Certainly less exciting to rally around, but an important component of the marriage equality discussion.
http://nymag.com/news/features/gay-divorce-2013-3/
http://nymag.com/news/features/gay-divorce-2013-3/
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Nostalgia Chick and Needs More Gay: Gay and Lesbian Culture and Disney
So, as a huge fan of Nostalgia Chick, I was PUMPED that she was going to team up with Rantasmo for her new episode to talk exclusively about gay culture in media.
http://blip.tv/nostalgia-chick/nostalgia-chick-rantasmo-disney-needs-more-gay-6545576
So, my thoughts on the review:
--I'm not thrilled that Nostalgia Chick says she normally looks at videos through a feminist lens and was now going to shift to a queer lens. Beyond the fact that I'm in an academic environment that also draws on a web environment that says "feminist narratives include race-related, queer-related lenses" and so I don't feel the spheres should be separate in media analysis, Nostalgia Chick herself has treated her reviews under a feminist lens that also include race-related critiques, like in her reviews of Bay movies, The Craft, TLC, um that one movie with Justin Timberlake and Sarah Michelle Geller, and Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarves, and a bunch of other stuff. And this isn't just a case of NChick miswording and meaning to say that she will be looking exclusively through a queer lens, either, because I can't really recall her spending much time on queer visibility or heteronormativity. And I'm a big fan, so I think I'd remember. In any case, I hope she includes this crucial perspective in her future critiques, whether Rantasmo is present or not.
--I'm really pleasantly surprised that Disney is a pretty good place of employment in this day and age for gay and lesbian employees and customers--I'd never even heard of these Gay Days! Of course, it is upsetting that Disney is torn between this market/group of fans/sentiment and socially conservative market/fans/sentiment, and so Disney has to kind of keep things "under the table", as NChick says. With that in mind, however, I've gotta whoop for joy and say step in the right direction, even if it is a problem and their media is still uber heteronormative.
--I also feel that Rantasmo and NChick needn't have said they were looking as Disney through an LGBT (never mind all the other letters) lens because...that "T" part especially gets no visibility in this critique. It's pretty much all about gayness, and even bisexuality doesn't get much time if any in this critique. And it's not like there's no material to go on for trans especially--I mean, look at the lyrics to Reflection, man!
--I'm really glad that the critique also mocked the hell out of the "sassy gay friend" trope. I'm really tired of the media and consequently people in real life thinking: "Gay guy! He shall be fashion expert, wise, insightful, be a colorful spirit guide to lovelorn (white) girl!"
--My friends and I have noticed, too, that often one has a foppish villain to make them seem a deviant, which is villainous, but also feminine and vain, which is non-threatening. It was interesting to consider the fop character as a good guy as well, that the nonthreatening nature can also be used to make a friend. Of course the concept of "acting girly makes one nonthreatening" is troubling, but this whole discussion of the fop (I hadn't known there was a term for this character) just kept making me think about my constant struggle with what to make of in the characters in...well, Transformers and especially Transformers: Prime (JEEZUS, Knock Out and Starscream, tho!). I can't figure out if their heavily-implied gay identities are mostly good things or mostly bad things. My friend has recently dragged me into the fandom and we've been talking about the fandom under a queer lens (not just gay, but also asexual) for months and...oh God do I smell thesis. Maybe I'll post about Transformers next in this blog.
http://blip.tv/nostalgia-chick/nostalgia-chick-rantasmo-disney-needs-more-gay-6545576
So, my thoughts on the review:
--I'm not thrilled that Nostalgia Chick says she normally looks at videos through a feminist lens and was now going to shift to a queer lens. Beyond the fact that I'm in an academic environment that also draws on a web environment that says "feminist narratives include race-related, queer-related lenses" and so I don't feel the spheres should be separate in media analysis, Nostalgia Chick herself has treated her reviews under a feminist lens that also include race-related critiques, like in her reviews of Bay movies, The Craft, TLC, um that one movie with Justin Timberlake and Sarah Michelle Geller, and Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarves, and a bunch of other stuff. And this isn't just a case of NChick miswording and meaning to say that she will be looking exclusively through a queer lens, either, because I can't really recall her spending much time on queer visibility or heteronormativity. And I'm a big fan, so I think I'd remember. In any case, I hope she includes this crucial perspective in her future critiques, whether Rantasmo is present or not.
--I'm really pleasantly surprised that Disney is a pretty good place of employment in this day and age for gay and lesbian employees and customers--I'd never even heard of these Gay Days! Of course, it is upsetting that Disney is torn between this market/group of fans/sentiment and socially conservative market/fans/sentiment, and so Disney has to kind of keep things "under the table", as NChick says. With that in mind, however, I've gotta whoop for joy and say step in the right direction, even if it is a problem and their media is still uber heteronormative.
--I also feel that Rantasmo and NChick needn't have said they were looking as Disney through an LGBT (never mind all the other letters) lens because...that "T" part especially gets no visibility in this critique. It's pretty much all about gayness, and even bisexuality doesn't get much time if any in this critique. And it's not like there's no material to go on for trans especially--I mean, look at the lyrics to Reflection, man!
--I'm really glad that the critique also mocked the hell out of the "sassy gay friend" trope. I'm really tired of the media and consequently people in real life thinking: "Gay guy! He shall be fashion expert, wise, insightful, be a colorful spirit guide to lovelorn (white) girl!"
--My friends and I have noticed, too, that often one has a foppish villain to make them seem a deviant, which is villainous, but also feminine and vain, which is non-threatening. It was interesting to consider the fop character as a good guy as well, that the nonthreatening nature can also be used to make a friend. Of course the concept of "acting girly makes one nonthreatening" is troubling, but this whole discussion of the fop (I hadn't known there was a term for this character) just kept making me think about my constant struggle with what to make of in the characters in...well, Transformers and especially Transformers: Prime (JEEZUS, Knock Out and Starscream, tho!). I can't figure out if their heavily-implied gay identities are mostly good things or mostly bad things. My friend has recently dragged me into the fandom and we've been talking about the fandom under a queer lens (not just gay, but also asexual) for months and...oh God do I smell thesis. Maybe I'll post about Transformers next in this blog.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
"Mickey Mouse supports gay marriage!"
Gay Wedding Is Embraced by Disney in Tokyo:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/world/asia/social-media-embrace-same-sex-wedding-at-tokyo-disneyland.html
Koyuki's and Hiroko's wedding last Friday was the first same-sex marriage held in the Tokyo Disney Resort.
The article expressed the hope that their wedding would continue to stir public debates about LGBT rights and support the struggle for LBGT equality in Japan; it furthermore states that Japan has undertaken some steps towards LGBT equality (ban of discrimination at workplace f.ex.), but much more needs to be done to end oppression and discrimination and to "build a society where we can just be ourselves," as Koyuki put it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/world/asia/social-media-embrace-same-sex-wedding-at-tokyo-disneyland.html
Koyuki's and Hiroko's wedding last Friday was the first same-sex marriage held in the Tokyo Disney Resort.
The article expressed the hope that their wedding would continue to stir public debates about LGBT rights and support the struggle for LBGT equality in Japan; it furthermore states that Japan has undertaken some steps towards LGBT equality (ban of discrimination at workplace f.ex.), but much more needs to be done to end oppression and discrimination and to "build a society where we can just be ourselves," as Koyuki put it.
Old Homosexuality Laws Still Hang Over Many in Germany
The following article, published today in the New York Times, fits nicely into our discussions about LGBT discrimination and persecution during the post-WWII era by opening up a transatlantic perspective:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/world/europe/old-homosexuality-laws-still-hang-over-many-in-germany.html?_r=0
In 1957 West Germany declared paragraph 175 (homophobic law) to be constitutional; great numbers of LGBT people were criminally persecuted during the 1950s and 60s. Only in 1994, homosexuality was decriminalized, but still today a lot of victims of homophobic persecution are still waiting to have their police records cleared.
With regard to the upcoming federal election in September, the conservative party has recently made a major turn in their stance on LGBT rights by signaling their support for gay equality and we will maybe see some developments concerning the clearing of LGBT people's police records.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/world/europe/old-homosexuality-laws-still-hang-over-many-in-germany.html?_r=0
In 1957 West Germany declared paragraph 175 (homophobic law) to be constitutional; great numbers of LGBT people were criminally persecuted during the 1950s and 60s. Only in 1994, homosexuality was decriminalized, but still today a lot of victims of homophobic persecution are still waiting to have their police records cleared.
With regard to the upcoming federal election in September, the conservative party has recently made a major turn in their stance on LGBT rights by signaling their support for gay equality and we will maybe see some developments concerning the clearing of LGBT people's police records.
Monday, March 4, 2013
More great movies!
This weekend I searched for the Transgeneration series and couldn't find it online for free so I checked to see if there was an MTV true life about it, and there was. It is called True Life: I am changing my sex. It was really great. The episode follows a male transitioning to female as well as a female to male. It shows doctors appointments, family relations, day to day life as well as interviews about their decision and plans for the future. Here is the link if you want to watch it!
http://www.mtv.com/videos/true-life-im-changing-my-sex/1631489/playlist.jhtml
Also, I was scanning Netflix and I found a huge number of interesting gay and lesbian documentaries that are streaming. I decided to watch For the Bible Tells Me So (2007) which was incredible. Very very interesting. The documentary looks at the intersection of religion and homosexuality. It follows a few families who are quite religious and have a GLBTQ son or daughter. They tell their stories from childhood to figuring out they were GLBTQ, telling their parents, up to where they are now from both the child's perspective and the parents. I found it really emotional and relevant, being that religion plays a huge role in many American's lives and has such a strong influence on the legal debates surrounding gay rights.
http://www.mtv.com/videos/true-life-im-changing-my-sex/1631489/playlist.jhtml
Also, I was scanning Netflix and I found a huge number of interesting gay and lesbian documentaries that are streaming. I decided to watch For the Bible Tells Me So (2007) which was incredible. Very very interesting. The documentary looks at the intersection of religion and homosexuality. It follows a few families who are quite religious and have a GLBTQ son or daughter. They tell their stories from childhood to figuring out they were GLBTQ, telling their parents, up to where they are now from both the child's perspective and the parents. I found it really emotional and relevant, being that religion plays a huge role in many American's lives and has such a strong influence on the legal debates surrounding gay rights.
A Fascinating Story & a Webinar for Allies
This post contains two unrelated but both very timely pieces that correlate with the discussions we've been having in class.
First is a blog post by Justin Huang (Pomona 2009) detailing his run-in with "a homophobic cop" in Los Angeles. I was infuriated to read the account but very proud of this fellow Sagehen's reaction. Indeed, homophobia--or at the very least, profiling of homosexuals--is alive and well in the LAPD. If you don't have time to read the whole account, this is the most jarring excerpt:
Second, and on a more upbeat note: Friendfactor, an equality-focused social media network that I have done some work for, is hosting webinars this week to train allies how to best support the LGBT(etc) community. If you're interested, more information and a signup can be found here.
First is a blog post by Justin Huang (Pomona 2009) detailing his run-in with "a homophobic cop" in Los Angeles. I was infuriated to read the account but very proud of this fellow Sagehen's reaction. Indeed, homophobia--or at the very least, profiling of homosexuals--is alive and well in the LAPD. If you don't have time to read the whole account, this is the most jarring excerpt:
If we think that institutionalized homophobia like that described by Dale Jennings in today's readings is a thing of the past, then we are sadly mistaken.The officer is grinning now, clearly pleased with himself. "Based on my expertise, I say you're intoxicated. I'm going to perform a breathalyzer test on you, and if you resist me, I'm going to spray you in the face."Then, he adds, "I'm sure you're used to that." He smiles at me, as if expecting me to laugh.
Second, and on a more upbeat note: Friendfactor, an equality-focused social media network that I have done some work for, is hosting webinars this week to train allies how to best support the LGBT(etc) community. If you're interested, more information and a signup can be found here.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Westboro Baptist Church in Santa Monica
In this post I would like to do a little bragging as well as a little bit of reflection on the nature of queer rights activism in our society today. On Monday February 25th The Westboro Baptist Church protested my alma matter Santa Monica High School because of its prominant GSA and tolerant atmosphere twords LGBTQ students. In response to this protest, over a hundred members of the Santa Monica community as well as many students and faculty members at Samohi organized a counter protest right across the street from where the WBC was stationed. First of all I am very proud to be part of a community that stand up for it's queer members, but I also have a slight qualm with the nature of this counter protest. If you are not familiar with the WBC, it is a cult that uses certain passages in the bible as well as their own twisted views on society to justify publicly demonizing everything from LGBTQ individuals to war veterans to catholic priests to athiests. In coloquial terms they hate everybody but themselves. I have been fascinated with this cult for many years now and have watched several documentaries on them. What stuck out to me most from interviews with members of the WBC is that they use the attention they get from having their protests broadcast in the media in order to recruit more members. Essentially for them "Any press is good press." This is what fuels my internal debate about the public attention their rally received at Samohi. They see it as a win if they have people yelling back at them and getting all riled up by their actions. So, while the counter protest at Samohi was a peaceful one it was exactly what they wanted. However, I can not fully criticize the actions of my hometown because by showing up with giant rainbow flags and signs they did make a public stand for Santa Monica's queer youth which is such an important cause.
I posted this story and my perspectives on it in order to open up a dialog about the WBC and hopefully hear your insights onto the matter. I hope this fuels a lively debate.
Here is the link to the Huff post article about the protest including a video shot by my friend as Samohi student Ben Ross.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/26/westboro-baptist-church-anti-gay-protest-santa-monica-high-school-_n_2764707.html
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