The Advocate magazine is perhaps the most recognizable glossy publication targeted to the gay and lesbian (and occasionally queer) community. The monthly magazine is a combination of news and celebrity gossip which impacts the community. Although not personally a huge fan of Advocate, even I was surprised when a friend brought to my attention their "Annual Sissy Awards." (http://www.advocate.com/issue_story.asp?id=50984&page=1 ). The article goes on to describe that the "Sissy Awards" are basically code for all of the homophobic and oppressive things which have happened over the year; for example this years include Tim Hardaway's homophobic radio rant, the antics of Bill O'Reilly as well as the absurd statements of Mahomoud Ahmadinejad. In an attempt to describe their awards the Advocate says "every year we have to endure our fair share of idiots, but this year takes the cake. So we here at The Advocate have reinstated our annual sissy awards, recognizing those who show arrogant stupidity, dishonesty, or just a severe lack of spine."
As queer people, we need to be taking serous issue with the fact that arguably our most recognizable publication is furthering and promoting a campaign which is seeped in sissyphobia and furthering the oppressive ideals that gay men are supposed to only be masculine, that there is something shameful about being a "sissy" and that the only acceptable type of gay man is the one who can fit into a heterosexist cultures ideals of masculinity. "Sissy" is a word which has and continues to be hurled at effeminate gay men, and by the same token is a term which many have begun to reclaim, it is reprehensible for an LGBTQ publication to be using it as an insult, or as code for bad or wrong, or things which should be avoided.
2 comments:
What a terrible use of the word sissy?
I think it's vital to the community to be continually discussing how men are affected by misogyny. The equation of femininity in men as a negative thing is precisely the same set double standards that are oppressive to women (whether they be femme or otherwise). So by standing up and giving men, gay or straight, the space to be their sissy selves we are fighting misogyny in a way that helps men be less violent, introverted, non-communicative, and just to be better men.
The Advocate obviously fails to see this dynamic, and it's a sad thing, since it is the gay/lesbian/queer communities where so many of the challenges to the misogynistic status quo have come from. The Advocate is leading us right back where we came from.
That is absolutely appalling. I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner. At least some people wrote in pointing out how offensive and just plain stupid they were to write this tripe.
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