America's Got Talent - the gayest show on TV?

[fedssocr1]

OK, I have to admit that I have not really watched AGT. But I just happened past it now and it looks like at least 50% of the acts are flamboyantly gay or lesbian...or at least this lesbian who looks like Justin Bieber. Is this show really always this gay?

[Rick Munroe]

it looks like at least 50% of the acts are flamboyantly gay or lesbian...or at least this lesbian who looks like Justin Bieber. Is this show really always this gay?

 

How can you tell if a performer (or anybody, for that matter) is gay or lesbian by their flamboyant behavior? Do you also think Steven Tyler is gay?

[fedssocr1]

did you happen to see tonight's show? there was no mistaking that those guys were gay Gay GAY!

[Rick Munroe]

did you happen to see tonight's show? there was no mistaking that those guys were gay Gay GAY!

 

They now allow cock sucking and ass fucking on American TV?

[orbital sander]

They now allow cock sucking and ass fucking on American TV?

 

Lol...

[MsGuy]

How can you tell if a performer (or anybody, for that matter) is gay or lesbian by their flamboyant behavior?

 

You tell him, Rick. That silly boy, fedssocr, probably thinks Johnny Weir is gay, too! Oooh...SNAP!

 

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01581/johnny_weir_1581840c.jpg

[jjkrkwood]

How can you tell if a performer (or anybody, for that matter) is gay or lesbian by their flamboyant behavior? Do you also think Steven Tyler is gay?

 

No, he's just a MESS....

[jjkrkwood]

What amazes me more about the show is How many "talentless" people the judges put thru purely for shock and ratings......

 

If its a talent contest, stick with that. Dont send a talented act home in favor of one that sucks but the audience might be amused by.

[Guest rohale]

What amazes me more about the show is How many "talentless" people the judges put thru purely for shock and ratings......

 

If its a talent contest, stick with that. Dont send a talented act home in favor of one that sucks but the audience might be amused by.

 

It's usually Howie Mandel who insists upon some of these quirky acts to keep advancing by essentially getting Sharon Osbourne to side with him. Sometimes he does it just to annoy Piers Morgan. To be fair most of the acts that do go through with each passing round are very talented

[Rick Munroe]

You tell him, Rick. That silly boy, fedssocr, probably thinks Johnny Weir is gay, too! Oooh...SNAP!

 

So, do you guys always assume that every masculine or macho male is straight and every effeminate or flamboyant male is gay?

[Steven_Draker]

So, do you guys always assume that every masculine or macho male is straight and every effeminate or flamboyant male is gay?

 

We don't assume anything, but a large portion of the straight crowd out there do. That's why it's called "stereotype".

 

Why do you seem 'bothered' by that?

[Zapped]

I read recently, where I forget, in some discussion about whether or not it was kosher to speculate on Mr. Bachmann's sexual orientation given his reportedly effeminate mannerisms (I haven't actually watched his videos), that "while not all gay men are sissies, most sissies are gay," or something to that effect. From some big-name gay guy like Dan Savage. (I'm too tired to look anything up at the moment.) And there's nothing wrong with being effeminate, sissy, etc. (Which I wish I had realized when I was in 4th grade!)

 

I try not to presume, but I find myself presuming nevertheless. I don't watch AGT, though, so I'm commenting only because that recent comment stuck in my head.

[Rick Munroe]

We don't assume anything, but a large portion of the straight crowd out there do. That's why it's called "stereotype".

 

My question wasn't directed to you. But if a "large portion of the straight crowd out there" does believe this stereotype to be true (although I don't know where you're getting your data from), it's because people like you help to perpetuate it.

[Rick Munroe]

I read recently, where I forget, in some discussion about whether or not it was kosher to speculate on Mr. Bachmann's sexual orientation given his reportedly effeminate mannerisms (I haven't actually watched his videos), that "while not all gay men are sissies, most sissies are gay," or something to that effect. From some big-name gay guy like Dan Savage.

 

Well, big-name gay guys aren't automatically right. I actually disagree with those comments about Bachmann. Of course, I'd love him to be exposed as a hypocrite, and I love when the most vocal & virulent homophobes turn out to be gay, but I can't stand the fact that people say he's gay because of his mannerisms. Catch him sucking cock and then call him gay.

[Zapped]

Well, big-name gay guys aren't automatically right. I actually disagree with those comments about Bachmann. Of course, I'd love him to be exposed as a hypocrite, and I love when the most vocal & virulent homophobes turn out to be gay, but I can't stand the fact that people say he's gay because of his mannerisms. Catch him sucking cock and then call him gay.

 

Well, you have a good point there. It was Dan Savage. Insomnia got the better of me (or my web-surfing compulsion is creating my insomnia, more likely). Dan was quoting or paraphrasing Michael Bailey, whose research and writings have been controversial.

 

The thing that made the Dan Savage comments stick with me is his emphasis that it's perfectly OK to be effeminate. I currently have a pretty "masculine" affect, and not infrequently people are surprised I'm gay (which in turn surprises me, who was ridiculed for being "fem" and "a fag" in middle school). But my non-effeminate way of relating to people is something that I taught myself while demeaning the more feminine aspects of myself. I won't try to sort out all my internal and developmental conflicts now. I'll just say that it came a great price.

 

Here are two big chunks from Savage's post:

 

As we've seen with Haggard, Rekers, Craig, et al, the biggest homophobes are often messy closet cases. And as sex researcher Michael Bailey puts it: Not all gay men are sissies, but nearly all sissies are gay men. So it's entirely possible—it seems highly likely to me—that Marcus Bachmann is one of those guys who insists that sexual orientation is a choice because he choose to be straight. Or choose to identify as straight.

 

Gay people who point out how fruity Bachmann is aren't saying there's something wrong with being fruity, or with being gay, or with guys who look, speak, walk, or dance the way Bachmann does. A lot of us look, speak, walk, and dance that way. And we don't think there's anything wrong with us for looking, speaking, walking, or dancing that way. I've never met a gay man who objected to Modern Family's Cam, who looks, speaks, walks, and dances the Bachmann way. And we certainly don't think there's anything wrong with being gay. But Marcus Bachmann sure does. He thinks there's a whole lot wrong with being gay. And when we point out that this same Marcus Bachmann acts like a huge homo—like a huge, messy, married, dishonest, closeted version Cam—we're not mocking the fruits. We're hoisting that pansy with his own hateful petard.

[Steven_Draker]

... it's because people like you help to perpetuate it.

 

LOL ... Rick, you're just too funny, but we appreciate the effort.

 

Carry on.

[Rick Munroe]

The thing that made the Dan Savage comments stick with me is his emphasis that it's perfectly OK to be effeminate.

 

Of course, it is. But I couldn't disagree more with his other comments.

[Zapped]

Of course, it is. But I couldn't disagree more with his other comments.

 

Ugh. Why am I still up? Because this is fun.

 

I see both sides of the attack-Bachmann issue. Regardless of that, there certainly are straight guys who are effeminate, and effeminate gay guys who prefer not to be out, and it doesn't help either group to be pouncing on Bachmann saying "look, he's effeminate, he must be gay."

 

Now what is really nice (I'll narcissistically make this about me again) is that the part of me that is ashamed of my own feminine qualities is healing, gradually but surely.

[Rick Munroe]

Ugh. Why am I still up? Because this is fun.

 

LOL I know...if I hadn't been so tired, my last comment would have been a little more substantial. But I agree; it's fun to have an intelligent debate while keeping an open mind.

 

I see both sides of the attack-Bachmann issue. Regardless of that, there certainly are straight guys who are effeminate, and effeminate gay guys who prefer not to be out, and it doesn't help either group to be pouncing on Bachmann saying "look, he's effeminate, he must be gay."

 

Exactly. I do see both sides, too (and agree it's perfectly OK to be effeminate, regardless of orientation) but I was especially thinking of the kids (gay or straight) whom Dan purports to help with his "It Gets Better" campaign. I don't see how it's helpful to confirm stereotypes for kids, some of whom may be effeminate & straight and then wondering, "Am I gay??" when they're really not, and other (gay or straight) maybe feeling forced to modify their behavior to fit in.

 

Now what is really nice (I'll narcissistically make this about me again) is that the part of me that is ashamed of my own feminine qualities is healing, gradually but surely.

 

I'm so happy for you.