From Freddie Mercury to 'M*A*S*H', to Irving Berlin and my own grandfather - a partial, fragmented, and often contradictory history of America's complicated relationship with drag
This is such a beautifully written and thought-provoking piece. Your comparison of the Queen video with the conflicting appearance and accepted misogyny of hair metal bands certainly speaks of the times but I agree that the current reactionary movement really is frightening. In my children I see a generation so much more tolerant and accepting of difference and I find it frustrating that such a level of resistance in other quarters still exists to just allowing people to be who they want to be.
You’ve made a point about the big hair-metal 80s that I didn’t pick up on then. The bands were so overtly misogynistic that their ‘feminine’ appearance was overlooked, if not accepted. They were really ghoulish cartoonish looking versions of femininity weren’t they?
This resonates powerfully and has to be said. It is true.
At a party in the early 80’s after discussions with friends about how liberal we all were regarding homosexuality, my good friend Rab and I decided to slow dance together and snog on the dance floor….
When the music stopped it seemed we had cause a terrible outrage and were directed to the door. We laughed as we walked away. We felt like outsiders we were outsiders….. and this was just another reinforcing experience of that feeling. Thank you for writing that, it has resulted in an insight about what the revealed hides
When I first saw this video my mind exploded in amazed joy. Being raised in conservative central I had not experienced men in drag as a child and knew nothing of ‘the gays’ as they were later referred to by many. Freedom of expression is something I fought for hard as expectations to be a certain way were high. Freddie helped me with this and I love him for that. This writing has rekindled that memory and all the emotions that went with it. Thankyou.
What a powerful piece Cole. This was a really interesting read. I wasn't aware of the history of drag in the armed services. It is sobering to think hoe we have regressed in many ways over the last few years. Well researched, thoughtful and balanced.
Wow! Thanks for sharing something so personal with us. ❤️
I've always been attracted to those who are really in tune with their feminine and male sides, and when I learned what pansexuality was, I thought...hey, that's me! Probably also why others have complimented me on written dialogues in my stories. I can easily hop in from one pov to another.
Androgyny is a beautiful thing. Probably explains why I'm so drawn to the Victorian Era where people could be humans, and it wasn't scandalous to see women walk arm in arm or men expressing their flamboyant personalities.
I've seen Queen in concert 3 times, since they've teamed up with one of my favorite singers, Adam Lambert. I was introduced to the band back in 1992 through Wayne's World, and liked a lot of their songs. But I never dreamed of seeing them in concert, until they invited Adam to sing with them!
Adam has seen and gone through it all, as a gay man in the music industry. He's definitely inspired me to live my truth, no matter how confusing it might be to some.
Cole, I want to apologise. Recently you posted a thoughtful note about Klinger which (I now realise) was based on research you did for this piece. And I thoughtlessly replied in “Well, actually” mode. I was wrong!
I also want to thank you, because it sparked a thoroughly enjoyable M*A*S*H rewatch.
This is such a beautifully written and thought-provoking piece. Your comparison of the Queen video with the conflicting appearance and accepted misogyny of hair metal bands certainly speaks of the times but I agree that the current reactionary movement really is frightening. In my children I see a generation so much more tolerant and accepting of difference and I find it frustrating that such a level of resistance in other quarters still exists to just allowing people to be who they want to be.
You’ve made a point about the big hair-metal 80s that I didn’t pick up on then. The bands were so overtly misogynistic that their ‘feminine’ appearance was overlooked, if not accepted. They were really ghoulish cartoonish looking versions of femininity weren’t they?
This resonates powerfully and has to be said. It is true.
At a party in the early 80’s after discussions with friends about how liberal we all were regarding homosexuality, my good friend Rab and I decided to slow dance together and snog on the dance floor….
When the music stopped it seemed we had cause a terrible outrage and were directed to the door. We laughed as we walked away. We felt like outsiders we were outsiders….. and this was just another reinforcing experience of that feeling. Thank you for writing that, it has resulted in an insight about what the revealed hides
When I first saw this video my mind exploded in amazed joy. Being raised in conservative central I had not experienced men in drag as a child and knew nothing of ‘the gays’ as they were later referred to by many. Freedom of expression is something I fought for hard as expectations to be a certain way were high. Freddie helped me with this and I love him for that. This writing has rekindled that memory and all the emotions that went with it. Thankyou.
What a powerful piece Cole. This was a really interesting read. I wasn't aware of the history of drag in the armed services. It is sobering to think hoe we have regressed in many ways over the last few years. Well researched, thoughtful and balanced.
Wow! Thanks for sharing something so personal with us. ❤️
I've always been attracted to those who are really in tune with their feminine and male sides, and when I learned what pansexuality was, I thought...hey, that's me! Probably also why others have complimented me on written dialogues in my stories. I can easily hop in from one pov to another.
Androgyny is a beautiful thing. Probably explains why I'm so drawn to the Victorian Era where people could be humans, and it wasn't scandalous to see women walk arm in arm or men expressing their flamboyant personalities.
I've seen Queen in concert 3 times, since they've teamed up with one of my favorite singers, Adam Lambert. I was introduced to the band back in 1992 through Wayne's World, and liked a lot of their songs. But I never dreamed of seeing them in concert, until they invited Adam to sing with them!
Adam has seen and gone through it all, as a gay man in the music industry. He's definitely inspired me to live my truth, no matter how confusing it might be to some.
Cole, I want to apologise. Recently you posted a thoughtful note about Klinger which (I now realise) was based on research you did for this piece. And I thoughtlessly replied in “Well, actually” mode. I was wrong!
I also want to thank you, because it sparked a thoroughly enjoyable M*A*S*H rewatch.
This was a Brit sitcom about that practice. Super problematic on race and empire. And sex gender. But, a useful document. https://g.co/kgs/NhrxCVL