La Cage Aux Conservatisme?

In this week's issue of New York magazine, Kelsey Grammer discusses his upcoming Broadway turn in La Cage Aux Folles, and the implications of being a Republican playing a gay role. From Adam Sternbergh's profile:

“It’s a great story about any couple. They all have the same dynamic: a heterosexual relationship, a homosexual relationship, a man-with-dogs relationship. There are universal events that take place: the differences, the angers, the insecurities, the histrionics. You would call it, I guess, a male-female dynamic. This just happens to be two boys.” I ask him about La Cage’s relevance today, given the Proposition 8 fight in California. He says, “Oh, right. Of course. You know I wasn’t even thinking of that. Isn’t it funny?” On the subject of gay marriage in general, he adds, “Why is the government involved at all? If two men marry or two women marry, fine, go ahead—it’s not my issue. But when governments get involved, it just becomes more confusing.”

Well! First off, the government is "involved" in the gay marriage issue because it is a legal issue. But Grammer surely knows that, and is just tiptoeing, quite deftly, around answering the question. Also... "man-with-dogs relationship"?? Really!?

It's tricky: being a pretty big supporter of gay rights, I want to support La Cage, buy tickets, and encourage others to do the same. The message is wonderful, I am what I am, blah blah blah. On the other hand, I don't particularly feel like turning out to see Grammer, an out "Republican in Hollywood" (and in my opinion, gigantic douche), play this role. I'm not saying his politics should have kept him from being cast - that would be a terrible road to go down. But in the power-of-the-consumer sense, this issue is really, really important to me, and the idea of watching this guy play that role feels all wrong. Thoughts?

The Terrifying Tale of the So-Called Female Fiance

From the twitter feed of the one-and-only James Urbaniak, via Parabasis, here is a gay Christian man who is very displeased after his recent firing from the Logan Airport Brookstone. Why was he fired? Well, his female manager kept insisting on discussing her imminent marriage to a woman. Eeew! Peter Vadala simply expressed that "controversial issues" don't belong in the workplace, and that as a gay Christian, he thinks "that's bad stuff". And then he was fired! Poor, poor gay Christian. Americans everywhere are outraged that an innocent man stands "accused of harassment even though lesbian approached him."



What a twat! Yet another awesome religious nut who, as wakingupnow.com correctly contends, "wants one rule for what straights can say about their families, and a different, more restrictive rule for gays. Do you see the irony? He’s complaining about being punished for expressing his beliefs at work, AND he’s saying gays shouldn’t be allowed to talk about their families at work... He’s not asking for freedom of speech. He’s asking for special rights." Oh, and did I mention that this kid writes musicals? Wake up! You are gay!

But it's ok, not all of humanity is lost in a sea of bigoted lunacy. This kid, for example, totally rocks. Watch this, and feel better.