Oh, the Irony!
Well, it's been quite a week for irony. Yes, indeed boys and girls. Let's see, where to begin? How about with one of my favorite people: Grey's Anatomy star, Isaiah Washington. Somehow, the NAACP has decided to honor Mr. Washington at this year's Image Awards for best actor in a Dramatic Series. Interesting. I had no idea the "image" the NAACP was trying to promote involved anti-gay epithets. If you click on the link for the Image Awards you will notice that the words "The ideals of civil and human rights" flash across the screen. If those ideals involve hate speech, I suggest the NAACP aim higher.
Next, we have Matt Sanchez of the US Marine Corp. who has been paraded around on all the conservative talk shows as the poor put-upon corporal who has been unjustly taunted for his service in Iraq by those ne'er-do-well radicals on the Columbia University campus where Sanchez, 36, is a junior. You can click here to watch a clip of his tale of woe. Well, it seems our military hero has quite a past--in GAY PORN! Yes, bloggers like Joe.My.God. and Tom Bacchus first reported on the story yesterday. Sanchez also appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference last week where Ann Coulter made her now infamous "f*ggot" remarks. At the event Sanchez posed for photos along side such champions of family values like Newt Gingrich, among others. Sanchez, who also works as a New York City escort, uses the nom de porn Rod Majors. Ironically, one of his credits includes a compilation video titled Patriot Ass.
Finally, you may remember Andrew Giuliani as the annoying fat kid who stood next to the podium and made funny faces while his father, Rudolph Giuliani, made his inaugural mayoral address back in 1994. Now it seems that there is bad blood between father and son, and not over the funny faces. The younger Giuliani has stated that he will not participate in his father's presidential campaign, placing higher priority on his golf game and says that he and his father have been estranged for quite some time. Rudolph attributes the tension to a strained relationship between his children and his current wife, Judith Nathan. Perhaps that tension originated when Mayor Giuliani tried to move Nathan, his then mistress, into Gracie Mansion with his children and wife, actress Donna Hanover, before the two were divorced. The city (and common decency) stepped in saying the move was inappropriate. Giuliani then moved from Gracie Mansion and into the home of some friends--a gay couple. Rudolph Giuliani hopes to become the Republican Presidential nominee, the party that claims to uphold conservative family values.
Labels: Current Events, Gay Culture, Gay Politics, Politics, Pop Culture
posted by Michael @ 11:54 AM
14 Comments:
Yeah that's why the Head of the NAACP in it's founding city (the local chapter head - in Baltimore) resigned earlier this week. He was furious with the board over this decision. But he took the high road and didn't discuss or divulge his opinions over this matter with the media. Sanchez I'm holding my tongue because I believe bloggers are being baited by a fake. It doesn't add up and it is very suspicious, the way this is all going down. I sure hope these bloggers really know what they're talking about and are not being 'played' And Rudy is an odd one. More Pro-Gay than most, yet so conservative.
Regarding Matt Sanchez, on the face of this story I don't see the issue (as to) why the gay blogosphere is all up in arms.
Let's just say that he is the former porn actor/escort turned Marine/student. Isn't he living what "we" (myself included) in joining the military and fighting a cause he belives in? Why he has to be "outed" is beyond me. And watching the link you provided, I have no problem with him discussing what happened with Bill O'R. He's right, and should not be harrassed just because he is/was in the military.
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Mikell, while you are absolutely correct that Sanchez should not be harrassed for his military service, I also think that Sanchez, a 36 year old grown man, should put this in perspective and not take so personally the rantings of adolescent college kids. It all strikes me as a bit opportunist which makes sense given his exhibitionist past.
I can't speak for all gay bloggers, but personally I believe the reason Sanchez should be outed is because of the inherently discriminatory policy of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" regarding gays in the military. Here is a man who has made money selling videos and his body to gay men yet sides with a political party that is doing everything in its power to suppress their rights. According to some reports Sanchez has lived an openly gay lifestyle at some point in his life at least and by the military's own policy should be dishonorably discharged as dozens of patriotic and worthy gay men and women have been before him. But with visibility of gays in the military maybe we can change to minds of those who seek to discriminate against us.
Finally, this post is about irony. Surely you can see the irony of a gay porn star being lauded by conservative political pundits like O'Reilly and Coulter. I mean come on--ya gotta admit it's funny!
You are right, I see the irony, and it is damned funny.
But I also see the irony in the gay blogosphere. We are all about the "gays should be able to serve in the military if we want to but not be fired for it" unless we happen to be ex-porn stars and go on Fox News. Because this means "you" are one of "them" and not one of "us".
I've said this before, as a Gay Republican, I get more shit from other gays than I get shit from other republicans. And then there's the whole "if-you-are-a-Republican-then-you-voted-for-W" thing.
No, I didn't, but that's what this story smacks of.
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Love you, hate my mother. ;)
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Mikell and Josh--the Republican voting record with regard to gay rights speaks for itself. No sweeping statements need to be made.
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Also, check out the Sanchez's latest remarks on JMG. He does not claim to be "one of us" citing a wife as his "proof" although there are reports to the contrary, at least from his past anyway. And some the "crap being spewed" is from Sanchez himself. He insults the gay community as a whole calling us bleaguered, self-loathing and self-serving. However he is not above making money off of us then publicly trash us. Nice guy.
Josh--PEOPLE vote for the politicians who reflect their views. Also, PEOPLE in 27 states voted for amendments to their state constitutions banning same sex unions. I respect that there are issues that cause you to vote Republican that may be more important to you than your own civil rights to marry whomever you choose, to live where you want and not be fired for your sexual orientation, but the vast majority of Republicans are not sympathetic to the plight of gay Americans no matter how you try to spin it.
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You're rigth Josh, and if the Republican presidential nominee comes out in favor of gay marriage and passing ENDA, I promise to vote for him.
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The whole reaction to the Sanchez thing has been interesting to watch. It seems like people want to know why he isn't self-identifying as gay anymore. His story is his, and really doesn't have any reflection on anyone else. It's his journey, and just because he's where he is now, doesn't make ME any less gay, or bad, or a failure for not becoming or wanting to become ex-gay myself.
Watch the comments on JMG and see if you can see the underlying reasons why people write what they do.
I'd venture to say that he probably has a personality that needs structure. One that a free-wheeling porn star life didn't provide but the military, religion, and the Republican party does.
Bottom line, acknowledging I know nothing really about him, I wouldn't have wanted to be his friend when he was a porn star, or a closeted Marine, or an ex-gay running with homophobes. He means nothing to me and I'd muster up a big yawn but he doesn't even warrant that!
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