lumen
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How much does politics influence glb culture?
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Mar 1 03:25 UTC 1999 |
Whatever happened to the clones, denims, and leather men in g/b men's
culture? Has it been the political climate?
If I remember right, the Stonewall Riots happened in the wake of the
hippie and yippie movements, in the Haight-Ashbury area. Then the gay
culture found an outlet in the disco era. There was freedom to channel
pent-up sexual tension into creativity, hedonism (but everyone was
calling themselves bisexual, more or less, then), and drugs. There was
the Village People, who may have been the only visibly gay group in the
public spotlight at the time. They represented butch gay.
The early 80's marked a return to conservative politics, and the
feminine New Romantic movement, started in London, was added to the mix.
It was the only time I was old enough to experience enough of really
remember, and looking back, even though the phrase 'genderbending' was
coined then, ironically, it seems men were polarized on masculine and
feminine sides. The movie 'Cruising' was put out in 1983. There were
several protests about this thriller set in the gay leather culture, and
perhaps the reaction to this movie made certain stereotypes unpopular.
(There is an especially disturbing scene where a man picks up another
man and is later stabbed in the back by the same guy.)
It seems the 90's has been, in some aspects, the year of the woman,
especially this last year. Women artists have filled the Grammy
nominations, and with the Clinton scandal, it might be possible for the
nation to have a female president. Ellen DeGenres was the first woman
to have a character admit she was gay *and* have an relationship.
Now, this is all presupposition, because I'm relatively young,
inexperienced, and probably don't know what I'm talking about. But it
seems that it has become vastly more important for gay and bisexual men
to get in touch with their feminine side than with their masculine one.
I have a friend who claims he was once one of the toughest leather
bears around, 99.9% butch, weighed 180 lbs. and could bench 500. But
after an accident, he is fat, femmy, and old. I suppose he is hurt
because he says most gay men think he's an old troll. (He can only wear
a few clothes because he's so big.) He seems all but ashamed of his
past, and it seems to me that although his circumstances are unusual,
his attitude is not-- being femmy is hip and in.
So why is butch behavior among men so.. unnoticed? Does it not fit in
anymore? Is the community trying to make themselves appear more
sensitive, cultured, or worthy of the public's pity? I've been told the
butchies are out there, but I sure can't recognize them like I do the
'nellie' boys.
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