Oh goodness, here we go again.
Stefano Gabbana (left), of the always-subtle Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, has struck another nerve. Actually, a few nerves.
First, he shared a photo on Instagram of a certain incoming first lady wearing one of his dresses:
This in and of itself was something of a statement, as there has been a divide in the fashion world over who is willing to dress Melania Trump. It’s a weird debate, but a debate nonetheless.
On the one hand, there are designers like Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Christian Siriano, Sophie Theallet and Humberto Leon — all of whom have all said they will not work with the Trumps. Then there are people like Calvin Klein who has said “of course” he’d work for Melania if he was asked, a sentiment echoed by Diane von Furstenberg and Tommy Hilfiger. For the record, nobody appears to be asking.
Related: Calvin Klein offers to design Melania’s inauguration gown if no one else will
Understandably, there’s been backlash against Gabbana’s Insta-endorsement (to be fair, there’s also considerable support), with one commenter writing, “Sad when a gay designer doesn’t care about other groups being repressed.”
Gabbana clapped back, besieging “ignorant critics.”
“Don’t call me gay please!! Im a man!!! Who I love its my private life!!! [sic]” he wrote.
The tone-deaf comment, implying masculinity is somehow at odds with sexuality, is uncomfortably reminiscent of a stance the designing duo and former couple took on gay adoption in 2015.
Related: Dolce & Gabbana Invoke Deadly Paris Attack As Celebrities Speak Out Against Them
In the Italian magazine Panorama, they said, “We oppose gay adoptions. The only family is the traditional one. No chemical offsprings and rented uterus: life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed.”
That position was later backtracked following a loud cry to boycott the D&G brand, amplified by celebrities like Elton John, Victoria Beckham and Ricky Martin.
Xzamilloh
I don’t care what my family thinks of my being gay, so I damn sure don’t care what some dusty old meatball from Douche and Garbanzo thinks of himself. He looks gay, but he doesn’t look like a man… hell, Rachel Maddow’s adam’s apple is more pronounced.
ChrisK
The truth is these duchebags haven’t got anything to worry about. That’s for the rest of us that aren’t part of the 1%. They identify with the wealthy more then the LGBT’s.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
OMG suddenly he seems sooo HAWT! No, not merely a “MAN”…he’s ALLLLL MAN!!!! *swoon*
Mo Bro
C’mon, it’s no secret that in our culture there’s an absolute world of difference between “gay” and “manly” . . . one only has to look up the slang uses of each to comprehend. And it’s a fact that anyone who fails to recognize this will never be misidentified as the latter.
everybodywinsyay
He’s one of the sane among us. He doesn’t toe the line of the community and so the community must hate him completely. The community can’t stand anyone disagreeing with their agenda because the community is so full of frightened people.
Kangol
Stefano Gabbano is a typical pathetic, self-loathing old conservative homophobic queen. Too bad this self-described “man,” who can’t accept being called “gay,” is also too stupid to recognize that “unmanly” gay men and women have fought hard so that he could live his “private” life with another man/men without being thrown in jail. The old queen lives in Italy, for chrissakes, which hasn’t always been friendly to gay people!
Mirek
I don’t call myself gay. I loathe that word. I think of myself as a homosexual.
Gay to me is a militant expression! I am happy with myself and my life. I don’t need special treatment from anyone. I am a 74 year old man. I don’t suffer from homophobia around me. I suffer from ageism, especially from younger “GAYS”.
Herman75
This rugged dress designer knows all there is to know about being a man!!
gayand gray
How about we call him Chi Chi Sissy? Mr. Chi Chi Sissy. He needs to grow up.
ChrisK
@Mo Bro: @everybodywinsyay: Which one of you is Alister Weisman?
Juanjo
@everybodywinsyay: thank you for that display of delusional thought. This gentleman is an hysterical old Italian queen who thinks he is somehow entitled to all sorts of privilege and perks because he is a wealthy designer. He has in the past shit all over gay men who are a significant portion of his clientele base – his public statements about adoption, marriage etc being a very good example. Any criticism he has received over his actions was directly related to his words and actions disrespecting people. Something a troll like you could care less about. You have a theme to flog.
Dot Beech
And there they are, grinning from ear to ear in front of art work by Keith Haring.
Fuck these losers. Fuck ’em right in the ass.
Chris
Huh! Honey, they don’t come much gayer than you.
dwes09
@Mo Bro: “C’mon, it’s no secret that in our culture there’s an absolute world of difference between “gay” and “manly” . ”
Actually research demonstrates repeatedly that shown pictures of random men, people cannot tell who is actually gay and who is not. The “world of difference” is in the imagination of non-critical thinkers and dullards like you. But then your comments paint you as one who embraces stereotype over a realistic view of the world anyway.
dwes09
@everybodywinsyay: “The community can’t stand anyone disagreeing with their agenda because the community is so full of frightened people.”
Again (see my comment above), research using FMRI scans shows rather clearly at this point that the fear driven people are those on the right. The gay community, by contrast, being overwhelmingly liberal is driven by a desire for new experience and novelty. We oppose those who disagree with our agenda because they are backwards looking and fear change. And why would we support or coddle or respect those who wish to deny us equal access to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Do you regressives ever actually think things through?
Arconcyyon
yes ! Our Am I like life the has he Gabbanna Activy sexo is love is ! Am I Like love older older year´s griff D&G ! Oky Thanks is .
Brian
“Don’t call me gay, I’m a man” sounds an awful lot like the early coverage of the Pulse massacre, when conservatives said, “They weren’t gay, they were Latino.” People don’t understand how adjectives work. This is even worse since it’s just nasty self-hatred.
Neonegro
@dwes09: in pictures maybe, but in real life and after hearing a man speak and watching him walk, most gays can be identified.
grethomory
I can’t stand their clothes anyway. They are hideous to me.
cutterq
I poured my D&G colognes down the sink today. I love the scents but have to boycott them.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Did the Village People taxonomy of masculinity teach you nothing? Cowboy, Cop, Military Man, Construction Worker, Biker, Indian Brave. Frock Designer?!? LOL nooooo. Too gay ..GAY….GAYYYYYYYY!!!!! even for the Village People. Deal Queen.
Masc Pride
I guess it could be left to interpretation, but it’s possible he wasn’t implying his sexuality is at odds with being a man. He could’ve been saying he is a person and not just a sexual orientation. Man can be a general reference to the human species.
scotshot
@ChrisK: My thoughts exactly.
We shouldn’t be surprised though that Trolls change their online names as often as they change dresses.
scotshot
@Mo Bro: In my life I’m a Queer as well as a man. So where in your artificial world am I placed?
Interesting to see someone who is as insecure as this.
scotshot
@everybodywinsyay: Which community are you referring to? The one that goes out a lot, those who don’t? The ones in high paying jobs or the one who flips burgers for a living? Each and every gay person is not the same as others, don’t treat us as though we are.
I could go on but using as broad a brush as you are is ignorant and prejudiced.
Go back to the rest of the church ladies honey.
FU
scotshot
@Neonegro: Gaydar is not 100% effective. There are tons of gays and heteros – male and female – who are frequently misidentified.
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PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Punch & Delete
Mo Bro
@scotshot:
Just my opinion, but men tend to exclaim things like, “Whoa” and “Shit” whereas gay men are usually heard exclaiming things like “Eeeek!” and “OhMuhGaaahd” and “Oh giiiiiirl!” So yes, the difference isn’t always so blatant, but many gay men wear their sexuality on their sleeves.
Juanjo
@Mo Bro: Your opinion? Everyone has an opinion, just as everyone has an arsehole. And like an arsehole, opinions are often filthy and stink to high heaven, When either you or Ms Neonegro have some actual verifiable data to support your assumptions about “manly” men vs “girly” men let us all know.
MaxTaste
He seems senile.
inbama
@everybodywinsyay:
You sound like a disciple of Nelly Vomitopolous.
spiffy
I need to have my gay card taken away — when I first saw the dress I thought it was a Versace.
Gabbana reminds me of that Derrick character from the Catherine Tate Show, “Me? Gay? How very DARE you!”
ErikO
The dress is beautiful; but I understand what this designer is saying, as he wants people to concentrate on his clothing and not his sexual orientation.
Mo Bro
@Juanjo:
Verifiable data? That’s an illogical request when speaking of opinions.
Try again.
Realitycheck
Yes don’t call him gay call him Finocchia, frocia, stella, o troia, all appropriate words for that kind of gay man.
Brian
I’m no fan of Dolce and Gabbana but I agree that there is identity overkill when it comes to the labels we apply to men. Firstly, we are men. Mother Nature made us men. Anything else is an opinion, a state of mind, a sub-division.
Unfortunately, we have allowed the gay Left to divide men into categories such as gay and straight. It has had the effect of weakening men as a gender. It has also weakened male homosexual desire by creating a “leper class” of men called “gays” who segregate themselves – and allow others to segregate them – from the rest of society.
Gay men have become the people to ignore in the corner of the room or in the separate room. This has had the effect of shrinking male homosexual desire in general.
Louis
@everybodywinsyay: Sane no hypocritical, self absorbed narcissistic pretentious insensitive and intolerant towards his own community yes.
Desert Eagle
I’m in agreement with Gabbana. Why this need for people to insist on self-identifying as gay, straight, trans, blsck, latino, yet insist they should be treated equslly? By self-identifying they are saying they are different. There is no such thing as different but equal. What’s in a name anyway when it keeps changing?
frankcar1965
What a ignorant statement. People identify with what they are, straight are straight and gay is gay, it’s when the gay is not allowed to be gay and have to “hide”. Everyone is labeled all the time and everyday, get used to it.