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Friday, April 11, 2008

Diva Worship, Hillary, and the Gays

posted by on April 11 at 9:38 AM

This has been said before (even by me, in a mangled sort of way, on Jonathan Golob’s podcast last week), but here’s a nice recapitulation of the theory that the gays love the Hils because she’s Cher and Gloria Naylor and Margo Channing and hot tranny fierceness all rolled into one big irresistible pol:

The first example was at last night’s Elton John concert in which he basically said to all the haters out there: “to hell with them!” And then, this morning, I read what is perhaps the most perfect distillation of the Diva Theory: the post Hillary is My Revolution by Billy Glad.

There is something weird going here. Hillary is the diva, the fabulous woman who is fabulous just because she says so. She’s the woman who is abused (by her husband), ridiculed (by the press), hated (by Republican mouth-breathers), yet she’s still standing. She’s like from some exploitation film where the heroine is beaten and barely raped before pulling a knife out of her sock and slicing the mean guy’s balls off. Her supporters have stood by her and fought her battles with her - and sometimes for her - since the 1990s. The emotional connection runs too deep. R-e-s-p-e-c-t, she shakes her finger. Find out what it means to me. And the crowd eats it up.

Nevermind that Hillary Clinton hasn’t ever really ever done anything for the gay community. They just like her moxie. It’s the defensive/aggressive posturing of a member of an ostracized community, and they identify with that. I see it my friends who are gay who support Hillary. They say the same trite things over and over: she’s a fighter, she’s a strong woman, people hate strong women, people are jealous… Surprisingly, they like my Diva theory. To them, a diva is exactly what we need in the White House.

Via Sullivan.

RSS icon Comments

1

We need less gay "Diva Hillary for Prez" and more "Liberals are a bunch of bitches" Mr. Poes

Posted by Bellevue Ave | April 11, 2008 9:40 AM
2

Eli, this is horribly offensive. Supporters of Hillary Clinton aren't just shallow dullards voting purely on public image. Unlike, say, Obama's base - who, by contrast, have been scientifically proven to consist solely of cretinous cult members looking for a hip black friend.

Posted by tsm | April 11, 2008 9:50 AM
3

So how do we bring those queeny bitches back to Obama...?


Obama/RuPaul '08

Posted by UNPAID BLOGGER | April 11, 2008 9:51 AM
4

I think that using the word "diva" trivializes a real connection that the gays have with Hillary. Most everything he said is relevant "she’s a fighter, she’s a strong woman, people hate strong women, people are jealous" and.... so what's wrong with that? If people can be into Obama because he represents hope, don't you think that homos can be into HIllary because she represents hope to them? A beat down despised woman who fights back and perseveres. I don't see anything wrong with this. Summing it up by saying "She's fierce" is no different than straight white-bread liberals saying Obama "is inspirational".

Posted by um | April 11, 2008 9:53 AM
5

So, (some) gays are shallow? Imagine that!

Posted by It's true! | April 11, 2008 9:56 AM
6

"But she votes for the AUMF and I leave her. I come back, and she lies about NAFTA and I leave her. I come back, and she backs off from NBC when she needs a debate and I leave her. I come back, and she lies about Tuzla and I leave her. I leave her and always I come back."

That's called an abusive relationship.

I understand why some people want a Clinton back in the Whitehouse. The Clinton/Gore years are this era's "good ole days." All of the Clinton supporters that I know (3 or 4) voted for Hillary because they want Bill back in the White House. They want to return to the time when the country had a surplus economy, a tech boom, and less military action.

But I don't want to jump back in time eight years. I don't want a security blanket. I want the country to move forward. Whenever I hear Hillary's "ready on day one" line, it just makes me think that it's another way of saying "All the same people you already know back in the White House, on day one." We need new people with new ideas, even if it is more risky.

And on a personal note, I don't want to return to all of the bullshit that we had eight years ago. The Monicas, and Ken Starrs, and Whitewater, and such. All of that will start on "day one" if Hillary became president. And even though it has nothing to do with her ability or policies, I just don't want to go there again.

Posted by JC | April 11, 2008 10:00 AM
7

Yet more proof that the stereotype that gays all have good taste, dress nicely and dance well is a flagrant LIE.

Posted by michael strangeways | April 11, 2008 10:06 AM
8

I must agree, I'm tired of these half-baked theories of gays loving HRC because she's like the second coming of Judy Garland or some shit.

I'm gay but it has nothing to do with why I like her. Ultimately, her and Obama both would probably achieve near the same results in moving things forward for gay rights if elected (read: we'll be better off, but don't expect miracles from either one.)

I like her, because although she may be a true politician with her share of shady dealings, I think she is a good person at heart and wants to do the right thing for our country. But more importantly, I think she is smarter than either of her opponents and can use her talents and connections to get this country back into shape. Once she's cleaned house, then you can bring an Obama in to be all inspiring and stuff. Let her do the dirty work first though.

Posted by defman23 | April 11, 2008 10:08 AM
9

Out of the handfull of gay friends I have, all support Obama. The only friends I have that are Hilary supporters are women or older (50+) libral hetro couples.

Posted by DJSauvage | April 11, 2008 10:11 AM
10

Sorry to say this, Bill Clinton was not that great; compared to what we have now he was much better but still he was not that great and certianly not liberal in the least. He was a hard core corporate whore like his wife will be and given how materialistic most of us gays are we too are corporate whores.

"A fucking whore is what she is!!" Randi Rhodes

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | April 11, 2008 10:13 AM
11

Then you need more than a handful.

Posted by RHETT ORACLE | April 11, 2008 10:14 AM
12

No, aging queens like Clinton; the younger gays are more indifferent or tend Obama. In fact, in pretty much every demographic, the real Clinton vs. Obama distinction is age-related - young kids are sick of hearing the same 60s cliches, while the old folks don't trust this young whippersnapper (who they hear might be a Muslim, too).

Posted by uh-huh. | April 11, 2008 10:24 AM
13

but you gays would rather fuck obama, right?

Posted by max solomon | April 11, 2008 10:29 AM
14

Ummm...nice stereotype. I'm a young gay and I am in favor of Clinton because she would make a better President. I guess it's difficult for people to accept that (1) young gays think and that (2) we have opinions that matter. Perhaps some people follow Hillary blindly for her apparent diva-fabulousness but it's sad that it becomes a perception for all Hillary supporters.

I appreciate these thoughts, but I can't stop thinking that this post is hideously overgeneralizing and ignorant. I am not supporting a candidate based on what they have done for the gay community - but who can get the most done based on the values I have for this country.

She's more than the product of her husband's controversies. Maybe it's the author who needs to look beyond the veneer of her public face and see all of the work she has put into this country domestically and abroad.

Posted by sugamama | April 11, 2008 10:40 AM
15

Fuck you, Eli.

Posted by fluteprof | April 11, 2008 10:53 AM
16

JC @ #6 said just about everything I wanted to.

Way way back in the day I wanted HRC to be pres. Then I saw/heard Obama and realized that HRC would just be more of the same.

I think she'd make a great president if she didn't have so much baggage. But still, if all her baggage was gone I'd still like him better.

As for all my gay friends... Obama. They held out for HRC longer than I did but the way she's handled her campaign over the last few months has turned them all off of her.

Posted by monkey | April 11, 2008 11:03 AM
17

I agree with 15, go fuck yourself, eli. how dare you use the most offensive gay asshole on Earth to illustrate a non-point. It amazes me how people jump all over ECB, but you get a free reign to post the most biased and moronic shit ever. you are fooling absolutely no one.

Posted by smarter fag than eli | April 11, 2008 11:17 AM
18

@15 is perfect. A troll responding to a response to a response to a post by a troll.

Posted by Mike of Renton | April 11, 2008 11:22 AM
19

Sadly, this is probably true.

The funny thing is Hils will "triangulate" LGBT more than even McCain.

Posted by Will in Seattle | April 11, 2008 11:53 AM
20

fuck you some more, Eli.

Posted by j-zeezer | April 11, 2008 11:54 AM
21

"diva" might be a bad choice of words, but being a fighter and a survivor is not a bad thing. as a politician i really don't like her, but i've always admired her for these reasons.

but "fuck you" is a bit harsh. relax, it's just one opinion! journalists distilling the complexities of public opinion into 1,000 words or less is nothing new. i mean, i like obama because i'm a mindless drone who wants a hip black friend. or so i've been told.

Posted by brandon | April 11, 2008 12:05 PM
22

I actually do think there's some truth in this theory. She's fierce, her man done her wrong, but she still comes out stronger. It's like a bad pop song and it's so many gay's favorite narrative of their own lives.

Posted by Dawgson | April 11, 2008 12:09 PM
23

Strong woman, fighter, all reasons to vote for her. Liar, not so much.

Posted by Grant Cogswell | April 11, 2008 12:20 PM
24

@6. Oh my god, I would so much rather have the bullshit of 8 years ago than the bullshit we have going on today. Whitewater, Ken Starr, et al., didn't bother me in the slightest. The bullshit of the W presidency makes me want to foresake all hope for humanity.

Posted by Julie | April 11, 2008 12:29 PM
25

While I agree Hillary might be "tranny fierceness" I disagree that she is a strong woman who gay's can relate to and others should be jealous of.

First, I think we are getting confused as to what a strong woman is. The strong woman would have dumped the straying husband and been independent enough to realize she doesn't need that in her life. The woman with political aspirations who stays with the man so she can become a Senator and try for the White House is opportunistic. If she would have been strong and set out on her own she wouldn't be where she is today. People say they want Bill back so they support Hillary, and she knew that would be the case. She's a politician, which in my mind doesn't prove strength.

Secondly, as far as gay's being able to identify with "a member of an ostracized community" maybe someone could explain to me just what community Hillary has been a part of that was ostracized? I relate to Obama more because he has struggled with identity issues. White mother, black absent father, raised in a white world; I relate to those feelings of being an outsider even amongst your family way more than "Hillary is the diva" and I'm all for that cause I'm a Queen.

I did notice a great deal of Hillary representatives at the 43rd caucus were decently flamming, and maybe thats a part of it. I don't relate to that identity either. I don't consider myself part of the "gay community". I support Obama because of his experience, not just political, but from his past, and how he has handled the difficult situations of his life to rise to the position of considerable power that he holds today.

Posted by jurgenb52 | April 11, 2008 1:42 PM
26

"I did notice a great deal of Hillary representatives at the 43rd caucus were decently flamming [sic], and maybe thats a part of it."

It seems like there is an assumption being made here about feminine gay guys. Does that mean they're not as smart or that their opinions are less informed?

Posted by sugamama | April 11, 2008 2:48 PM
27

Gay people support Clinton because she's good on gay rights and other policies.

Why do so many at the Stranger show so much love for Andrew Sullivan, whose judgement calls include being a former rabid Iraq war proponent, current John McCain fan, and isn't he / wasn't he a Republican?

Posted by chicagogaydude | April 11, 2008 2:58 PM
28

@26
I was making the distinction that the feminine gay guys are the ones being referred to in the original post. It is merely an observation I have noticed and was showing an example. I'm not saying they are stupid or any less informed than a masculine gay male, they simply identify with Clinton more, and for what appears to be more supperficial reasons. Again, thats what I am getting from the post.

Posted by jurgenb52 | April 11, 2008 4:29 PM
29

W has already been acting like a diva for his entire political career. He has often been bitchy, vicious, ignorant, conspiring, heartless, vacuous and stunned-looking. Iraq is his temper tantrum. And never a hair out of place. Sort of like Paris Hilton with smaller feet.

Posted by Mhr!q | April 11, 2008 5:33 PM
30

Moreover @25, if HRC had left Bill, won a Senate seat then run for president, she would have the greatest comeback story ever told and she would have had the nomination by Super Tuesday.

Now that would have been a story gay guys could embrace.

Posted by Krizpie Kreme | April 12, 2008 1:45 PM

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