QAF: The Big Media Sham (And you bought it - again)
TO THE EDITOR
Re: ARTICLE: Charles Kaiser "QAF" "That's A Wrap"
http://www.planetout.com/entertainment/news/?sernum=1015
The US Version of Queer As Folk did nothing more than further marginalize an already crippled community in America. Mr. Kaiser would have us believe that because gays were paraded as minstrals by Showtime for the American public to gasp at - that some sort of liberation took place. Showtime made its money, the "lets-all-act-like-everybody-else" queers had another reason to party, HIV infections are still on the rise (especially in young people) and crystal meth use is off the hook. How about a few more episodes about liberated back-rooms to finish the bill!?!
I have no problem with the fact that Showtime is a TV network in search of profit, but what they and misguided bleeding-hearts like Mr. Kaiser need to stop doing is trying to subsidize the media machine by claiming it serves some sort of greater social prupose - it doesn't.
I'll never forget the LGBT Exposition a few years back in New York City, where a big draw was "Meet the Cast of QAF!". Uh-Huh. The dazzled gays waited in line for hours, only to pay Showtime promoters fifty dollars per head to shake hands with a straight dude. My advice: take twenty-five bucks and keep for yourself, donate the other half to your favorite charity - then get out from behind the computer and take a walk around your block - there are plenty of straight dudes to shake hands with. And the best part, you don't have to change one darn thing about yourself.
A noted gay author/academic, Byrne Fone, once asserted to me that "Gay men are not simply straight men who just happen to suck cock". I tend to agree. Forget 'Assimilate'. How about 'Integrate'? The latter doesn't require you to transform into a circus clown in order to be accepted, but does require a hint of personal effort. No TV required.
Martin B
Re: ARTICLE: Charles Kaiser "QAF" "That's A Wrap"
http://www.planetout.com/entertainment/news/?sernum=1015
The US Version of Queer As Folk did nothing more than further marginalize an already crippled community in America. Mr. Kaiser would have us believe that because gays were paraded as minstrals by Showtime for the American public to gasp at - that some sort of liberation took place. Showtime made its money, the "lets-all-act-like-everybody-else" queers had another reason to party, HIV infections are still on the rise (especially in young people) and crystal meth use is off the hook. How about a few more episodes about liberated back-rooms to finish the bill!?!
I have no problem with the fact that Showtime is a TV network in search of profit, but what they and misguided bleeding-hearts like Mr. Kaiser need to stop doing is trying to subsidize the media machine by claiming it serves some sort of greater social prupose - it doesn't.
I'll never forget the LGBT Exposition a few years back in New York City, where a big draw was "Meet the Cast of QAF!". Uh-Huh. The dazzled gays waited in line for hours, only to pay Showtime promoters fifty dollars per head to shake hands with a straight dude. My advice: take twenty-five bucks and keep for yourself, donate the other half to your favorite charity - then get out from behind the computer and take a walk around your block - there are plenty of straight dudes to shake hands with. And the best part, you don't have to change one darn thing about yourself.
A noted gay author/academic, Byrne Fone, once asserted to me that "Gay men are not simply straight men who just happen to suck cock". I tend to agree. Forget 'Assimilate'. How about 'Integrate'? The latter doesn't require you to transform into a circus clown in order to be accepted, but does require a hint of personal effort. No TV required.
Martin B
posted by Martin B at 7:52 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home