Why is Broadway soooooo GAY!!??- Page 2

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:22pm

OK, I know I will be 'bashed' maybe for this. But I have to ask, why is Broadway theater so gay and getting gayer every day? The actors are gay. The dancers are gay. and more and more the shows are about gay life, ie Rent, Ave. Q, etc...

What I'm asking is, why are gay people soooooo attracted to broadway?? I'm a straight guy who loves broadway and every time I tell someone about a show I saw or something like that, I get the 'joke', "you like Broadway? Are you gay??? Ha ha ha." Just watch TV and you'll see jokes all the time about broadway and being gay. I'm really sick of the connection.

I mean, why is Broadway being 'gayed up'? Isn't it enough to get noticed because of your TALENT anymore? It just seems that now, the gay life is being glamorized and becoming chic.

I have had gay friends and their life was not glamorous in any way.

Can we all just perform with talent without flaunting what gender you go to bed with?

Just re-read your first post and it offended me even more the second time. I have highlighted the offensive passages just so you know exactly what it was that rubbed me the wrong way. Perhaps you should have just posted something along the lines of "Hey, you guys, why do you think Gay people are so attracted to Broadway?" and left it at that.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:23pm

I don't know that that's the case. However, the historical masculine and feminine ideals in this country are sort of falling down...so, while the old theatre community embraced homosexuals without being necessarily "out loud" have come to be openly gay-friendly (when it's not just outright gay), other areas of American life are starting to "metrosexualize." I mean, retired sports players are coming out left and right and discussing (anonymously) other gay teammates. It's just a matter of time before people realize it's not something that only infiltrates certain types of people or professions.
On a side note: Anyone heard any stories about that possible wave of outings on Capitol Hill?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:24pm

you mean ConDYKEleeza Rice?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:29pm

In response to your HIGHLIGHTS,
Read carefully. I'm SICK of the CONNECTION between the JOKES and BROADWAY. Really, I would think that gay people would be more SICK of it than I am. I mean, most jokes are really saying, if you like broadway, you CAN'T be a real man.

I'm not SICK of gay people. I'm tired of answering the same old question.

[DAME]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:30pm

Maybe you need new friends?

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:30pm

lol. Well, there's a closet case for you if there ever was one. It is true that the Republican party is quite a good hiding place for you if you have a lot of self-loathing feelings.
I was actually referring to a report (I'll have to dig around to find what magazine it was in) that a gay newspaper in DC (the Blade?) was going to start publishing the names of a lot of influential people who are gay, gayer, and gayest. These are not necessarily Senators and Congressmen but they are influential staffers and whatnot working with some very homophobic people on some very homophobic issues.
For what it's worth, the Human Rights Campaign is working to suppress the article.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:31pm

Yo, I posted a similar perspective to yours many months ago. I was I howled at by some and one in particular (since disappeared). Don't let 'em get to you. I agree with one of the points you're making. Gay-themed/characters apear to be prevelant on Broadway, but to what end? On the surface this appears to only reinforce stereotypes of gay men/lesbian women. And our age is supposed to be more tolerant and enlighted than the past.

Gays are heavily invovled in the theatre as a profession as they are in other professions. Theatre is more accepting of indivual sexuality than other professions perhaps that's one of the reasons homosexulas find it a comfortable environment.

I would agree however with the responder to say that it's someone else's problem how they view you because of your personal likes and dislikes. You're the only one who has to walk in your shoes. Have the courage of your convictions.

You might be attracted to the Broadway musical simply because along with jazz music it is America's only indigenous art form. There's been some great work created. If others aren't at your level of intelligence the "angels will weep" for them


Anyhow...I have to make my bed...lol

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:36pm

Pancho Villa was referring to the "high horse" comment. Besides I spend so much time on this board, my wrists are anything but limp. My fingers are so powerful I have broken thumbs when playing "Extreme Thumb Wars" my friends call me the "Nutcracker"

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:36pm

To be honest, yoitsme, you probably could have better worded your first post, but I got what you meant to say.

I just want to second that there are gay people EVERYWHERE. THe difference with the stereotypical careers? These are careers where one doesn't have to hide in the closet. And theatre is a world where practically EVERYONE is very open and expressive. And, in the end, people have to accept gays or go play in the places where gays are in the closet.

But, I'll you something. Theatre is wayyyyy less gay today than it was 10, 15, 20 years ago. There are soooooo many straight actors, dancers, etc. The crew is almost always 98% straight and is a very butch world. The audience is full of straight people.

Anytime you like something that requires half a brain, you are going to get either a "huh?" look on the face or an "are you gay?" comment. Most people on the planet are exceedingly ignorant. You can just like good films and get that kind of crap.

So, the answer lies not in how gay theatre is, but in how ignorant your friends are. Are you man enough to say, "screw what they think"? And, if you are--good for you and drop this issue.

:)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:38pm

Thanks, Jose.

Hey look everybody, I'm not AFFECTED by what my friends ask or say. I'm not so insecure that I listen to them and start to fear what they think.

It just got me to thinking and thus I gave the original question. But somehow, I've ended up having to defend myself against what seems like insecure people acusing me of being insecure.

Just think about show on TV, mainly sitcoms. So many jokes about being gay if you like Broadway. Then I got to thinking, why are so many people in theater gay, and many of you have answered honestly without attacking. Thanks!

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:39pm

We know he's straight. He spelled it "theater"

[etoile]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:40pm

"My fingers are so powerful I have broken thumbs when playing "Extreme Thumb Wars" my friends call me the "Nutcracker."

Oh, Sum, I'm showing such restraint.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:40pm

Furthermore,

To have representation of a gay character in theatre, the character either has to act stereotypically or say something that reveals being gay. The same is true for revealing a character's religion. It's not like being of color or gender where the "idea" is visual.

And, we are in the midst of a slow, but steady Gay Civil Rights period in our country. So, there are stories to be told. And we being included in other's stories.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:41pm

Do it etoile! Do it! I reread my post and I'm just asking for it! Be delightfully eviiiiiiiiiiiiiil.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:42pm

You got attacked by some for the same reason you would have if you had asked why theatre is sooooo Black. Think about that. We are constantly attacked for being gay--including the effing President! :)

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:45pm

Why are you so shocked that someone would take offense at your post when your first sentence states that you know you will be bashed? If you thought you might offend some people, maybe you should have thought about how you worded your question before you posted it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:45pm

As for me making this an "issue", hey, it's Sunday morning. I'm bored and I thought I'd start a discussion. That's what forums are for. It's not like I've been up for weeks wringing my hands in worry about this "issue." It's just a topic to talk about on a boring Sunday morning. Have plans later on, but just not now.

Oh, by the way, "THEATER" has become the more commonly accepted spelling, even when it comes to Broadway.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:46pm

Thanks for that. You know you're as helpful as J. I would have been lost in the deep dark woods of spelling and grammar if it weren't for you. Keep it up Gipper.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:47pm

nah--theater is where you see a movie

theatre is where you see a play or musical--there are exceptions, but this is the norm :)

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:48pm

I am declaring YoItsMe to be henceforth known as "The Gipper" until one more in need of the title comes forward.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:49pm

WoW! Do any of you realize that every time you attack me spelling or wording, you are giving credibility to the jokes I'm referring to??

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:50pm

Hey...

theater - theatre....

tomato - to mah toe
potato - po tah toe

...it doen't make one a bad person. Other things make one a bad person.

A gay playwright once wrote, and I paraphrase, deliberate cruelty is unforgivable.

Name the author, the character and the play.



Updated On: 7/4/04 at 12:50 PM

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:51pm

Well as far as your credibility is concerned, there is nowhere to go but up from zero.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:53pm

I'm just so pleased this is a thread that's NOT about walli woo and ree ree.

Thank you, Yo!

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 7/4/04 at 12:54pm

Is Walli Woo gay?