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11/06/2008
'Wicked' bias
This Myspace comment, posted to the official "yes on 8" page, is of course annoying in the way it celebrates the rollback of fundamental civil rights. However, the users pic raises another element in our eyes. Check it out and then we'll get back to you:
Okay, so here we have a person who is both anti-gay and pro-Wicked. But here's the thing: I, Jeremy, had the pleasure of working on the NYC production of this particular show during its planning, pre-Broadway, and first year Broadway run. And guess what? The sole reason this show exists is because of gay people! Just off the top of my head, when looking back a few years: The composer-lyricist was gay. The original director was gay The music director was gay. Much of the production team was gay. The marketing people were largely gay. The entire publicity office was gay. Many in the original cast (and, presumably, subsequent casts) were gay. The man who wrote the original novel was gay (and he married another man in one of Massachusetts' first legal same-sex weddings). All were key to the show becoming a phenomenon, and all were (and, presumably, still are) openly queer!
This may sound trivial, but it actually does raise an oft overlooked point, which is: the American public simply does not make a connection between the idea of gay people, which they will gladly vote against at the polls, and the ideas of gay people, which they will readily consume and embrace. They enjoy the fruits of our labor, yet laboriously foster a climate where we can be written off as "fruits." The vast and unique contributions made by LGBT people are never considered in the minds of those who prefer to write us off as "threats" to children, families, and society at large.
So this person may be an out and proud Wicked fan. However, I can tell her with 100% certainty: The vast majority of the folks responsible for her cast recording absolutely DETEST her choice to vote against their civil equality!
Your thoughts
I'd appreciate the irony if I didn't want to throw something large and heavy at my screen.
Posted by: Alle | Nov 6, 2008 2:48:55 PM
Don't forget that the guy who deserves a fuckload of credit for the computer's existence, Alan Turing, was gay. Hopefully she'll see the error of her ways and get the fuck off our internet.
And bitch, those 'disrespectful judges' were doing their damn job since the anti-gay marriage bill goes against your OWN DAMN CONSTITUTION just as this one does. Granted, this one is officially a constitutional amendment, but excluding only one group of people from a right like marrying?
Why not fucking ask us to sit at the back of the bus or use our own water fountains? REMIND YOU OF ANYTHING? Moronic bitch. I hope the whole Wicked cast finds out where you live and rapes your ass with brooms covered in splinters!
Posted by: dasdas | Nov 6, 2008 2:55:16 PM
This is hardly the first time they've shown that they have no sense of irony.
Posted by: RainbowPhoenix | Nov 6, 2008 3:15:50 PM
I've been noticing things like this too.
There is one problem... I think that the movie, music, and entertainment idea have been portraying us badly.
But that's my opinion.
Posted by: Trickster's Treat | Nov 6, 2008 4:16:28 PM
Not such a gay-related comment, but...
Woah!! You worked on Wiched?!? That's so cool!!!
Posted by: Ben | Nov 6, 2008 4:50:36 PM
RainbowPhoenix: Who suggested this was the first time?
Trickster's: Well that's a whole other matter. The point in this is that we, the gays, MADE 'Wicked' happen. There would be no 'Wicked' without LGBT people.
Ben: Yes, it was interesting to watch it grow. It's fun now to see the worldwide phenomenon it's become.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Nov 6, 2008 5:03:57 PM
You have a point. But maybe I should clarify what I mean.
It's more along the lines of the fact that because of the way media portrays us, ignorant people don't want to believe that we can do anything other than hair and make-up on reality television shows.
I have a lot of friends who found it hard to believe that Wicked was made mostly by gays, because as they put it they "didn't think that gays could do something that didn't involve gayness".
It's sort of the same principal as a member of the opposite sex hitting on you, then saying "You don't look gay." When you show them your rainbow bracelet. They've put us in clichés.
Gay men are supposed to wear bright pink, say "fabulous", and rant about the latest design trends. (I've actually had a friend that thought this.) And gay women are supposed to have short haircuts, wear baggy clothing, and play basketball.(Again... a friend.)
Now, we all know that's not how it is a lot of the time. And we all know that we have contributed a lot to media, Wicked just being one example.
But it's all a matter of denial. They don't want to admit that the "same people" they see doing celebrities' hair could make a killer knock out play.
Sorry.
Posted by: Trickster's Treat | Nov 6, 2008 5:38:26 PM
also interesting to note that as a fundy (I went out to their Myspace page and scrolled through all of the "Praise God we defeated the gays" postings) this person seeks to glorify a...
witch?
and a bad one at that?
[leaves the room scratching her head...]
Posted by: engaged voter | Nov 6, 2008 5:48:31 PM
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