Matt Baume Explains to Mary Cheney How Drag is Different from Blackface

Last week Mary Cheney asked the world why blackface is bad but drag isn't, in a post on her Facebook page:

"Why is it socially acceptable -- as a form of entertainment -- for men to put on dresses, make up and high heels and act out every offensive stereotype of women (bitchy, catty, dumb, slutty, etc.) -- but it is not socially acceptable -- as a form of entertainment -- for a white person to put on blackface and act out offensive stereotypes of African Americans?"

Matt Baume, who usually reports on same-sex marriage news around the country, also works with drag queens and is frustrated by the amount of people who do not know how to answer her question.

Baume hopes that the next time we discuss Mary Cheney we talk about how she supports the Keystone Pipeline, donated money to Republican candidates who oppose marriage equality, and supported Sam Brownback, who wanted to keep a law in which police officers could arrest you for being gay.

"If [Mary Cheney] really understands drag that deeply, maybe she should spend a little less time with Sam Brownback, and a little more time with other gay people."

Activist Panti Bliss Honored With Ireland's Person Of The Year Award

Via Pink News:

Irish drag queen activist Panti Bliss has picked up a Person of the Year award. Drag artist Panti Bliss, played by Rory O’Neill, caused controversy in January this year when she labelled Catholic lobbying group the Iona Institute ‘homophobes’ on an Irish talk show, prompting state broadcaster RTE to award a payout of over €85,000 (£70,000) to the group and associated journalists. After the controversy, a heartwarming speech that Panti gave about the oppression that gay people face went viral online, and was even sampled as part of a Pet Shop Boys track.

About the awards: 

Now in its 40th year, the People of the Year Awards are not just the primary awards event in Ireland, they are also among the longest-running. They are widely recognised as one of the highest accolades a person can receive in this country. Based on nominations received from members of the public, the People of the Year Awards give public recognition of the achievement of those who, in their own way, have made such a positive impact on Irish society. The Awards recognise a unique range of people - from unsung heroes who have quietly made a difference and enhanced the lives of others in communities, to the household names who have made a real difference to people’s lives on a national and international level.

NORTH CAROLINA: Anti-Gay GOP State Senate Candidate Is Former Drag Queen

North Carolina GOP state Senate candidate Steve Wiles is campaigning on a platform in support of his state's ban on same-sex marriage. What he is notcampaigning on is that he once performed in a Winston-Salem gay nightclub as Miss Mona Sinclair.

Wiles, 34, was in his early 20s when he worked at the now-defunct nightclub, Club Odyssey, according to co-owner Randy Duggins and former employee Gray Tomlinson. “He is Mona Sinclair,” Duggins said, referring to Wiles’ female persona. Wiles’ responses over the past three weeks have ranged from categorical denial to tacit admission. “I have already apologized to the people who matter most to me for the things I did when I was young,” Wiles said this week, declining to clarify for what he has apologized. The comment was made in the last of three separate interviews. At first, Wiles denied the claim. “That’s not me,” Wiles said three weeks ago, referring to Mona Sinclair. Wiles responded “no” when asked whether he was gay. This week, Wiles’ campaign website, Facebook page and Twitter handle were taken down.

The Winston-Salem Journal notes that Wiles not only served as Club Odyssey's drag show emcee in 2001 and 2002, he was a promoter of the 2011 Miss Gay America pageant until he was suspended for "conduct unbecoming the pageant." A pageant official has declined to disclose what that conduct was. In 2012 Wiles stumped for the successful passage of Amendment One, which enshrined anti-gay bigotry into the state constitution. While his campaign website has been taken down, his personal Facebook page is full of Tea Party rants about gun rights and includes several photos of Wiles posing with notoriously homophobic Rep. Virginia Foxx at a "Taking Back Our Freedom" rally.

(Tipped by JMG reader Rob)

UPDATE: This afternoon Wiles posted a message on his Facebook page. 

I'm sure many of you saw my glowing recommendation in the Winston Salem Journal - I'd like to apologize to everyone because, unlike the currently appointed NC Senator in District 31, I made mistakes. My job was embarrassing - I had to have a job! Nobody died, leaving me a millionaire capable of living in North Carolina's most expensive neighborhood. One thing I will say, I learned from my mistakes - the Republican party, under the leadership of Scott Cumbie who threatened me with my past if I ran against an incumbent Republican, seem intent to fight within the party and join in the fight with every bigot and racist they can find. I understand the gay community does not share my support for the Marriage Amendment - I RESPECT THAT and am very happy to discuss my views with any of my friends in the Democrat party and gay community. Meanwhile, I regret the fact that something so trivial would cloud an otherwise decent campaign....What more could be expected though? When policy fails, attacks begin.

Twitter Erupts Over KINKY BOOTS Performance on NBC

"The cast of KINKY BOOTS lit up the Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC. Check out the wonderful performance here, led by Billy Porter, who won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of 'Lola' in Kinky Boots.

 

Twitchy.com, which reports on social trends, has rounded up some of the many tweets about the performance, which resulted in the show trending on Twitter. Along with tons and tons of well-deserved kudos, were also nasty tweets from some of the parade's less tolerant watchers.

Comments ranged from "Kinky Boots Musical! Drag Queens in The Macy's Day Thanksgiving Day Parade! Hells yes!" to the less accepting "Kinky Boots was a odd selection for the thanksgiving day parade. Maybe next year, we'll see Rocky Horror Picture Show on the parade route" and rude comments like "No more NBC for us today. Too much focus on performances. Kinky Boots? Really? Nice "family" programming...Not" and "Pretty sure I don't need @MacysDayParade lecturing my family about diversity via "Kinky Boots". Let the kids be kids."

Jose Sarria, Gay Rights Activist, Leaves Behind Best Funeral Instructions Ever

The event of the season may just be a funeral.

Jose Sarria, known by many as the Rosa Parks of the gay rights movement and Empress Jose I, passed away last month at the age of 90 and has left an elaborate agenda for his funeral service at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral on Friday.

Female titleholders from his Imperial Court--the gay organization and charity he started in 1965--are requested to wear "black/dark full length (understated) mourning attire, crowns, shoulder length veils covering both crowns and one’s face" along with "black gloves (opera length if wearing short sleeves)."

Males titleholders are "respectfully requested to wear dark suits, crowns and white gloves."

Following the Grace Cathedral service, no fewer than 10 limousines and six buses will bring mourners to Colma's Woodlawn Cemetery for "a sensational and inspirational graveside ceremony" where Sarria will be laid to rest with full military honors, a band concert and a song from drag performer Donna Sachet.

He will be buried in a plot next to San Francisco's self-proclaimed Emperor of the United States, Joshua Norton, who died in 1880.

Sarria made a name for himself as the first openly gay man to run for office when he ran for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1961. While the election was a defeat, he triumphed as a powerful voice for gay rights in the 1950s, openly celebrating his sexuality and encouraging the gay community to help him pave the way for acceptance.

The funeral will be held Friday, September 6, at 11 a.m.