Paquita la del Barrio, the Mexican ballad singer, reacted this way to Mexico City’s gay marriage and adoption rights passage this way: it would be better to let a parent-less child die than put her in the home of homosexuals. Now she’s sorry, and she’s throwing you gays a party to prove it.
On Tuesday night, at the gay club Spartacus outside Mexico City, whose owner the singer is friends with, Paquita From The Hood will show her support of Mexico’s gay community with a one-night-only affair. Blaming her remarks on her “poor education,” Paquita, who now insists most of her friends are gay, also understands that in the market for songs about distraught and embittered women, gay men are represent pretty big share.
Mike L.
I heard those comments she made while being interviewd and I almost chocked on my quesadilla dinner. I was so enfuriated w her, it’s almost like equivalent of Cher saying that about gays in the US.
BUt she is right, it is a result of he poor education and small town prejudices she grew up with, that’s why ppl need to be educated.
I wasn’t stunned to see a non-scientific Univision did (or one of the shows there) where about 80% of Mexican’s were against gay/lesbians adopting kids-although teh question didn’t ask about what the fates of homeless children should be as was asked of Paquita. It’s pretty obvious that it’s a combo of machismo, homophobia, religious conservatism, prejudices, poor education and just plain ignorance.
While I wish Mexican GLBT good luck on their fight for equal rights I hope we in the US can get things done for our own sakes. LGBT ppl around the world are the next to fight for our own civil rights as many others of diverse minorities have fought for their own. I just hope we prevail sooner rather than later.
Mike L.
Crap Meant to say a “non-scientific poll” That Univision did regarding gays adopting.
Jack
Wow. It’s like someone made a gaudy piñata to look like Pat Butcher. If I bet if you beat it with a stick, dog turds would fall out.
Sami
People make comments, so often, that they regret; this blog is a great example.
Let us give her the benefit of the doubt, and forgive but not forget.
Josep86av
I think she’s sincerely sorry, she should just think about what she says, before she says it. She reminds me of Ursula from the little mermaid.
CHEEKIEY
This Stupid Ass Is Not Sorry..
She Should Be Sorry For That Hair Of Hers
MORONIC HATER….
terrwill
Please this miserable, vile, fat, hate filled crunt is only “sorry” because she is afraid of losing money from future sales and bookings Any Gay person who attends her pity party should hang their head in shame…………
Taylor Siluwé
No. 7 · terrwill
I agree because the statement was just vile and mean-spirited. One doesn’t need much education to know that you don’t wish death on anyone, but still, I think we should give her the benefit of the doubt. Which is pretty easy for me because I never heard of her ’til now.
REBELComx
@Josep86av:
Como se dice “poor unfortunate souls” en español?
alan brickman
she now realizes a lot of gay dollars will be withheld from her….and now she’s sorry….very sincere…..
Kieran
How do you say “ignorant fat cow” in Spanish?
Mike in Asheville, nee "in Brooklyn"
If we don’t allow enemies to become former enemies, then LGBT rights go nowhere. Short and high;y edited clips presented by Queerty hardly provide an adequate basis for understanding this woman’s original and follow-up comments. Let us watch how Mexico’s LGBT community responds for they know far far better than us bloggers here in the US for nuances of language and culture.
World-wide, the LGBT community is under siege by homophobic bigots. We know that as of last week, Paquita la del Barrio was one. I hope that she has sincerely changed her views, understand our plight, and offer new insights of understanding for those who agreed with her first statement to transform into her apology and new position. Wouldn’t that be a nice outcome?
I was a senior in high school, struggling as we all do with understanding one’s sexuality, when Anita Bryant made her homophobic bigotry a national campaign. Being confronted with negative responses from LGBTs and our supporters in the entertainment industry, Bryant only become more vicious and aggressive in promoting homophobic bigotry.
In this case, the slap to the face, instead of enraging greater and more copious homophobia, has, apparently, awakened Paquita to see beyond her biases. Remember, each time someone changes their view to respecting the rights of LGBTs to live their lives their way is one less enemy to fight.
NONETHELESS, John Kennedy’s pragmatism and warning, remains the best policy: “Forgive our enemies, but never forget their names.”
SugNight
This old cow is just sorry she got caught spewing her venom and wearing that dress.
terrwill
I am not that well versed in translating can someone adivse if Paquita la del Barrio is Spanish for Maggot Gallagher???
Orgazmo
This fat cow belongs in a guacamole pit, nude wrestling Maggie Gallagher.
MissTransSylvaniaTV
is that Lady Kanye?
Carlos the Red
Paquita is a friend. She has taken back her unfortunate statement and apologized for it. I was one of the first to criticize her for it, and now I am willing to forgive and forget. She is too great a talent and too wonderful a character to not admit her to our “sacred” environs. I say, give her a chance, and quit being so rude to people you don´t agree with. Grow up!
terrwill
@Carlos the Red: Sorry but “with friends like these…………..”
Here is her comments and a little back story:
Specificity at this point is crucial. Not only did the singer say gay adoption was “not in my taste,” she said she’d prefer a child die on the streets rather than be adopted by two adults of the same sex.
“It’s better that the child die instead of that life for the little creatures,” the singer said in response to a reporter’s either-or hypothetical. Watch the clip, with English subtitles, at YouTube.
GLAAD, the U.S.-based Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, responded with a swift and furious condemnation of the comments — in two languages. Several prominent gay-oriented groups also registered their outrage.
Paquita’s loaded opinion might sound outrageous to her many gay fans on both sides of the border. But keep in mind, this is the same singer who recently admitted she has performed for narco kingpins at private parties, and that Mexico’s drug lords have her “respects.”
She is a disgusting vile hate filled pig who got didn’t think the vile poo she spewed would get picked up. So now she is running scared only in an attempt to protect her finances………She knew exactaly what she was saying…….
hardmannyc
the difference between an asshole and a mensch:
Asshole: someone who is an asshole, realizes it and won’t change.
Mensch: someone who is an asshole, realizes it, changes and makes amends.
She’s a mensch.
mark
I’m sorry doesn’t cut sh*t with me, and since I didn’t know who the f*ck she was before this article, and still don’t give a sh*t about her….next
Oh-So-Very
for fuck’s sake how many ways can you guys be misogynistic and fat-phobic.
what the hell? I’m mean sure she made an ass of herself but she seems genuinely apologetic. Do you really have to throw around cunt and fat and cow and other such epithets? You make it sound offensive to be fat or or a woman.
Oh-So-Very
Oh and that dress is fuckin fierce, I’d wear it.
raul
You guys are funny!!!! but yes!!! she’s an IGNORANT!!!! that’s for sure!!!!i like her LYRICS tho! my amigo from mexico made listen to her music on a road trip once!!!!
terrwill
Are you guys F-N kidding me????? She said she would prefer children to DIE rather than be placed with a Gay couple!!!!
That’s so far off the hater charts than “I don’t really favor Gay marriage”………The only reason she “apologized” was that her handlers told her she would lose bookings……..Geez please wake up and smell the hate, cause it is pretty rancid from that witch………..
Carlos the Red
Why are you US Americans so vicious and hateful to each other? Geez, get a life and quit criticizing people who genuinely don´t know any better. People learn. Some slowly, others fast. But I’d like to know how many gay and lesbian and bi people have never, ever said a bad word about other gay, lesbian, and bi people–even back when you were in the closet and did not know any better? It has been my experience that gay people (and lesbian and bi and everyone else on the left end of the spectrum) are some of the most homophobic and hateful to each other. Think about that next time you call someone a “queen.”
I live in Mexico. I have never been subjected to homophobia or, indeed, any other rudeness by any Mexican. That is not to say there are none who are homophobic or rude, but, at least, they are civil enough to not say ugly stuff in my presence. And that´s about all I expect. And, don´t forget, Mexico City, a gracious and sophisticated and gorgeous world capital, has legalized marriages between same sex people and, by law, allows them to adopt children.
I think generosity in forgiveness is healthier than calling people hateful names and holding grudges. Listen to Paquita’s music if you really want to know what she thinks. She is a natural ally to gay, lesbian, and bi people. She now knows it.
terrwill
@Carlos the Red:
Are you missing something here??????
Specificity at this point is crucial. Not only did the singer say gay adoption was “not in my taste,” she said she’d prefer a child die on the streets rather than be adopted by two adults of the same sex.
“It’s better that the child die instead of that life for the little creatures,” the singer said in response to a reporter’s either-or hypothetical. Watch the clip, with English subtitles, at YouTube.
That woman is not an ally of Gay persons…
Carlos the Red
EVERYONE is a potential ally to gay persons. I do not think even the hardest-bitten homophobe is beyond the Pale. Perhaps you are young–the young seem to characteristically adopt the position of tight-assedness (I did when I was so afflicted)–and do not know how drastically and thoroughly things have changed for gay people in the last fifty years. Paquita is a master (or mistress) of hyperbole. She was blowing and going. I have listened to all her songs, and she is against the culture of machismo as much as all of us are. She is not irredeemable. She is a product of her culture, and she can change. I would be willing to bet on it. And who gives a flying you-know-what if her own self interest (record sales and concert gigs) was the catalyst!
terrwill
@Carlos the Red: I am sorry but we are never going to agree on this matter. This woman did not get to her level of succes by being a dummy. She is only sorry that she may lose some record sales and concert ticket sales as a reslut of her vile words. And you can see that I am quite vocal when I find someone casting hate towards the Gay community.
However I wish some of my fellow Gays here in the United States would follow your lead and be able to engage in a dialouge with someone who disagrees with your posts without regressing to 3rd grade and start spewing personal insults. Far too many times on these threads, as soon as a person posts someting someone disagrees with the conversation regresses to a school yard bullyfest. Again, we are worlds apart on the matter of this woman. However I appreciate your keeping our disagreement about our views on this issue alone.
PaquitofromtheBlock
@terrwill: I LOVE Paquita!!!
Carlos the Red
And I appreciate your fierceness. But I think it may be time in the life of our community and our planet to give each other a break. Plus, Paquita’s songs are a total hoot. Men here in Mexico mostly do not like them at all, I guess because they poke such fun so very close to macho central, but the women love them and play them whenever they want to put the men in their place. I know them all by heart. I was also shocked by Paquita’s statement on adopting kids but because I know these songs, I suspected the old gal would quickly apologize to her many gay fans in Mexico and elsewhere, and she did. She has learned a valuable lesson. Mexico, just now (because of legalizing gay marriages in the capital) is in a pitched cultural battle against the stultifying influence of the hypocritical Catholic Church (not that any of the other ones are any better). We have battled the Church before and won, and we will do it again–and Paquita will be on the streets with us. Thank you for your thoughtful letters.
B
No. 25 · Carlos the Red wrote, “Why are you US Americans so vicious and hateful to each other?” My guess is that things like “talk radio” (which often is more like “hate radio”) and similar TV programs have, over time, eliminated any vestiges of civility in public discourse by making such behavior much more acceptable. It will take a long time to undo the damage.
FunMe
@Carlos the Red:
Carlos the Red … por favor, hombre, no seas tan tonto!
You must be crazy! You can’t be that stupid that think that just because she “apologized” all is well.
REALITY CHECK home boy: she said she would rather a child DIE than be with gay parents.
Are you that dumb to think she has a “change of heart”. POR FAVOR!
It really does not matter what you who lives in Mexico thinks. She pretty much LOST more than half of her support. That’s what HOMOPHOBIA brings. She has no one to blame but the person she sees in the mirror.
jeffree
I wish i could forget and forgive. i admit thats a weak point in my character. Until she does more than just host a party to prove she is not homophobe, sorry, i dont yet believe the apology, but if she keeps up & supports the gayz in other ways then I wont think its’ just a p.r. stunt.
I hope that she does more than this one thing, because adopted kids need a parent & should not die unloved because gays are refused adoption rights. That was a *really horrible* thing for her to say.
I hope she changes her “tune” becuz it shows us here that a hard heart can evolve! my Aunt is from Dominican Republic & when i came out she read books & watched Oprah and really changed her opinions & so i hope del Barrio can 2!
Jason Jones
I am amazed at those of you who are being so forgiving. Of course people can be educated. But there’s a difference between someone who had a completely benighted view of gays and having their understanding grow over time, through education and exposure, and someone who now professes to have mostly gay friends, and yet who was CAPABLE, just a week ago, of saying, essentially, that the death of a child would be better than having any of those friends raise the child. She said this DESPITE WHAT SHE ALREADY KNEW. She didn’t learn ANYTHING in the last week that she didn’t already know.