Letters to the Editor	Letters Archive

Non-Prophet Drag Queens

I would like to take exception to your editorial "Drag Queen as Prophet" [March 2000, available here]. You claim that drag does not degrade women, and that drag challenges conservative gender roles. Both claims are false.

While I'd agree that a man simply dressing in women's clothing is not degrading to women, the humor and personas that typically go along with drag work only by disrespecting women, especially older women. While drag queens often say they "love" women, in fact, drag only works from the perspective of making a joke of the women

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he drag queen portrays. The best and clearest way to see this is to watch men doing lesbian drag. The vicious humor at the expense of lesbians is patently obvious.

Nor does drag challenge gender roles. Rather than challenging straights' stereotypes of gay men, drag simply confirms the common stereotype that gay men really want to be women. Because drag conforms to straight stereotypes of gay men, drag acts have long been "entertainment" for straight audiences, who enjoy watching the "perverts." A far more radical and dangerous challenge to straight stereotypes of gay men is, in fact, the clone, which suggests to straight men that even they or their buddies could be gay. No straight guy watching a drag queen ever thinks he or his buddies could be so perverse. Why do you think that drag is the major form in which gays have appeared on TV and in movies? It's because drag conforms to the common gay stereotype and is therefore safe.

Nothing I've said here, should be taken to suggest that drag queens should be discriminated against, excluded from parades, or anything of the kind. Drag clearly has its place in the gay community. However, I reject the revisionist thinking that suggests that drag queens are the forefront of gay liberation, either historically or now.

Marshall McClintock
Seattle, Washington

Wants more maps, destinations

I have been a reader of your magazine for several years and recently became a subscriber. I especially like your intelligent and courageous editorials and articles that speak out with refreshing views that counter many prevailing attitudes on sexual politics and practices.

It would be helpful if you could include maps of your featured cities. In your January, 2000, article on Australia, for example, you mention hotels and bars in Sydney and Melbourne along with their street addresses, but I would appreciate a map that shows their relationship to the gay neighborhoods. You do have maps in the back pages of every issue of major cities such as Los Angeles, Paris, etc., but not of the cities that are in the articles! I find this frustrating when planning a trip. Some hotels and bars advertise that they are 'only couple minutes' from the heart of the gay centers, when, in fact they are not. A map would make it more clear and enable one to make more informed decisions.

I also notice that you cover the same countries and cities repeatedly on a yearly basis. Although that is a desirable feature in that it provides updates on some of the more popular destinations, I think it would be interesting to also include occasional articles on different destinations as well. I realize you can't do it all, but still a bit of variety would add more interest and spice to your great magazine.

RW
via the Internet

Whatever happened to Martin Reid?

I'm looking for pictures, films and memorabilia of former male model Martin Reid who appeared in physique magazines of the 1960s and 1970s. He modeled for well known photographer Alan B. Stone (Mark-One Studio) and he ran Corporal Studio in that period.

Please contact me. Your help will be greatly appreciated as I plan to write a book on this model.

Rick
rickshaw99@excite.com