DRAMA QUEENS

Judy, Barbra, Liza—And Little Edie

How the 'Grey' ladies, and their ilk, became the gays' ladies.

NEWSWEEK
Published Apr 4, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Apr 13, 2009

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  • Posted By: PenelopePrzekop @ 04/24/2009 12:14:19 PM

    Mr. Cummings,

    Thanks for a great, it's-about-time piece! I wrote about it on my blog, Aberration Nation, if you'd like to check it out. I've just named you as the first honorary member of the Aberration Nation. Here's the direct link to the post: http://penelopeprzekop.blogspot.com/2009/04/note-to-newsweek-magazine.html

    Best - Penelope Przekop, Author & Artist

  • Posted By: Professional_Writer @ 04/20/2009 12:43:58 AM

    Mr. Cummings,

    Very in-depth and thought provoking article. However, besides that I've found an error that was at most an accidental oversight. In the second paragraph, fourth sentence down the you list notable homosexual celebrities; John Waters, Cher and RUSSELL SIMMONS. I'm sure this was just an accident being that the two names are very similar. But I'm quite sure you meant RICHARD SIMMONS. Russell is the hip-hop media mogul while Richard is the outspoken and vivacious actor/spokesperson for health that whom we all know is a homosexual. Not a big deal but some might take offense to being labeled something they are not.

    Being that you inadvertently categorized Russell Simmons as a homosexual, maybe a correction should be printed for the next issue. I'm sure all; yourself, Richard and Russell Simmons would be much appreciative!

  • Posted By: Lee Holmes @ 04/07/2009 6:15:56 PM

    Not at all Cummings.

    ''Fascistic''describes government takeover and ownership of private enterprise. This can be attached to the present political administration. Not gays per se.[ who as I see from the Bay GUARDIANS reporting,are having their own problems in ''queer'' versus ''gay''].

    It appears that ''conservative family values''are no longer the sole ownership of the Ralph Reeds of the world. In Friscos Castro District,a row is going on between ''family gays'' who act as nuclear family complete with kids and strollers,having to walk these past ''leather bars'' and ''hairy gays'' [AKA ''hairy bears'' usually larger gays who adopt a ''leather'' or ''biker''look]. Now the affronted ''mainstreams''are demanding that the Districts politicians and business owners do something to clean up Castros leather act. A sort of gay ''Moral Minority'' if one will.....

    • Posted By: PNRubi @ 04/11/2009 2:16:12 PM

      Uh, sorry Buddy, your definition of a fascist is incorrect. You may want to check out communisim--which the Obama administration is not! And furthermore, may I remind you that it was Bush and the Republicans and their "Trickle Down" theory (aka "Piss on the Middle-Class, et al" of Economics that created this problem (starting with Reagan) and it was Bush who allowed his cronies in his administration to "nationalize" the banks in the USA.

      As for the gay bars in the Castro, personally, I would never step into one. They are offensive to me. And I AM gay. I love Men. I'm not in the closet, let that be clear, because I don't have the need to go around displaying my "goods" to the whole world. Bad taste and rather shall we say "tribalistic?" But, we have an article in the Constitution of the United States that permits free association and peaceful assembly. So, let them have their "gay ghetto" and bear bars. Let the gay daddies & daddies and mommies & mommies move to the suburbs where the belong with all the other families and children leading happy, "normal" lives (oh what secrets straight families harbor).

      Oh, and here's the definition of fascist to put you on the right track when next you wish to speak correctly about the subject you portend to criticize:



      Main Entry:fas·cism
      Pronunciation:\??fa-??shi-z??m also ??fa-??si-\
      Function:noun
      Etymology:Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces
      Date:1921
      1often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
      2: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control <early instances of army fascism and brutality ??? J. W. Aldridge>

  • Posted By: Rey Flores @ 04/08/2009 10:39:53 AM

    'This' is what a rag-azine like Newsweek considers newsworthy? God help us!

    www.ReyFloresAmerica.blogspot.com

    • Posted By: PNRubi @ 04/11/2009 2:04:00 PM

      Fijese bien Sr. Flores: yes it's news to many people: primarily those who have intellectual curiosity and the ability to reasonably disagree but offer something worth consideration in return. Y que puedes ofrecer Ud? Huh?

  • Posted By: RaftingBear @ 04/08/2009 11:06:40 PM

    I love that there's a "gay identify" I can aspire to. But I was never impressed by Judy (and I am that "certain age" that's supposed to), like maybe 10% of Barbra's output (I have had to listen to it ALL because my husband DOES love her), and I cannot listen to Liza without considering turning to heavy drink.

    Yes, I'm gay--but it seems that's just another group that doesn't want me.

    • Posted By: PNRubi @ 04/11/2009 2:02:06 PM

      Dude...you are not alone! I don't own one Judy Garland, Lisa Minella or Barbara Streisand LP, CD or DVD. Never have and never will. Be greatful you have a husband that loves you, though, and live your life your way. Be who YOU are and NOT some cookie-cutter bar queen that doesn't have the strenght to evolve and fine-tune his own identity. Loving another Man is beautiful, challenging, infuriating and often painful. We're pretty self-centered creatures. But, I would change being "Gay" for anything in the world. I love my sexuality. I love Men. But, like any human being that is evolving and moving into higher realms of awareness being homosexual is not ALL of who I am. Many men in the "Community" may appear like they belong to something bigger than themselves--and maybe they do. Or maybe they are so self-identified with the tribe that they don't have a clue as to they, themselves, are. Be who YOU are! It's really that simple!

  • Posted By: Ssmith12620 @ 04/10/2009 10:07:33 AM

    As always, gay men ignore lesbians in their discussions, as if men are the only gay people in the world. Whatever I thought of the article -- completely uninteresting to me as a woman -- I couldn't see anything except the usual self-centered focus of men. Gay or straight, they have no idea of women's feelings.

    • Posted By: PNRubi @ 04/11/2009 1:53:30 PM

      Do lesbians always include Gay men in their discussions? Perhaps our author-friend was simply writing from a male perspective and didn't feel he either had the authority or necessity to discuss lesbian sensibilities. Who knows? If it concerns you so much then write your own article about "Gay Sensibilities," but hold yourself to your own standard and don't forget the men--or would that be contrary to being a lesbian if you did?

  • Posted By: PNRubi @ 04/11/2009 1:49:37 PM

    Queer! Queer! You've got my cheers! I dropped out of the gay-ghetto quite some time ago. While men ARE sexy in uniform--even "gay" uniforms--after a while it just becomes dull. When coming-out to my family in the late 70s and never hiding my God-given sexuality I stopped the bar scene many years ago. Come on! The artists' music blarring from the disco speakers may be different but the hump-hump-hump of the beat is the same: NOTHING has changed! And that's too, too bad. Gay consciousness? A bit self-indulgent. Being homosexual? Being "Queer?" Now that is some worth fighting for and being proud of...loving and loving deeply is both painful and rewarding and it really doesn't matter if you a "gay" or "straight." Americans--Gay Americans as included--need to get over themselves, grown up, be adults and recognize that human rights are for ALL People and that includes Undocumented "Illegal" Immigrants. Ooops! But that is another Human Rights Violation issue that in no way has anything to do with Homosexuals and our right to be who we are, does it?

    Paul N. Rubi
    Phoenix, Arizona

  • Posted By: JHMCC @ 04/07/2009 4:58:16 PM

    I think 'queer' works if you're trying to describe the whole LGBT community, but as a homosexual man, I far prefer 'gay' over 'queer.' While I am extremely proud to be gay, I don't feel that it informs every aspect of who I am. 'Gay' identifies my sexual orientation, whereas 'queer' has something holistic about it, presupposing an outsider status on all fronts. There is also something I find a little self-deprecating about constantly calling yourself different or strange. I think that some people do indeed identify as queer, and it goes beyond their sexuality, which is great. If it works for you, by all means, but calling for 'queer' to be the standard is pretty unrealistic.
    I also have to take issuer with your claim that divas like Cher are 'worshipped by a whole community.' I think it is more one subsect of gay cutlure that engages in diva-worship. Maybe it is a generational thing, but as a 24 year-old man I can say that this is not the case these days. Gays, like every other community, are an eclectic bunch.

  • Posted By: JHMCC @ 04/07/2009 4:58:00 PM

    I think 'queer' works if you're trying to describe the whole LGBT community, but as a homosexual man, I far prefer 'gay' over 'queer.' While I am extremely proud to be gay, I don't feel that it informs every aspect of who I am. 'Gay' identifies my sexual orientation, whereas 'queer' has something holistic about it, presupposing an outsider status on all fronts. There is also something I find a little self-deprecating about constantly calling yourself different or strange. I think that some people do indeed identify as queer, and it goes beyond their sexuality, which is great. If it works for you, by all means, but calling for 'queer' to be the standard is pretty unrealistic.
    I also have to take issuer with your claim that divas like Cher are 'worshipped by a whole community.' I think it is more one subsect of gay cutlure that engages in diva-worship. Maybe it is a generational thing, but as a 24 year-old man I can say that this is not the case these days. Gays, like every other community, are an eclectic bunch.

  • Posted By: torqueflite @ 04/07/2009 3:20:55 PM

    I'm no fan of the word "queer," either; it's very negatively freighted like the "n' word and who needs that? Also IMHO the diva-obsession isn't so much "queer" as just it is fodder for the hate-crowd, focusing upon the self-absorption, self-pity and the superficial posturing of some gay folk who fit that stereotype. There are some of us gays out here who don't match that model, fortunately.

  • Posted By: defiantgoat @ 04/07/2009 11:51:37 AM

    I despise the word queer. Can we not invent a new word with less baggage?

  • Posted By: metanoia93 @ 04/06/2009 7:31:29 PM

    Hear, hear! I've always like girls and boys (butch girls and swishy boys to be precise) and found there was no place for me in the parade cuz I'm just not Gay enough. But I sure am queer and applaud your take on the exclusivity I find in so much of gay culture. Very well written, concise and funny and right on point.(Am looking forward to The Tempest, btw).

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