The Shirley Q. Liquor fallout just keeps on – er – falling…
Ms. Liquor and her creator, Charles Knipp, came under fire a few weeks ago after Jasmyne Cannick and GLAAD (among others) came out against the gay white man’s straight black face. Now the editors over at The New York Blade have joined the fray.
Yeah, they’re a little late, but you have to cut them a little slack – they are, after all, a weekly.
The piece first outlines some concerned queens’ responses to GLAAD’s involvement, including this bit from the hosts of Feast of Fools:
GLAAD needs to focus on the big picture and not waste its time on a two bit performer like Shirley Q.
This strikes as a bit queer. It seems to us that GLAAD’s boundary defying statements took a look at a bigger picture than they’ve ever tackled. It’s really apples and oranges: wagging their finger at an ignorant teenage vs. taking on what many see as racism. Seems pretty cut and dry to us.
Regardless of our opinion, GLAAD president Neil Giuliani had his own take – a take that carries the distinct odor of opportunism or, at least, circumstances. The Bladers write:
Giuliani told The Washington Blade that its stance against Knipp was a “unique instance. We very clearly recognized,” he said, “that what we were doing in that case was standing with those organizations and individuals in the African-American community that asked us to take a stand against that racism.”
…
[He also said] that GLAAD took action this month against the Shirley Q. Liquor routine partly because he and other gay leaders recently attended a seminar on racism.
Are we to believe Giuliani and friends only now heard about racism? Did this conference open their eyes to this new phenomenon or were they asked to participate? If their involvement in the debate can be attributed to this conference of their’s, does that mean it’s a one-off round against racism?
The New York Blade certainly hopes so:
…Though we agree with Giuliano in taking a stand against racism, we question whether this specific instance, as he said in a press release “has risen to a level of visibility and importance that we feel compelled to add our voice to those speaking out against this awful portrayal.”
…It is possible for an artist or performer to use such loaded images and stereotypes to uncover truths. (Little has been said about Knipp’s actual act, and we haven’t seen it so cannot offer an opinion.)
…
The debate over Knipp’s Shirley Q. Liquor has raged on for many years. Comedian Margaret Cho and pop icon RuPaul have spoken out in favor of Knipp. Many activists have spoken against him. Both sides make legitimate, intelligent arguments that also involve complex issues such as freedom of expression and political correctness.We commend GLAAD for condemning racism, but we question whether the organization’s goal is best attained by joining this particular fight.
It’s funny that people are coming out against GLAAD over this – we can’t remember the last time one of their so-called stands actually produced such a lively dialogue. Shame they got reamed. Now all we’re going to get are their excruciatingly long reports about gay characters on network TV.
James
The Blade is full of crap.
Eric
Here’s the thing. You have to go to a club (and perhaps pay) to see Shirley. You have to actively download stuff from the website. You have to buy the CDs. It’s not like Shirley appears on street corners doing the act. I see actual black people all the time perpetually reinforcing actual negative stereotypes without calls to action from GLAAD. In fact, just last night a homeless woman asked me for 3 dollars to buy some food for her “chirren”
jack e jett
I sincerely hope that all this negative publicity is helping this artists. Thanks to Ru Paul and Margaret Cho who have the balls to stand up for this guy.
Tim Hardaway says he “hates” and gets a slap on the hand.
Snickers…is a snicker
Issaiah Washington will be the GLAAD man of the year when he gets out of rehab. Does GLAAD have a rehab now for idiot actors?
The first rule of thumb should be not to listen to anyone that spells their name Jasmyne. If you look at her site, I think she sticks up for Issaih.
jack jett
James
Jack,
Hardaway got a “slap on the hand.” Really? So when the NBA tells him he is no longer invited to any NBA sponsored events because of his homophobia that is just a slap? Come on. Defend Knipp as much as you want but at least be intellectually honest.
jack e jett
James
I don’t think GLAAD had anything to do with what the NBA did.
I can’t be intellectually honest because I am not
intellectual. I can be honest and blunt though. Maybe that’s the difference between those that are pro-Liquor
and those that are anti-Liquor.
James, are you honestly intellectual?
If so, wouldn’t be a fairly general statement like
“the new york blade is full of crap” be a bit over-reaching
and blanketatous (made up word)?
Jack E. Jett
Queerty
Dumb Ass
……..i don’t know……
James
Jack,
So now the pro Knipp folk are honest and blunt? Who knew. Well if you have read my comments on this site about Ms. Knipp I’ve always defended her right to be an artist. I’ve also defended my right to be slightly taken aback by a white guy in black-face. Now if you find that type of “entertainment” the cat’s meow, go at it. Just don’t expect me to be comparing Ms. Knipp to Richard Pryor (which a Queerty reader has done).
And yeah I’m honestly intellectual. As for my “blanketatous” statement about the NY Blade, my comment just covered the newspaper’s editorial. Nothing else. Granted I have a whole lot to say about the paper and its ownership, but why bore people with boring details.
akaison
I don’t have anything to add to the debate other than to say Jack- it’s queens like you that give the rest of us a bad name. You aren’t intellectually honest because you aren’t intellectual. Did I just enter a 3rd graders convention? Sad, really sad. Next you will be proud that you are aren’t honest. Which is probably more accurate than that you aren’t intellectual.
jack e jett
akaison.
sorry about giving all of you a bad name. being the non entity that i am, i don’t know how i have accomplished that. i am honest.
but you do have me by the balls on the rest of it.
3rd grader…me (?) sometimes on a good day my husband says i am acting like a teenager.
i would never go to a 3rd grader convention, i just don’t swing that way dude.
i assume i deserve all of this negative shit thrown my way because of my lack of support for glaad.
if i start agreeing with glaad will i be more honest, more intellectual, less of a 3rd grader, give you all a good name, and be happy, really happy?
remember, i love you and i love to love you. and love is
groovey and far out. i cut my hair in a shag just for you.
maybe someday you can learn to love me for the
idiot savant that i am
jack jett
nystudman
Wow, you gotta give Knipp credit. He’s playing the media like a master (mistress?). You know what they say, as long as you spell my name correctly …