Slightspots
December 13, 2007
Last week’s cover of Chicago gay society rag Nightspots was promoting the cabaret show Geisha and Gaysha. The Windy City Times, parent company of Nightspots, issued this editors statement. Apparently, the editor(s) weren’t aware of the racism implicit in white people dressing up as an ethnicity other than their own until they received letters from outraged community members.
This is an issue usually discussed around Halloween but is equally relevant all year long. I don’t know why some white gay men feel that because they are homosexual, they can’t possibly be racist (or classist, sexist, etc.). Of course, white gay men aren’t the only ones guilty of this, it just seems to be more rampant among this particular group as of late. In an interview with Nightspots, Geisha and Gaysha creator Kyle Hustedt, says of his show:
[Costume designer Byron Batista] really gave the characters a hysterical personality. For instance: Suki’s opening wig has a bunch of sushi in it and Sakura’s has a take-out box spilled over with chow mien…the comedy!
Then had the chance to defend himself in a less-than satisfying artist’s statement. It’s clear he just doesn’t get it.
–Amy Miller
hear hear! i totally agree. since when did white gay men get a pass on self-investigation into issues of race, class, and (i’ve seen frequently on the stage as well) weight? i have seen performances and heard things said that are SOOO blatantly racist (or weightist) that i actually question whether i heard correctly. or i assume (especially if i know the performer and think they are a “nice person”) that they must be so over the top in order to comment on such racism. then i’ll see the same irresponsible things put on stage again and sadly realize that they don’t see anything wrong with their portrayals. as if because the costumes or delivery is “fabulous” we should overlook when the content is not.
I agree, but of course get just as nervous about being too p.c. cuz then you are seen as a humorless dried up ol’ lesbian taking everything too seriously. except of course your cats, cuz you can never take them too seriously.
and since when does the stage have to be responsible?
alas the stage has often been irresponsible. i just find that lazy theater. not smart. and not funny. but ultimately, i find it sad more than anything that people will put more effort into justifying why they are allowed to put offensive things on stage, than into self-evaluation as to *why* they are putting offensive things on stage.
dear lady lynx, i couldn’t agree more.
dear big fat lesbo. just because i don’t condone racism, doesn’t make me humorless. in fact, i’m one of the funniest people i know.
i think you have to be responsible whenever you have any audience, no matter how structured/unstructured. a stage can be literal, or it can be a conversation at a party, and if people are listening/watching, you shouldn’t be provocative without having a point beyond getting attention. drag queens are notoriously guilty of this, but performance should elicit thought, not two dimensional stereotypes.
–stinky pinky
brava on writing about this!
i am constantly awed when my queer bubble is burst and i see/hear/read something racist/classist/weightiest/ect/ect/ect come from another gay person. and i have to constantly remind myself that just because a person is gay, that does not make them queer/political/thoughtful/interesting/introspective/ect/ect/ect. i think that we take for granted our queer identity and assume other gays are just as queer as us. alas, i think we’re a small population afterall.
but then again, i’m just a fat femme lesbo with two cats at home waiting to eat the scraps that (rarely) fall from my plate.
-the cunt
cunt, i was wrong, YOU are the funniest person i know.
geisha and gaysha make we want to scream!
on a related note, does anyone else think the term “P.C.” was invented by Very Bad People to keep us from being critical, thoughtful, and responsible for not perpetuating oppression? just wondering.
anonymous was a woman – me. and it was by accident, because i’m no coward! well, sometimes i am a coward, but you know what i mean.
first of all- i’d like to say i’m new to this forum, and to the city of chicago, but i have been listening to think pink radio since moving here. it’s nice to come across a group of queer people communicating in an intelligent way online. i’m glad to have found this.
in regard to this issue…
i think it’s funny that even the language used to describe this (obviously) inappropriate production has a sexist and historically negative slant. Perhaps the writer chose the word “hysterical” knowing the linguistic history-therefore making an obvious comment on the treatment/view of women through degrading language, throughout history-but I some how doubt that, and more likely just thought that it meant high-hilarity.
and in response to the comment about being “too pc”, i don’t (personally) think respecting other cultures and striving to be culturally appropriate is being “pc”, i think it’s being respectful and empathetic.
wearing geisha make up and having sushi falling out of your wig is pretty much the same thing as wearing blackface–except not as widely jarring to the general public. unfortunately, the general public too often includes gay people.
i think all people should educate themselves about these issues, but as queer (or gay, lesbian, trans, however you identify.) people i think we have an added responsibility to recognize the struggles that other races/cultures/genders have to deal with- especially within our American, straight, white, male dominated society.
i am not enraged or angered by this type of performance being written, performed, and glorified (by being written about in a nightlife publication)–i’m disappointed in people in our community for not seeing common struggles and deducing a whole culture and history to tacky “comedy” with no qualms.
i’m sure that is way too longwinded for most–but like you’ve all said, this sort of thing happens way too much. just as you were saying, the cunt.
hopefully discussing issues like this in these types of forums will help people (including myself) work through these topics and educate each other and change the gay community.
but i, like you amy miller, believe i’m one of the funniest people i know..i also happen to love dance parties and other totally goofy things. but it’s amazing that we all can be serious and thoughtful without being dry or boring. but i’m sure there are people that would find this whole discussion “too pc” and call us all dry lesbians (or queers or whatevers).
paz-I, too, hate the fact that Very Bad People use the expression PC as a way to negatively connote awareness of oppressions and that they make it seem as though said awareness is actually somehow a negative thing that’s holding us back from free expression. i think we should just reclaim the term PC. i’ll start making the t-shirts now.
sparkbop-welcome to chicago! too many smart, talented and fun queers move away and so i’m always so happy to meet brand new ones. if you love dance parties, you should come to fka at big chicks the first thursday of every month (i don’t even get paid to say that)!
“perhaps the writer chose the word “hysterical” knowing the linguistic history-therefore making an obvious comment on the treatment/view of women through degrading language, throughout history-but i some how doubt that”
i highly doubt it too, but great point. that was deep. i’m glad you found think pink and i really appreciate your comment. be sure to purchase my “proud to be PC t-shirt”, coming soon.
Personally I am also shocked here in the assumption that LGBTQ identified people are inherently not racist or prone to hatred (I guess this is because we experience hate and discrimination too?). Sparkbop is so right in the fact that _everyone_ needs to be sensitive to the racism/hatred they experience and perpetuate because it’s an ongoing thought process of awareness and acknowledgement. There’s a lot of work still to do, SPECIFICALLY among our LGBTQ selves, in learning about each other to stop hating so much.
I really appreciate Nightspot editors posting a thought out response and taking an initiative in opening this dialogue.
It’s disheartening to see Kyle’s response letter though. To me it’s like trying to use the mask of drag and performance to validate cultural appropriation. And while I haven’t seen the production, I’m also confused at it’s aim to tell a sex worker story, particularly from a cultural vantage point that wasn’t personally experienced by its creators. It’s another issue with many complexities, stories and faces.
I dunno Kyle, I’m a male-identified femmenista who plays with makeup sometimes too and in my mind it doesn’t give me a “do whatever I want” card. Appropriating an image comes from a point of privilege that needs to be recognized. Keep dressing up and exploring your femme side I say, but think about where it’s coming from and what it’s portraying when you’re putting on your lipstick and wig. Because shocking people with stereotypes is _not_ ever a fabulous thing!