"Queer Eye" sparks US protests

[wyldwolf]

The most popular programme on American TV at the moment, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is to be the subject of an anti-gay conservative media campaign.

The show, a UK version of which is currently being filmed for Living TV, will be the subject of the Montana Family Coalition's wrath, which claims it is "a joke" and outrageous".

"To me, that's not a reality show about gay people," said Julie Millam of the coalition.

"A really good reality show for gay people would be five gay men dying of AIDS," she added.

http://uk.gay.com/headlines/5020

[MissMillie]

1. Nothing like good old-fashioned family values....

like wishing death on other people.

I'll pray for her.

[qb]

2. These people should venture out of their cocoons once in a while.

Then they might realize that they're only generating free publicity for the show they loathe.

[gratuitous]

3. Great!

Bring it on, says I. Why? Because it drags this particular prejudice out of the closet so people can get a good look at it. Julie Millam's heartless comment about persons dying of AIDS is just what I want people to see in the oppressive movement. I can rant and rave about their hate all I want, but when they voluntarily put it out there for anyone to see, it's totally unassailable.

So good for you, Julie Millam and the Montana Family Coalition! Get your message out by all means! Nothing I can say would expose you and your hatred better than your very own words.

[Terwilliger]

4. can we watch this twit dying of cancer?

THAT's entertainment!!! :eyes: :nuke:

[ClintonTyree]

5. These .............

good christians have so much hate to spread around, don't they? Why don't they go chain themselves to the Ten Commmandments Stone or something? If "your" family doesn't look like "our" family, you'll rot in hell. Screw these imbeciles.

[indigo32]

6. Ohhhh I'm SURE

the people producing Queer Eye are REALLY concerned about these people. Right. Seriously though, it's pretty sad to be that bitter. I feel sorry for them.

[GOPisEvil]

7. Nothing like living the words of Christ, eh?

Yeah, we'll have none of that "Love thy neighbor as thyself" shit around here in Montana...:eyes:

[readmylips]

8. Let Mary Cheney host QueerEye.....

Pat Robertson and all those religious nuts will fall over with joy, the same way they are doing over ahhnold the rapist.

[nostamj]

9. why not send them a few 1000 emails

supporting their HATE campaign:

mailto:[e-mail]

http://www.montanafamilycoalition.com/index.php

[bushisanidiot]

10. Sounds Like a Bunch of Losers With Nothing To Do

But this or pick their nose. Guess emulating AWOL got boring..

[MercutioATC]

11. We COULD do a reality show about conservative Family Coalition

rednecks from Montana...

...not on prime-time, though...the kiddies shouldn't watch all of the wife-beatings and incest.

Aren't stereotypes FUN!?!?

[nostamj]

12. more... from The Advocate

http://www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=9820&sd=09/11/03

Gay rights advocates in Montana say the Montana Family Coalition's reaction to Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is really a reaction against growing mainstream acceptance of gay content on television and in American life. "The Montana Family Coalition and other groups are in some ways losing the culture war," said Karl Olson, director of the gay rights group PRIDE. "There is a proliferation of TV shows that have some kind of gay content, celebrities often support gay and lesbian issues, and gay teens are making the most astounding progress in schools."

Millam said she has personally heard many complaints about the program. "There's a groundswell of people who are very upset," she said, adding that the show is another example of the direction in which American television is moving. "We don't want to see on every single TV show," she said. "I'm hearing from people left and right that every time they turn on the TV, it's something to do with gay people. It's not reality."

YES, honey, it IS reality! We're everywhere, get used to it.

[outinforce]

13. I'm Queer, and I agree with Julie Millam

Julie Millam says, ""To me, that's not a reality show about gay people".

And she is correct.

"Queer Eye" is a hit because it re-inforces straight society's views of gay men -- that we are all "fabulous", and that we are all mincing, lisping interior designers who have a flair for color coordination and who know how to accesorize, etc. etc, etc.

Nothing for "real he-men" to get threatened about. "Naw," thinks the average straight guy, "I ain't like those boys."

One more way in which straight society tries to pigeonhole us queer folks.

And we buy it! Think it is "reality"! Incredible!

[bearfartinthewoods]

18. i agree about the sterotyping in part

Carson is sort of the typical lisping portrayal BUT

the most astounding thing about the show and perhaps what the montana twits find most threatening is entirely divorced from that stereotype.

the grooming expert, and i'm sorry i'm not getting his name right now, pushes these straight guys to the edges of their comfort zone and guess what? the straight guys survive.

remember the cop who was stuffed into 'disposable skivies' for his spray on tan? an awesome and compelling bit of TV.

when pushed to explain why he was so uncomfortable, he could only reply "you just don't understand".

yes, we do. we understand you still have prejudices like much of the country. and that most of the country will, like you, find out that gay doesn't rub off, even if your standing in your skivies.

i like the show although i hope it sticks to the spirit of the first season and doesn't get too "blue". that would be damaging to the effect i see possible...the effect of showing that gay people are not all about sex.

i'm not trying to push gay sex back into the closet. i'm working for the day that 'gayness' is no big deal. five straight stylists wouldn't be making constant sexual references in a situation like this so i hope the fab five don't go too far down that road either.

a few double entendres are fun but carson running around with a jock strap every week will further a stereotype that is even more destructive than the mince. it's not ALL about sex and i hope Queer Eye doesn't lose sight of that.

[indigo32]

27. I remember that episode

it really was interesting to see his reaction. I agree with everything you are saying.

[roughsatori]

28. I found the show to be too stereotypical and embarrassing

But that fact that groups like this are attacking it, makes me applaud the show. It must be more transgressive than I thought. But the truth is I have known many gay men like the ones in the show. It is just not reflective of my particular reality.

I have never heard ANYONE say "The Bachelor" (or any other reality show) was not "real heterosexual" life. You don't hear that because it is expected that there is a variety of ways to live as a heterosexual. The reason you hear it about gays is groups like this want gay people notto live at all: they want us dead.

I will now start watching this show every week and buy the sponsors products. I guess it is not up to me to decide what liberation is for everyone else.

[MercutioATC]

32. Not accurate? True. "Dying of AIDS"? That's just offensive.

I know it's not an accurate portrayal of gay life, I took offense to the statement that it would be more accurate to watch 5 gay men die of AIDS.

That's just revolting.

[MrBadExample]

36. Not me.

"Naw," thinks the average straight guy, "I ain't like those boys."

This average straight guy is thinking "How the hell can I get on this show?". I need someone to overhaul my look like you wouldn't believe.
:)

[Kurovski]

14. Oh merciful heavens!

I recommend that these fine folks clip their nostril hairs, trim their bikini lines, update their wardrobes with some fun and tailored pieces in colors suited to their complexions, and then become season subscribers to the Opera.

They'd be so much happier, and presentable too! :-)

[bearfartinthewoods]

31. don't forget the 'manscaping'

i'd manscape but nature beat me to it.

[SiouxJ]

15. All the more reason I'll continue to watch and support it

we need more programs like this, not less. You know, once people see there's nothing to fear, their prejudices should go away.

I love Queer Eye!

[rjbcar27]

16. Meanwhile people outside the US are laughing at you.

I mean, good lord, those wacky Americans!

[outinforce]

17. Surely You Don't Mean

Surely you don't mean that the Brits are laughing at us?

The Brits?

Those oh-so-proper folks who drink tea and eat crumpets?

We've been laughing at the Brits -- and their "stiff-upper-lip"-ness for years!

[rjbcar27]

19. Oh yes I mean us Brits!

Mmmmmmm tea.

You gotta admit though, it is laughable.

I spent 2 years in southern Virginia, I know all about the insanity of the bible bashing nutters. They give real Christians a bad name while promoting hate and intolerance.

[Nazgul35]

30. yeah...cause Britain

or should I say England (as most of the English call the UK) is a bastion of freedom and democracy! Don't forget, you drove these wack-a-nuts over here....oh yeah, how's that political party doing in the local council elections, you know the one...the one that hates ferners....is it the BNP?

If laughing at other cultures while looking down one's nose was an olympic sport, the Brits would get gold, silver and bronze...we do alot of what we do out of ignorance...but Brits are supposed to be better educated and sophisticated, right?

Having said all this...I gotta go as my Scottish wife just got home....

:evilgrin:

[Brian Sweat]

34. Your just pissed because the hillbillies made fun of your teeth.

[Kurovski]

20. And don't forget

the grand traditions of the British all-boy schools!

[tom_paine]

22. You should be scared shitless, my friend

Such "wackiness" has been seen before, in somewhat more violent form, in Germany 1933.

And while we're still "kinder and gentler" (for the moment) than the business partners of Emperor Boosh*s grand-dad (Hitler & the Nazis), that could change at any moment.

Essentially, our Fuehrer knows that he and his minion can do lamost anything now and get away with it.

You should know that, as well.

Laugh while you can. Imperial Amerika is not finsihed going Orwellian and erasing it's past in order to embrace a Shint "New" Future.

[rjbcar27]

25. Strangely, I ain't concerned about it.

Bush doesn't scare me in the least.

[roughsatori]

29. You will not think it funny when our Fuhrer decides to annex Britain

because he didn't know there was an ocean between us. :)

[Atlant]

21. Don't show them this DTWoF, then. Their heads would explode.

[indigo32]

24. OMFG

I love Alison Bechdel

[roughsatori]

23. The Christian Terrorists are at it again

The need to be tried in front of a Military Tribunal. :)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

26. You know, if those gangs of armed gays would stop breaking

into peoples homes and forcing them to watch shows with gay themes, there wouldn't be this sort of problem.

/sarcasm off

KEEE-RIST! If you don't like a television program turn the station or.... Turn the box off!


Feel safe.
Ashcroft watches over us all.

[GAspnes]

37. (cute graphic)

well, at least you got my ISP right...

[caledesi]

33. Theses morans would rather see a sick reality show which

people trying to strangler each other or eating insects.

Queer Eye is funny as hell and I LOVE the tips.

[xchrom]

35. in response to some other comments

these are real gay men -- no they aren't ''butch'' -- but they are just guys with a great sense of humour and the balls to put it out there for every one to see. i don't think it's appropriate for ''straight acting, atraight appearing'' to set the standards for gay male behavior.

[dback]

38. Gee, it took the Right EIGHT WEEKS to notice "Queer?" Someone's napping!

Folks love the show, and the Right wing can take a fling leap. (What on Earth would they have said--if they'd taken their doses of Mama's Little Helpers and been awake to notice it--about "Boy Meets Boy?") The AIDS comment only proves how 20-years-behind-the-times theses folks are.

[Dr Fate]

39. They cant stand the fact that these guys are entertaining as hell...

...and that audiences all over, straight and gay, are enjoying their advice and seeing how cool and funny ANY person can be...

Does the show "normalize" the gay lifestyle? It goes beyond that- it demonstrates how gay culture bleeds into the mainstream- somthing that has been going on for years-

That this FACT is being portrayed is what angers the haters...

Sadly, these haters could probably stand a makerover along with some good humor from the Fab Five!!!!

[ButterflyBlood]

40. wishing AIDS on people, just like Christ huh?

n/t

[davidinalameda]

41. dupe--locking

please continue here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=107789&mesg_id=107789

thanks

dwickham

[Isome]

42. How sad for her...

That's ugliness that penetrates the soul.

I love Queer Eye! As a flaming heterosexual, I never thought the whole group acted "stereotypically", just Carson and Jai, the new culture guy. I think Kyan has his moments, but Ted and Thom (food & design) wouldn't stand out in a crowd.