Coming to a YouTube video near you soon.
Apr 19, 2009 at 1:05 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 17 ·
John in CA
@Bob Schwartz, age 70: It is not a well kept secret that there are more than a few registered Republicans at Equality California and the Human Rights Campaign. If people believe they’re Democratic organizations, it is only because that’s the public image they want to project.
Like lawyers, lobbyists are paid to represent their clients. Since Democrats are a little more open to legislation that might help sexual minorities, that’s who they have to talk to. It is nothing personal. These lobbyists might toe the Democratic line in a press release on Monday and then vote for a Republican on Tuesday.
For them, politics is simply a job (i.e. a way to make money). Which is probably why they’re not particularly effective at it. You can’t really outsource your civil liberties to a class of “beltway” professionals. There’s no passion and no sense of urgency at HRC. They’ll say the words. But you can tell they’re more interested in fundraisers than actually getting results.
Apr 19, 2009 at 2:15 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 18 ·
zeke · Member · 3 comments
I happen to be one of the old grassroots gay rights activists Valk speaks so disparaging of. I couldn’t be more pleased or proud our youth is picking up the torch in the GLBT civil rights movement. For decades, it was the 70, 60 and 50 year old male and “female” activist, who fought to advance GLBT equality, and we did so for our youth, more then for ourselves. To dismiss the tireless contributions the old activists put forth on the front lines in the fight for GLBT equal civil rights is arrogant. It’s offensive this young whippersnapper to imply we haven’t reached out to our youth to join the GLBT civil rights movement. Fact is we have continued to do so, however, sadly many were more interested in partying, than being involved in the movement. Thank God many more are now getting more involved. Because, us old folks won’t be around to continue the fight and it’s up to them to carry on what we started.
Valk hit a gay nerve with his obvious ageist and misogynist attitude. Who does he think laid the ground work for the GLBT civil rights? It was us old activists, and our lesbians sisters played a leading role in the GLBT civil rights movement. Wake up kid, one successful event doesn’t make you an expert. We must work as a united community, if we are to continue move forward.
The last thing we need do, is alienate a segment of our community, especially those who worked so hard to get us to where we are today. Those who would deny us our equal rights would relish us fighting among ourselves, instead of joining together to achieve our common goal of full equality.
R. Zeke Fread
Apr 19, 2009 at 5:35 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 19 ·
Zoe Nicholson
Mr. Valk,
Don’t stand by me at any of the protests – I am 60 and queer. Wouldn’t want to spoil your image.
Harvey Milk didn’t mind, Lyon & Martin didn’t mind, Dick Gregory didn’t mind, Dr. Lowery didn’t mind. But you seem to be faint of heart – so you can go stand over there — I won’t mind.
Apr 19, 2009 at 6:39 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 20 ·
JR
How refreshing to hear a new, honest voice in the movement for LGBT equality. I am so relieved to have a new breed of activist, like Valk, Kip Williams of One Struggle, One Fight, and Robin McGehee of Meet in the Middle who are willing to challenge the entrenched and often out-of-touch so-called-leaders who run the big “mainstream” groups. The fact is that many of these leaders, however well intentioned they may once have been, have become complacent and self-congratulatory. Though the infighting in the LGBT movement makes me uncomfortable at times, I have come to believe that these are necessary growing pains to move us forward. The new grassroots leaders are not overly-passionate and uniformed, they are the true future of this movement, if the old guard doesn’t start giving them some genuine respect, the old guard is going to become irrelevant.
Apr 19, 2009 at 6:40 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 21 ·
TANK
It’s so refreshing to scan the comments and find a bunch of crotchety old whiners who smack of death and sick complaining about not being heralded as the NEXT great thing with effusive empty praise for your sacrifices and blah blah blah blahs. It’s time to move over, peepaws and meemaws. Let young people like david valk reignite the torch.
Apr 20, 2009 at 12:42 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 22 ·
PJ
For all of you who criticize these organizations, I asked you where the hell were you when the Prop 8 fight was going on. I have friends that gave blood sweat and tears as organizers who worked 7 days a week, and worked in the hinterlands of Fresno for decline to sign well before the decision was passed down. I had other friends that were too lazy to get off their ass to give time, let alone money.
It’s easy to pick apart the establishment. Yes, there were mistakes. How many of you are ready to do door to door canvassing in Fresno, Riverside, Imperial Valley, San Jaoquin Valley, Sacramento every weekend to make the reversal happen, because until you are, SHUT THE HELL UP.
We lost the fight because we got lazy, because we thought it was a forgone conclusion, and because the opposition wanted it more, and was willing, to lie and TO SACRIFICE.
It’s easy to blame the establishment because we’re trained look at the experts in the room, and if things go wrong, we blame them, because they’re supposed to know. The LGBT community has won 1 of the 34 fights at the ballot; that’s not a good average. Maybe the loss was a good thing so that we pay attention, and actually do something about our destiny.
And how may of you ACTIVELY give to these organizations (HRC, TaskForce, The Center, EQCA0 who work tirelessly and/or to the work of organizing: you can do it without the organizations. because FOCUS ON THE FAMILY has a larger budget than all our LGBT equality orgs combined – Per Christine Quinn (if you don’t know who she is, look her up). It’s time for all of us to put our money where our mouth is, get to work. It is a numbers game… just look at the Obama campaign. Money+Organizing=Power. $700million+ 3 million e-mails = Presidential Victory.
Rally’s are nice, but they don’t deliver elections. Obama’s campaign had great rally’s but their (our) power was around an effective ground game that would slave day and night to get across the goal line. Are you ready to do the same?
One last sentence: Go Bruins!
Apr 20, 2009 at 2:27 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 23 ·
zeke · Member · 3 comments
@TANK:
I’m proud of our youth who want to pick up and carry the torch for the GLBT civil right movement.
As difficult as it was to see Prop 8, as well as AZ’s Prop 102 and FL’s Amendment 2 pass. At least it served as a wake-up call for our youth, they realized it’s their future at stake and are stepping up to the plate. I commend all who were involved in organizing and participated in 1Fest.
Holding a rally to publicly express your opposition to passage of these mean-spirited Props and Amendments is a good start. I can only hope ya’ll continue to work to keep the momentum going.
That said, the lack of appreciation, gratitude and respect for the papaws, memos and old geezer activists who worked tirelessly 7/24/365 to advance the GLBT civil rights movement to where it is today, is extremely disappointing. It’s easy to point the finger at a particular group and organization for passage of these mean-spirited anti-gay marriage Props and Amendment. Instead of being inclusive as ya’ll claim, you’re alienating the very people who have forgotten more about advancing the GLBT civil rights movement than ya’ll will every learn. Your attitude that ya’ll have all the answers, that us old activists have nothing to bring to the table, makes ya’ll sound like know it all pompous asses.
As a community we’re all in the struggle for equality together. We need each and every member of our community to do their part if we are to succeed. I for one, will I step aside and trust leaving my future rights in your hands. You have much to learn my young friends and us old activists are the ones who are more than willing to teach you. But, ya’ll have to be willing to listen, if not, ya’ll do more harm than good.
R. Zeke Fread
Day of Decision Florida Coordinator/Organizer
Director Pride Tampa Bay
Apr 20, 2009 at 6:21 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
Add your Comment
Drag Race Recap: Freaky Friday, Drag Style
Back to the post
51 Comments
No. 25 ·
Anomaly
Agree with you 100%
Nina and her Russian twin looked fierce, and Ongina and her partner, whom I dubbed Girlgina after the make-over, were fab. In my opinion, they totally nailed the challenge, which made RPs opinions confusing, especially when Shanelle is praised when her girl, Sweepee, looked so dragtasic.
A confusing, poorly edited episode, with a challenge that seems to change depending on who is talking, all leading up to fierce sweetheart of the bunch, Ongina, being eliminated. WTF?
Mar 3, 2009 at 11:49 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 26 ·
Tom in COS
First off, WTF!?!?!?! Ongina loses out to Bebe because Bebe ripped her wig off?!?!? Homo don’t think so. Plus i just lost the betting pool with my straight friends. Boo I say to the producers. BOO!
Secondly, I understand that Rebecca is playing the foil for the series, making everyone else (including Shannel in all her high-strung perfectionist glory) look like saints, but that bitch needs to go. The only thing she can really do is sew and look pretty. That does not make a drag queen.
Mar 3, 2009 at 11:52 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 28 ·
Qjersey · Member · 1260 comments
I like Ongina, but i am over ‘club kid’ half drag. She can’t hold a candle to the other queens.
Rebecca, dumb bitch, tranny hooker look
Shannel, anyone would look fierce in those expensive costumes
the final two should be Bebe and Nina
Mar 3, 2009 at 11:58 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 29 ·
Geoff
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who felt that this last “Drag Race” episode was faulty. The comments on each of this episodes page (on logo) seem to say the same thing about the wig incident. I was surprised I liked this show so much as well, and am really sorry to see Ongina go…but please have mercy…Rebecca is one hot beyotch.
Mar 3, 2009 at 11:58 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 30 ·
RS
I grew to love Ongina long before last week’s tearful confession. I am so sad to see her go.
BTW, I just changed my Facebook quote to “that’s the secret lesson drag queens impart on us: If you’re given stupid, demeaning things to do, do them with pride and self-respect and you own them.” With full credit to Queerty. Words to live by.
Mar 3, 2009 at 12:08 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 31 ·
Robert
I will say that was disappointing for ep 5 – what should’ve happenend – ep 4 – Shannell should’ve kicked off Rebecca so in ep 5 Ongina could’ve kicked off Jade – alas that was not meant to be. I am really surprised to get so into the show – I honestly didn’t think I would – I will say that Drag Race does seem ‘fixed’ – it was tough to tell before – but its getting that reality TV smell to it – for ep 5 – on the surface should’ve been FUNNY but it seemed to lack the humor and then Ongina leaving – that was tough to watch – the real kick was Rebecca winning – it should’ve been Shannel who had the toughest transformation to work on but she also had the best skills to pull it off – For the record I like all the remaining contestants but in my opinion Rebecca has the least to offer…fewer queens makes for tougher decisions.
Mar 3, 2009 at 12:49 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 32 ·
atdleft
Thank gawd I’m not the only one who thinks Ongina was robbed! Oh yes, and muchas gracias a Japhy for explaining to all of us “reality teevee” junkies these interesting tricks of the trade. This justs makes me suspect even more that the producers are just keeping Rebecca on to stir up sh*t and keep fools like us watching. I guess I’ll fall for it… Sort of.
While I do like Bebe and think there’s plausible reason to keep Shannel and Nina on, Rebecca really should have been sent home last week for her gawd awful “VivaGlam Ad”. And even this week, I must admit that Shannel deserved to win this time for her great costuming and transformation of her butch “drag daughter” into a very lovely lady. But hey, I guess the producers just want to shake it up to f*ck up the show some more and keep us addicted to all the crazy drama.
Mar 3, 2009 at 12:50 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 33 ·
Tahitian Brown
I agree with you Queerty! The judges are so stupid and fake! They said Nina’s partner looks like a Drag Queen, but what about Ongina? Ongina’s partner looks like a woman! I don’t get the judges.
We can’t stand Rebecca Glasscock either. We all screamed when Ongina lost.
Ongina, Nina are fan favorites. Why kick off the fan favorite?
Mar 3, 2009 at 12:54 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 34 ·
Mike
We all know that in nearly every reality series the producers play a role in deciding which contestant stays and which will go–which made the fact that one see’s RuPaul leave the table all the more suspect. I had imagined that something fun and showy might emerge from behind the table, a RuPaul and a mini Ru in the form of a retouched Serena Williams perhaps? But no…it was simply a build up for dramatic impact with no real dramatic payoff.
Alas, I must lodge a complaint here. All this hate of poor ‘lil Rebecca. Down with a bad cold this weekend, I felt disappointed that I was not up to visiting a museum or attending a poetry reading, and in my drive to bring a little culture into my life, I visited the Drag Race website to watch the behind the scenes bickering that they reveal there. Interestingly, Rebecca, behind thhe scenes, tends to avoid in the many messy conversations that unfold in the green room. So enriched by my viewing experience over the weekend, I just had to visit last night, and was interested in hearing what Rebecca’s intent was in assigning each lady fighter to each lady impersonator.
While I thought that the bald cage fighter, assigned to our favorite juggling queen might have served Ogina better, Rebecca revealed that she paired each he-she to the contestent that would best suit their ability to make them over. She did ruffle a couple of ostrich feathers by explaining to Ogina that she felt that make-up wasn’t her strong suit, and that she assiged the toughest case to Shannel because of her talent and experience in make-up. Of course, this could have been a ruse, it could be that she just wished to provide the greatest challenge to the individual she feels is her biggest competition, but one could see that what she said could have been her true intent. Doubtlessly, Ogina was paired with the most striking of our female fighters, and in the end, Rebecca has not proven herself to be one of drag’s greatest minds.
Drag, I’ve always thought, demanding a bit of outrageousness. The most successful performers have been those with the largest personalities. RuPaul came to fame, not just for larger than life physical presence, but for his larger than life personality as well, and in this, our Rebecca prooves more “female impersonator” than drag queen, and there is a difference. Poor little thing doesn’t stand a chance, and the irony is that the contestant of the smallest stature, arguably had the largest personality of all.
Shannele shows glimmer of personality, but seems incapable of summoning a sense of humor. Bebe is regal and a strong black woman obviously courses through her veins, but humor seems to ellude her as well. We are left with Nina Flowers who, despite revealing her masculine side, has a fun with each challenge, and brings a little bit of humor to each of her challenges.
Nina Flowers is my pick to pick up the drag mantel and run with it. Nevertheless, isn’t it just wonderful that the Bush era is over, and that we can be a bit frivolous in times that are sizing up to be so very hard?
Mar 3, 2009 at 1:23 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 35 ·
GranDiva
I’m thinking that maybe all this was actually intentional, kind of to poke fun at what happened to Tyra on ANTM when Ebony #3 and Ambreal were up for elimination (cycle 9, when Chantal should have won but Tyra gave the title to her little protege, Tootie-Saleisha), and Ebony #3 decided right then and there that she wanted to quit, mere moments before Tyra was to announce that Ambreal was eliminated. Tyra had to run off and consult with her producers to see if Ebony could quit (this despite the fact that at least one girl had quit in an earlier season).
Oh, I’m in complete agreement that Ongina shouldn’t have been eliminated, but I’m not convinced that this style of elimination wasn’t in the works already.
Mar 3, 2009 at 1:42 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 36 ·
Cody
Why are we hating on Rebecca Glasscock so hard? I forget.
I love Ongina, but I didn’t see her winning this thing at all. The bitch isn’t really a “Drag Queen”. She is what I would call a “hybrid”. While I love what she does, I don’t feel like she is fitting the standards. She doesn’t tuck, she doesn’t wear wigs, and she doesn’t do tits. Um…. aren’t these kind of key factors in the drag illusion? I love the androgyny that is Ongina, but I feel like that is a whole different competition. Maybe I am being too narrow in my fews but if we are looking to have another RuPaul, I want one with tits and big hair.
Mar 3, 2009 at 2:33 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 37 ·
REBELComx
Over all, i think they all did a very good job at turning their girls into themselves. The fact that the judges apparently couldn’t make up their minds what the challenge was about totally pissed me off. “Yeah lets change the criteria around in the middle of judging, AFTER the girls have done all the work.” F-ing brilliant.
I liked Ongina in the first place, and after last week’s episode i had a great deal of respect and admiration for her. And I loved Bebe’s makeover. She made it very clear that her persona was more about a passion for her heritage and that’s what she did for her model. I wish the judges would have asked why she went with that look instead of just criticizing it. I can’t stand Rebecca. Not only is she a bitch, SHE IS BORING. She’s not even really a drag queen, she’s a female impersonator. There’s a subtle difference. And I’m very disappointed that Ru Paul hasn’t mentioned that yet. When asked about being a female impersonator once, Ru said “I do not impersonate females! How many women do you know who wear seven-inch heels, four-foot wigs, and skintight dresses?” Rebecca on the other hand is too realistic. Her look is very simple, very real-womanish, which makes her a FEMALE IMPERSONATOR. Drag queens are supposed to wild, crazy, and over the top, an exaggeration. I agree that it should have been Rebecca to go last week, and then Jade this week. Even though I’m sure Jade’s makeover would have been awesome.
Mar 3, 2009 at 3:24 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 38 ·
Rob W.
I didn’t realize how much the show derailed until I read this. I’m disappointed, but we’ll just have to move forward from this tragedy and see what happens next week. “And then there were four…” I think Rebbecca is going down. If it comes down to Bebe and Rebbecca I’m going to be extremely annoyed. I used to like Bebe, but this episode she just seemed narrow and forced (the wig thing, yeah).
Mar 3, 2009 at 3:32 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 39 ·
BrianZ · Member · 316 comments
My partner and I were so sad to see Ongina go as well! I was even warming up to her boy personality :( But, I was even more outraged that Ongina too the boot for Glasscock! I am at a loss for the words to describe my indignation.
Whatever it was that inspired the wig-tossing hissy-fit in Bebe during the LSFYL will hopefully never be seen again: Girl went from composed seductress to crack-whore on her last rock in a SNAP! Uuhhhgly I tell you.
Interestingly, while flipping the channels I caught a snip of 365gay news right … well who did they have a blurb about? Ongina! Yes, sure did. They were talking about her first appearance as the Viva Glam gurl for MAC so I knew she wasn’t going to win but damn.
And who the hell recruited the Russian boxer to have her lip-synch? It was fitting that she was paired with Nina (they both looked fantastic! and should have won) but that was a shade shady Ms. Paul.
Mar 3, 2009 at 3:55 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 40 ·
Robert [Different person #1 using similar name]
Okay. Am I alone in loving Rebecca? Seems clear to me that the dramatic arc for the show that RuPaul/the producers/the editors have in mind is to make us hate her. All the other contestants go on and on about what a bitch she is…but whenever she speaks for herself, she seems perfectly reasonable to me…although she might have been a teensy tad self-indulgent last week with the Viva Glam/HIV dramatics.
Maybe it’s simply that she’s wildly beautiful, but somebody here had to stand up for Rebecca.
Mar 3, 2009 at 3:56 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 44 ·
kevin (not that one)
While I’ve never been a huge fan of Ongina’s (although I loved her last week), I have to say that at least as a queen she isn’t forgettable.
Neither is Shannel, Bebe, or Nina.
Rebecca…completely forgettable. It’s not that she even looks like every drag queen alive. She just looks like a hooker.
That said, she’s playing this game to win and when all is said and done, it is a contest. She played her hand with mad skill.
Mar 3, 2009 at 4:26 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 45 ·
sparkle obama
@Robert:
i agree 100%.
the show is edited to make rebecca the bitch, but the footage shown of her doesn’t support that.
i like rebecca.
i don’t think she’s better than the other contestants – she possesses little showmanship or dance skills, but she can learn.
she can bring back veejays and be a host on VH1…
drag queens in practice don’t have to be campy & loud, if they are as pretty as rebecca.
she needs to work on her makeup!
i like her fishy style because she keeps it real and current.
she reflects the way girls in the club look today!
by the way, rebecca is adorable as a boy and her nose looks as if it could be real to me.
i like her headbands, cut up t-shirts and curly hair out of drag.
don’t hate, appreciate!
the editor of this queerty column is clearly jealous of “latin boys”.
“…who charms the crabs of fishermans’ wharf right out of their shells?
phyllis, it sure isn’t yoouu!”
Mar 3, 2009 at 5:41 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 46 ·
Andy
‘the editor of this queerty column is clearly jealous of “latin boys”‘
Seems to me you are the one with the jealousy issue. I did not see anything remotely amazing with Rebecca in the last episode. Recall the judges’ harsh comments on Nina not covering her tattoos up at the beginning? If anything, Rebecca should have been booted just because she did not cover up her make-over’s tattoo. Nina Flowers, on the other hand, wore a long sleeves to cover her tattoos and that look still worked.
“i don’t think she’s better than the other contestants – she possesses little showmanship or dance skills, but she can learn”
5 episodes in, don’t you think it is a little late to still be “learning” some simple skills. We are talking about a show that is broadcast on national TV, right?
As to Ongina being booted because of Bebe’s dance: While I like them both, if tumbling around the staged is all you need to win the lip sync, then Jade should have stayed and Rebecca should have packed her bags last week. Jade was a much better dancer in that show than Rebecca.
I agree with Queerty, something is fishy about the producers. I am done with the show and if enough of us feels that same, the ratings would speak louder than the producers’ fixed decision.
Mar 3, 2009 at 6:00 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 47 ·
sparkle obama
@Andy:
>>5 episodes in, don’t you think it is a little late to still be “learning” some simple skills. We are talking about a show that is broadcast on national TV, right?<<
well, showmanship and exciting dance are not “simple skills”.
ps
i would think part of the criteria for judging the winner is “potential”.
now that ongina is gone, rebecca is the only contestant with real “supermodel” beauty potential.
i’m only saying!
if you say don’t forget shannel (sp?)
i have a mall in las vegas i would like to sell you.
Mar 3, 2009 at 6:06 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 48 ·
Andy
@sparkle obama
No thank you. You can keep the mall to yourself. I am sure it is prime property in this economy.
“well, showmanship and exciting dance are not “simple skills”
That’s certainly true for Rebecca because the other girls in the last episode all had something to offer. Rebecca seems like an also-ran in comparison.
“i would think part of the criteria for judging the winner is “potential”
Well, if you call imitating a hooker “potential” Rebecca certainly has that one down. Go back to last week’s lip sync, Jade showed much more potential than Rebecca did and Jade should have stayed.
Speaking of Shannel, she felt sick, but she did compete in the mini challenge. Unlike Rebecca, who completely ditched the stage in last week challenge. How is that different than Tammy surrendering in the lip-sync in Week 2? You quit, you lose, and Rebecca should have been booted in the viva glam week on so many levels.
And one more about Shannel, can’t stand her attitude when she made fun of Jade in the Oprah challenge. She’s trying to be the know-it-all of the group. It would be interesting if we have a “True Beauty” episode on all the Queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Mar 3, 2009 at 6:21 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 50 ·
Robert B.
Now I think Rebecca should’ve gone two weeks ago but here she is – grrr – and she won this week which if you think about it is total bogus! The challenge was for the contesants to transform the fighters into their stage personae…and all Rebecca does is be a girl – a fishy girl – so she had to make a girl into a girl – come on folks! the other queens had so much more to do – Nina – Shannell – Ongina – Bebe – all had to pull off something so much harder – and Rebecca wins for the easiest transformation??? WTF??
Mar 3, 2009 at 6:37 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 51 ·
atdleft
@sparkle obama: Perhaps that’s because Rebecca plays “nice, shy princess” while on her one-on-one interview? It’s clear to me she’s playing a game to stab the other queens in the back when they don’t expect it, and the others are finally starting to notice. I mean, at least Akashia was upfront in declaring herself “the bitch of the show”. Rebecca, OTOH, seems more clandestine in her bitchiness.
Mar 3, 2009 at 8:23 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 52 ·
atdleft
@Robert B.: Yeah, that just wasn’t fair. Rebecca by far had the easiest job with her butch girl, yet all she could do was pull off a look I could easily make by just buying a dress and make-up at Macy’s? Where was the creativity?! As I said upthread, I really think Shannel deserved to win this week & Ongina deserved a chance to save herself by lip-syncing against Jade.
The producers f*cked it all up by having Rebecca stay, so now we’ll have to endure 3 more weeks of her bitchy drama. Sigh. :-(
Mar 3, 2009 at 8:27 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 53 ·
tofer david
i love ongina, and she is amazing. i am a huge fan of the show. i wanted ongina to win the whole thing.
but let’s be honest. girl messed up.
her outfit was not good. she looked like a boy. she even commented that she put forth her outfit as such. her partner had gorgeous makeup, but so too was her outfit not that great.
ru said it, “ongina, i cant believe it but you got outshined.”
i hate shannel. bebe’s partner wasn’t good either, but bebe put forth effort in the lip sync. ongina didn’t.
girl needed to show something in the lip sync. anything. ru paul just need something to pick her over bebe, but ongina didn’t provide much of anything by way of dance.
Mar 3, 2009 at 9:33 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 54 ·
Sebbe · Member · 1054 comments
I’m curious what Japh’s str8 roommate thought? He got dragged into this a few weeks ago and now he has been voted off the island.
I miss Ongina already, she grew on me, at first I didn’t like her, but I came to appreciate her uniqueness.
Nina is fierce, but how fricken short is she?
Bebe – Like her but she seems limited.
Rebecca – beautiful, I like the boy Rebecca better (can’t remember his name).
Shannel – hate her.
Um, I can’t believe nobody had anything to say about “Sweet Pea”, she seemed to enjoy her make over quite a bit. I hope in the parts we didn’t get to see that the judges and Ru really complemented the real girls.
Mar 3, 2009 at 9:35 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 58 ·
scandi · Member · 6 comments
Rebecca = tired little boy in a dress // don’t see her as pretty at all.
I love Ongina, at least she has some individuality. Bebe is usually pretty cool, but that lip synching performance was way over-the-top // and if it’s too much for a drag queen, then you know it’s got to be bad!
Mar 4, 2009 at 12:04 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 59 ·
Mark M
And tonight was when I lost respect for R’s integrity. Bored now. One less show to watch. Probably for the best.
Yes– she want’s to fuck Rebecca. me too. Not a reason to carry on. Pay the $50, rent a hot tub, but don’t give her more credit than it deserves.
Mar 4, 2009 at 12:35 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 62 ·
mb00
I’m late to comment on this one, but hell, why not, it was a long day.
Anyway, I was really sad to see Ongina go as well. I really like her. She never really seemed to have anything negative to say about anyone. I think there was a big mistake made in this week’s elimination.
Rebeca can’t even walk in heels properly, not like the others seem to. She should of gone home. And that wig she had on was cheap looking.
Bebe, don’t care for her at all. She just screams cheap tranny hooker to me.
Nina Flowers. I like her. She’s now my current favorite.
And that other one, the over the top one, is it Shannel? eh. She’s to showgirl for my taste.
My two favorites were Tammie Brown and Ongina and they’re both gone, so whatever with it now I guess.
Mar 4, 2009 at 4:31 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 64 ·
Mark
I normally love Bebe, but I was turned off by her lipsynch performance. Normally she’s all about poise, but she didn’t bring any realness to the lipsynch, just a more poorly-executed version of the trick that Shanelle used to save herself: engineer some weave malfunction at the climax for an apparent sincerity upgrade.
Mar 4, 2009 at 8:14 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 65 ·
Stop! Or My Daddy Will Shoot!
Jaffron, sweety, who’s paying you to keep repeating that “Logo’s only worthwhile show” nonsense, and how much? RICK & STEVE IS A GOOD SHOW. Stop being a bitch for no reason and give some credit where credit is due.
And, you don’t need to have behind-the-scenes know-how to understand editing and producer involvement. You just need to not live in a cave.
Anyway still team Nina here. She turned it out and she’s not as uptight as Bebe.
Mar 4, 2009 at 12:19 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 66 ·
mr scruff
i stopped watching when tammie brown was eliminated. obviously the producers are not appreciating the girls as unique talents and trying to fit them into a tight mould, if you dont fit youre out. which, knowing Ru’s club kid history doesnt quite fit his own character… can we say “sell out”
i had thought ongina would finish at least top 2 – but this goes to show you a true artist has no place in mainstream media.
the others can be found at any gay bar on any corner of any town.
Mar 4, 2009 at 1:14 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 67 ·
Tahitian Brown
I thought the drag shows’ requirement is:
C.U.N.T. —- Creativity, Uniqueness, Nerves and Talent?
First of all ….
Ongina is VERY creative! You can clearly see it in her style.
Ongina is also very Unique! I’ve never seen a Drag Queen like her.
Ongina also has Nerves. She nailed two of the challenges and did a great job with her interviews.
She also has Talent! This girl can dance!
As far as Rebecca??? I don’t know why this Queen lasted this long.
In the first episode, she was having a hard time creating her mediocre costume.
She’s also not Unique. Her look is very common in the drag community.
Something is really fishy with LOGO. I think they just kept her there for drama factor.
Shame on you LOGO and RUPAUL. SHAME!!!!!!
Mar 6, 2009 at 12:15 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 68 ·
Melicious
The winner without a doubt should be Nina Flowers! She has had the best transformations, with some making her look totally different than what her main Drag Queen look is. She is very different from the others and when she walks down the Runway she does it with distinct femininity and class. I loved Ongina as well and she was my second favorite and I don’t think she should have been cut. Even thought Shanelle is arrogant and thinks she is better than anyone there, I think she still has a change at this. Rebecca… She should have been out since 2 weeks ago, Jade won that day but like everyone else is saying, they need a bitch in the show to keep people interested. Bebe… right, I guess she thought to herself.. “if it worked for Shanelle why not?” She does a great transformation but that is it, one transformation, same big hair, same theme, blah blah blah. The judges need to get it together, I am not sure if they were aware of what the challenge was or am I going crazy? I thought they were suppose to make their girl fighters into their Drag selves? What ever, I guess they are not there for their intelligence but to fill the positions that needed to be filled.
Mar 6, 2009 at 1:08 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 69 ·
Rupauls' Drag Show is obviously FAKE
It’s obvious they needed a new bitch and Rebecca Glasscock can fill it. She should have been gone when she made the depressing MAC commercial, the fake breakdown and the raccoon drag get up.
The judges and the producers are either blind or they just need to add a little drama in the show. Well it just lose it’s fun when you add negativity in the show.
Jade deserved to be in the Top 5 and Ongina deserves to be in the Top 3.
The show is obviously fixed and the show has lost it’s integrity.
I’ve lost respect for Rupaul and LOGO.
Such a shame. It could have been a really good show, but now that Ongina is gone. The show has lost it’s magic.
Mar 6, 2009 at 3:14 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 70 ·
Sebbe · Member · 1054 comments
@Rupauls’ Drag Show is obviously FAKE – RELAX – it is only a show and supposed to be entertaining. Take it for what it is worth. While it is interesting to get into the show and have opinions, to invest so much emotions into it.
Mar 7, 2009 at 7:43 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 71 ·
Eddie Shafter
ongina was totally robbed. i hope the producers give her a show of her own! the show will not be the same without her. i was searching online and found this tee at cafepress
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/mo.....8;pr=F/img
Mar 7, 2009 at 2:35 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 73 ·
Brian
I LOOOOVE Ongina, however I had one little issue with her and knew she couldn’t win. In 3 seperate episodes she mentioned something she didn’t do, followed by “that’s what seperates me from other drag queens” or something like that. She doesn’t wear hair, doesn’t tuck, doesn’t do impersonations. While I think she is totally awesome at what she is, I think she’s her own hybrid style of entertainer and not the same kinda drag queen as Ru and Nina.
Mar 8, 2009 at 8:10 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 74 ·
Scott
I think Ru’s getting so caught up in who’s winning these individual challenges that he’s losing sight of the overall aim here – to find the new great drag persona! It’s time for him to take up the reigns here and say “Y’all know what? I’m the diva here and I say you stay and you go. Why? Because I said so, bitch!”
Only Ongina and Nina have the personality it takes to run with new obstacles, work/converse/perform with new people on the spot and be likeable characters in and of themselves as opposed to just performing a set on stage. That’s what will get you your own show! Who wants to watch a show hosted by Shanelle? Nobody.
Bebe’s great too, and I like her, but she’s too safe – too old school drag. The drag queen of the 21st century has to push the limits and only Nina has that edge now, though she does seem a bit lacking in confidence. USE that accent girl – it’s an asset, not a flaw!
Mar 14, 2009 at 6:02 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
Add your Comment
Drag Race Recap: Enter the Oprah-Bots
Back to the post
45 Comments
-
No. 75 · Amber LeMay · Member · 159 comments
When Skelton commented she wanted the winner to be on her show, I beleive she was doing her own “channeling” of Oprah. In her introduction Ru mentioned that Skelton was known for her Oprah impersonation.
It’s too bad that this challenge wasn’t earlier in the competition as I think that both Victoria and Tammie would’ve been in the top three.
Next week’s sponsor should be ShamWow as it looks like all of them go on a crying jag.
Can’t wait!
Feb 17, 2009 at 9:06 am · @Reply · Flag
No. 77 ·
Sebbe · Member · 1054 comments
I vote for straight roommate to be queerty’s official gay tv show live blogger!!!
It was Jade, not Rebecca who started to do blackface.
All I could think of was Hillary trying to pronounce Dmitry Medvedev during that debates when the galz were trying to say Ahmadinejad.
I’m sorry you don’t say more about Rebecca either, she is hands down the best looking boy and the best looking girl. What is straight roommates opinion of her? Straighty obvi is reading the comments, JOIN IN!!
I defo thought Shannel lost that “wig”? on purpose. She better be the next to go. I’ve never known any drag queens, but she’s the worst kind IMO.
The best line of the night was Akaisha, “you haven’t seen the last of me”.
My straight friend is obsessed with this show, he even had to show me all the videos on the website. There are ones of confessionals in their hotel rooms (cockroaches and all) with Akaisha (that’s the only one he made me watch) drunk and bitching from day one!!
Stag hags are the best of friends. Vote for straight roommate!!
Feb 17, 2009 at 9:17 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 80 ·
Michael
Japhy,
Generally great review for a trash-tastic show, minor editing quibbles aside. How many ways are there to spell Akashia? I was hoping that Asian Reporter Trisha Takanawa would have won, but I think the Lion Queen costume plus the respectable job at the news made Bebe shoe-in.
This is [Your Name]. Good night.
Feb 17, 2009 at 9:29 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 82 ·
Sebbe · Member · 1054 comments
@Kevin – bye bye.
This is one of the only things worth watching for “entertainment” purposes on television right now and is sooo relevant to this site.
Again, Japhy, thank you for reviewing this and I don’t know how personally you could ignore it. Pop culture is just as much of our identity and personification as anything else written on this site.
Feb 17, 2009 at 10:09 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 83 ·
Sebbe · Member · 1054 comments
@Kevin – I would remind you to re-read Queerty’s self description of itself.
“Queerty is the gay blog. There’s just no other way to say it. With its sharp eye for news, entertainment, shopping, fashion, and travel for the GLBT community, Queerty reaches an audience of upwardly mobile gay men and women who have long since abandoned traditional (and staid) gay media. When it comes to independent gay media, Queerty is at the top”
Feb 17, 2009 at 10:11 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 85 ·
Sebbe · Member · 1054 comments
@Sean – I also think I appreciated Ongina for the first time last night. I’m glad we are getting to see so many different sides of the girls in the few short episodes so far.
This show is very well done and because of it I actually found and watched and enjoyed logo’s documentary Equality U which was very well done.
If one of Ru’s goals in this show was to put drag back on the radar I think he accomplished his goals. I have personally never known any drag queens with the exception of Ru on teevee and a bartender at a club in Boston who is fabulous. I wouldn’t say I was anti before, but I have a whole new understanding and respect for it personally and for those that partake in it.
Me and some friends went to a drag bar in Boston (that I didn’t even know existed) and had an awesome time after seeing this show and we will definitely be going back.
Feb 17, 2009 at 10:54 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 87 ·
Faberge L'Eggs
Best episode yet!
Shannel looked like Ming the Merciless while interviewing Tori and Dean, and she looked like Ursula the Sea Witch when allowed to do whatever she wanted.
Note to Shannel: a French manicure isn’t what a sorceress of the briny deep would have. More for porn stars and girls at the prom, honey.
I think it’s going to come down to Bebe and Nina.
Feb 17, 2009 at 1:18 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 88 ·
GranDiva
Howard Bragman is teh HOT! How has that one slipped past me? I mean, I know people who know Bradley Bayou; no power bears should ever escape my attention…
And the whole Debra Wilson thing. She hasn’t been on MadTV for, what, six years now? She’s mostly famous for being in the audience at American Idol finales these days. Erica Ash (ironically enough, from the Big Gay Sketch Show, where she played Gayle King a few times) is positioned to be the new Debra Wilson in the last season of MadTV, and she’s much more amusing.
@kevin:
And yet you seem to have time to write a snarky comment about it, instead of just LEAVING. I mean, you say that as if anyone else actually CARES whether you read this (or any other) blog at all.
Feb 17, 2009 at 2:56 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 90 ·
cruiser
@Olive Yurdich: better yet, how bout totally naked pictures of Straight Roomate?!
Feb 17, 2009 at 3:46 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 91 ·
kevin (not that one)
Really…seeing Medusa lip sync The Greatest Love of All was just awesome. And the snake wig was off the hook. This was by far my favorite episode and I was so glad to hear the other queens talk about how they missed Tammy at the beginning of the show. Tammy, other than Nina, was truly the most unique on the show.
Nina is starting to bring it home. I hope she makes it through, but I sense that she has a little problem with insecurity.
And I have to hand it to Shannel. She totally missed the mark on the Oprah thing, but she pulled out of that last bit with flying colors.
The celebrities on this one were great to see…I just wish we could’ve heard more from Deborah Wilson Skelton cause I’ve loved her on MadTV.
Feb 17, 2009 at 4:01 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 92 ·
gurlene · Member · 25 comments
@Sebbe: Hey sweetie. Since you are obviously in the know what does “squirelfriends” mean? I read that piece 5 times and still don’t understand the meaning of that slang. And please hurry. My rhumatism is acting up and I have to lie back down.
Feb 17, 2009 at 4:28 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 93 ·
atdleft
@Olive Yurdich: Hehe. I like that idea. Can Straight Roommate be the official Queerty vlogger? Oh, and can he blog shirtless? :-D
Feb 17, 2009 at 4:42 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 94 ·
atdleft
@kevin (not that one): Yeah. Some of the other gals here may not be into Shannel, but I was touched by that lip sync for her life. Come on, just being able to upstage Akashia is deserving enough of a win! Oh, and I do give her credit for looking cute as a girl AND a boy. ;-)
Feb 17, 2009 at 4:44 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 95 ·
atdleft
OK, I just finished watching online & here’s what I think. First, Bebe totally deserved to win this week! Not only did she pull off great looks, but she actually (gasp!) proved she has great talent. Some of the other queens competing still haven’t shown much talent yet.
Secondly, it was time for Akashia to go. She skated by on her attitude for far too long without showing the talent to back it up. Sorry, girlfriend, but just ‘cuz you look good in a dress and can lipsync Destiny’s Child doesn’t make you a superstar.
And finally, it’s nice to see I’m not the only one who’s really becoming an Ongina fan. If it weren’t for Bebe’s fabulous interview, I think Ongina could have pulled off a second win in a row. Her “Connie Chung tribute” kept me LMAO the whole time! :-D
Feb 17, 2009 at 4:50 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 97 ·
BobP
Yes, that Shannel works my nerves. First of all, that interview had a super high cringe factor…all those questions, jeez.
Just before she lost her head gear, she did this scary St. Vidas dance spasm, which caused the malfunction.
But, as I’ll never forget, she’s Oprah’s biggest fan. The BIGGEST, you hear?
Feb 17, 2009 at 5:57 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 98 ·
Sebbe · Member · 1054 comments
@Gurlene – I guess thank you LOL, I’m not sure if I’m in the know, but I’m not positive about squirrel friends, I have only ever heard my west coast friends say it. I always thought it just meant your attractive friends.
@Faberge – Ming the Merciless, Ursla the Sea witch – I just LMFAO so hard. The description was right on. Ru, was right too, Shannel had an agenda in wearing that outfit.
Can I just add that I love Tori, and Dean is always up for playing along too. When I was a kid and she was on 90210 I told myself I’d marry her, WOW, shoulda known then. LOL.
It is kinda funny that Japh keeps confusing the latino boys and I have no idea where he got takanawa, ongina even said the name Connie. Oh and WTF is Tricia Takanawa?
Straighty needs to proof read the article first babe.
Feb 17, 2009 at 6:24 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 99 ·
BrianZ · Member · 316 comments
Loved the show, yet again! I will admitt to squeeling with joy when Akashia was told to go. It was more than joy when she fell: Kick the dress honey, don’t walk on it! She was never of any interest other than to exemplify what _not_ to be.
Ongina is great in drag, but manages to match Shannel’s attitude out of it: C.U.N.T. all the way. I did appreciate that Shannel showed some love in missing Tammy, with everyone except Akashia agreeing.
IMO, Nina is still the girl to beat!
Oh, and as a PS to Queerty: There are many web publishing packages that spell check. I strongly suggest you invest in some licenses and make it mandatory. Seriously, even Perez manages to spell everything in the headlines correctly.
Feb 17, 2009 at 6:29 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 100 ·
REBELComx
I love this show more and more every week. This episode had me laughing my ass off at so many little things. Oh and for those of you who don’t know…Tricia Takanawa is the Japanese reporter from Family Guy, voiced by another MadTV staple, Alex Borstein. And while Ongina did refer to herself as Connie Chung (another MadTV impression done very well by Bobby Lee), she could have easily been Quahog’s Asian correspondent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krEjjx5zPDQ
Feb 17, 2009 at 7:28 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 101 ·
Sebbe · Member · 1054 comments
ohh I’ve never seen family guy, I thought it was a real person. Borstein was awesome as Bunny Swan though? The best character on MadTv ever.
Ms. Swan at the gay bar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ4FyrSWsrc
Feb 17, 2009 at 7:42 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 115 ·
kf
“@ SEBBE”: WHAT: VITAMIN C? “GRADUATION (FRIENDS FOREVER)”? POP STAR OF THE 2001 ERA?? CHECK IT OUT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWitXo2sgJ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXajdHbZ5oY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuEl-Vd_XII
SORRY FOR THE ALL CAPS: MY CAPS LOCK IS BROKEN. PLUS, I THINK IN ALL CAPS, SO THATS HOW I ROLL, DAWG.
Feb 19, 2009 at 3:43 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 117 ·
Mike [Different person #1 using similar name]
Soo Shannel, Ive seen her show in Vegas.
First off its done at the Gypsy which is about the size of my living room. Its a decent place considering but very small and definitely not the big lights of vegas people might be thinking.
However,
Her show is AMAZING! Extreamlly entertaining and hilarious.
Shannel should be doing standup, I’m not kidding or trying to float her boat. I’ve seen the show at the Gypsy about 7 times and it has been different everytime.
I’m not usually into drag shows either but every time Im in Vegas I look to see when her show is.
Feb 20, 2009 at 9:15 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
Add your Comment
Immortalized in Milk, Anne Kronenberg Still Sees the Big Picture
Back to the post
13 Comments
No. 121 ·
TylerOakley
Great interview. Very important thoughts: “I don’t think we’ll ever have someone like Harvey today, but he made it clear that we don’t need just one or two leaders– we need many leaders.”
Jan 22, 2009 at 10:44 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 122 ·
Leland Frances
Agree with most of what she said, but, with all due respect, she’s irresponsibly perpetuating the Harvey hagiography by implying that no one was saying, “Come out!” before Milk. That’s not just nonsense but obscenely disrespectful nonsense to many who were working their asses off for the movement when he still thought “gay activism” only meant “fucking.”
She, and the movie, disgracefully fail to even reference in passing those upon whose shoulders she and Harvey stood. Some of them: Jose Sarria, SF drag diva who ran for supervisor long before he did. Jim Foster, who cofounded SF’s Society for Individual Rights and was the first out gay man to speak at the Democratic NATIONAL Convention….in 1972…five years before Harvey was elected LOCALLY in a gay-dominant district. And, yes, Rick Stokes, who was shamelessly defamed by the movie. And Frank Kameny, Barbara Gittings, Randy Wicker, Leonard Matlovich, Troy Perry, Dave Kopay, Bruce Voeller, Vito Russo, SF’s own Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, the Stonewallers, and several others who were all saying “Come out!” BEFORE HARVEY CAME OUT publicly HIMSELF!
For other important corrections, we refer readers, and, if necessary, Ms. Kronenberg, to your post about those out gays who were elected BEFORE St. Harvey.
Jan 22, 2009 at 11:10 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 123 ·
ChristopherM
I don’t think she implied that at all, and furthermore, if you can figure out how to get all of that additional gay history into a screenplay that is compelling on top of the Milk story and do so in a 2 hour timeframe, then clearly you are in the wrong business. Milk the movie had a limited scope, and I really think people are expecting too much from it.
Jose totally deserves his own movie, though…and he’d be the first to tell you so! LOL!
Jan 22, 2009 at 11:20 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 124 ·
Canada
@Leland Frances: WTF is your deal man. He did so much for the community, and for gay rights in general. What have you done other than crap all over the entire interview?
Jan 22, 2009 at 11:44 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 125 ·
Leland Frances
1. “Agree with most of what she said.” – Leland Frances
2. “He really was a visionary in the way he encouraged people to come out and be visible. I think that’s his legacy.” – Kronenberg
visionary: “one having unusual foresight and imagination ” – Merriam-Webster
3. The argument that one couldn’t communicate anything else in the film that would have been more accurate and treated with more respect and justice the movement’s other, earlier heroes is shallow at best.
It would have taken nothing more than a few seconds of displayed screen text, e.g.,
“Though not the first themselves, beginning in the 1960s, several gay activists such as Barbara Gittings and Frank Kameny, whose papers and picket signs are now a part of the Library of Congress, widely encouraged gays to come out. The volume of that message was cranked up for the next generation by Harvey Milk.”
But nothing demonstrates that the REAL issue was not how to do such things but the mission, driven by the naive deepthroating of the hagiography of Milk Mythmaker In Chief Cleve Jones, of not doing them at all in order to paint Milk as much more than he was than the LIE, told TWICE in the film, that he was the “first openly gay man elected to a major office.”
SEE: http://www.queerty.com/think-h.....-20090121/
Jan 22, 2009 at 1:37 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 127 ·
Anne
I think that those who complain about whether or not Milk was the first openly gay person to have elected office are missing the point. What is important here is that the movie could be made at all. This isn’t just a documentary that gets buried somewhere in the ghetto of an arty film festival, it is a major production that puts gays and lesbians in front of the whole world. This was not only Milk’s film, it was the story of the gay and lesbian community that needed to be told across the world.
Apr 14, 2009 at 3:42 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 128 ·
mara
I have no way of reaching Ann Kronenberg. I really want to because here’s the thing. I’m 17 and I live in California, just about an hour and a half away from San Francisco. I have known for a couple years that I want to be in politics and I want to help the world. My goal is to be the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and when I just watched Milk it completely re-enforced my love for politics and helping people and supporting causes i believe in. The most inspirational person in that film was Ann Kronenberg. I loved how she came in and then was able to show a soft/compassionate side when she warned Harvey of the bullet and the microphone. Please, if anyone knows of a way to get in contact with her, I’m a huge fan of you Ann Kronenberg. I think you’re an inspiration to people everywhere. Please PLEASE find a way to get in touch with me! Or SOMEONE give me a way to email her! PLEASE!
May 9, 2009 at 1:35 am · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 129 ·
Stefan
@mara:
Mara – without even googling her I can tell you she’s a public servant – thus easy to find. You could mail her at SFDPH 101 Grove St. SF CA 94102 – call the main # at the Dept. of Public Health: (415) 554-2500? or try email – Dept. of Public Health employees usually have emails that are: firstname.lastname@sfdph.org
good luck! And remember that being in politics and helping the world are separate creatures ;-)
Jul 11, 2009 at 3:03 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 130 ·
M Shane
She was definitely right in saying that they were “selective” about only showing one year of his life., and that there was disagreement, about this being realistic. They were selective about a whole lot-making it apply to a current sensability and issues as well as things that would be important to a lesbian feminist instead of the gay male populace then.
That it was made to be politically advatageous to issues now instead of the reality then is an overwhelming fact,.
The movie doesn’t feel or reflect the facts of the time, she is not dishonest about that. She does say that it says what audiences today would be receptive to.
Unfortunately that doesn’t feel a lot like the reality in context.
Jul 11, 2009 at 3:31 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 131 ·
M Shane
People would be suprized and enlightened to realise that the actual situation was very different. It would give gay people a source of enlightenment to see reality. But history always becomes what the peoplre currently in power want it to look like for thier purposes, even if that proves to be destructive in the long run.
Jul 11, 2009 at 3:37 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
No. 132 ·
Jim
Anne and I grew up together and our families had many dinners at each others home. I have gone to church with her family
She looks so much like her mother now. I have talked about her with my sister and this is what I know about Anne.
She is a quiet decent person. She has integrity, love and honest.
I admire her very much as does my older sister. It has nothing to do with the events around Harvey Milk.
What I say about her is also true about her parents, sister and brother.
I never saw her with a particular ax to grind except what is true.
I think if anyone meets any of the Kronenbergs there life is richer for the experience.
Jan 16, 2012 at 4:18 pm · @Reply · Flag
· Flag
Add your Comment
Finally! The old Bitches that run the gay rights movement are getting pushed in front of the trains. It’s kind of like stonewall in the fact that the young’uns fought harder than the old established(closeted) queens. I like the mainstream gay and lesbian organizations, don’t get me wrong, they do their jobs but they sometimes glaze some things over in order to remain politically correct. We can’t be PC anymore, we’ve got to light a fire under their asses and make sure proper legislation is passed for everyone.
It is one of the major tenets of america that everyone under it’s protection should be equal. Everyone is afforded the same rights no matter what your color, creed, nationality, sex, and pretty soon sexual orientation. The facts have been ignored for far too long, and it’s time we fought back. The old school gays have gotten lofty, and are kind of out of touch with the times.
The main reason they’re out of touch is that their priorities shift as they age. We need firebrands and loud-mouthed diva’s(not necessarily homosexuals) to get our point across.
1fest is actually bringing tons of people together from many cultural, political, and religious belief systems. It’s time THE PEOPLE got their point across, and not THE CHURCH.