The RuPaul Drag T*Word Controversy

[candy_coated_bitch]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Now, caveat the fuck out of all of that by adding that Rupaul clearly has a responsibility to his community and the use of the T-word. I think if he wants to be accessible to Transfolks that he needs to listen to the concerns of the folks telling him that the use of the T-word hurts them. Whether or not he actually chooses to do anything about it might be up for discussion.

<snip> My response: I'm going to play devil's advocate here for a second. DOES RuPaul really have a responsibility to his community regarding whether or not he calls himself a tranny? Even if publicly? Do you feel you owe a responsibility to your community (whatever that may be) when you call yourself a dyke or a faggot or a honky or a fatass or a cunt? I feel very similarly to you when it comes to reclaimed language and my right to call myself pretty much anything I want.

I think RuPaul is being pretty in your face with his responses to this issue, and I actually think it's a good thing that he is pushing the envelope. I think he is being deliberate. RuPaul isn't an activist he's a performer, an artist, an entertainer. I'm not sure he is obligated to be ANYTHING just by virtue of being famous.

With that being said--I also don't think the other side of the argument shouldn't be heard, or that transwomen shouldn't be listened to when they talk about their feelings regarding the word tranny. That shit is real. However, should this mean someone should stop doing what they are doing because it hurts others? /end response

Which leads me to ask folks this: Does the performance of art or the use of offensive terminology in artistic performances change your views at all about what words are allowed or not?

My response: For me, yes it does. I will state up front that I am a pretty in your face kind of person, I see the value in pushing the envelope, and I believe that when something makes people uncomfortable it's an opportunity for growth an understanding. I LOVE art that challenges me, and I strive to be that sort of artist. I think if there is some purpose in using a word generally seen as offensive in a work of art, be it performance art or otherwise--I am not against that. But as in all things, there are lines. I am not the arbiter of where that line is--but I know for me what comes across as brilliant and challenging as opposed to gratuitous. It also depends on the artist, the intended audience, the situation. And generally a matter of taste.

...........

[Medusa]

Originally Posted by candy_coated_bitch

....My response: I'm going to play devil's advocate here for a second. DOES RuPaul really have a responsibility to his community regarding whether or not he calls himself a tranny? Even if publicly? Do you feel you owe a responsibility to your community (whatever that may be) when you call yourself a dyke or a faggot or a honky or a fatass or a cunt? I feel very similarly to you when it comes to reclaimed language and my right to call myself pretty much anything I want.
......

CCB!

I think there is an implied responsibility with any kind of "fame" and maybe it's fair and maybe it isn't. I'd like to think that people get to be famous and still get to be themselves without society putting a bunch of bullshit expectations on them but I think more often than not people *do* have expectations of anyone with any level of visibility.

It almost seems like we (the general) hold people with visibility up to this weird standard of "You now have power so you must go forth and represent". And that can be a really good thing (Laverne Cox on the cover of Time this week!!) and a really shitty thing (Miley Cyrus is "crazy" and a "whore" because she dares do what the fuck she wants with appropriate caveats to the fact that her fame machine is driving the boat).

Today I'm wondering what the solution would be. To completely erase the use of the T-word for any and everyone or to step back and observe the people who use it and decide whether or not we agree with it for ourselves (meaning whether or not we give them our time, attention, or money)?

And I'm falling in line with Honeybarbara here as far as looking at the ridiculousness of me even having an opinion around the use of the word when I'm not Trans.

But that's the way the world works. We're always looking at what other people say and do and always having opinions on it. It's almost exhausting.

a

[candy_coated_bitch]

Originally Posted by Medusa

CCB!

I think there is an implied responsibility with any kind of "fame" and maybe it's fair and maybe it isn't. I'd like to think that people get to be famous and still get to be themselves without society putting a bunch of bullshit expectations on them but I think more often than not people *do* have expectations of anyone with any level of visibility.

It almost seems like we (the general) hold people with visibility up to this weird standard of "You now have power so you must go forth and represent". And that can be a really good thing (Laverne Cox on the cover of Time this week!!) and a really shitty thing (Miley Cyrus is "crazy" and a "whore" because she dares do what the fuck she wants with appropriate caveats to the fact that her fame machine is driving the boat).

Today I'm wondering what the solution would be. To completely erase the use of the T-word for any and everyone or to step back and observe the people who use it and decide whether or not we agree with it for ourselves (meaning whether or not we give them our time, attention, or money)?

And I'm falling in line with Honeybarbara here as far as looking at the ridiculousness of me even having an opinion around the use of the word when I'm not Trans.

But that's the way the world works. We're always looking at what other people say and do and always having opinions on it. It's almost exhausting.

a

I don't believe there is any "implied" responsibility that comes with fame. Frankly, most celebrities just act like idiots and we (as a culture) eat that shit up. We have celebrities that are pretty much famous FOR being idiots. I don't see why queer folks need to be ambassadors to the world just because they are queer and famous. I think the queer community DOES expect that sometimes because by and large there are not very many out celebrities. But just because something is expected it does not make any person obligated to deliver.

Yes, I do see the irony in a bunch of cis folks sitting around debating whether or not the word "tranny" is offensive. Let me be clear: I am not trying to say any trans person SHOULDN'T be offended by the word. That is obviously not up to me. And I would never force the word on any trans person who found it offensive or asked me to stop using it. I *DO* use it some in my personal life with select people. I wouldn't use it in conversation here on the forums because it isn't a word I feel "belongs" to me in the same way others do. I do have manners and I have a good sense of where the lines are.

However, I also feel I am not the arbiter of who gets to identify with the word tranny. If someone says they identify with a reclaimed word I will generally accept that. I've found that most people do not inappropriately reclaim language for THEMSELVES. (Which is different from using language as a weapon.) I don't hear too many cis men calling themselves dykes and cunts, for instance. I mean--just why would they? I'm sure it could happen but it's not a line I feel super compelled to police.

My first serious partner when I was growing up as a baby queer was a transvestite. And I came up among transvestites and queens. The word "tranny" was part of my queer vocabulary even before "femme" was! So, it doesn't sound weird or out of the ordinary or offensive to me at all. Honestly--I'm surprised there is as much outrage from the trans community about this as there is. I know there will always be people who are offended by certain words, and that's ok. But to me, I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that it's devastatingly offensive for a drag queen to use the word tranny. I also concede that my own personal experience informs that feeling.

I am REALLY freaking cranky about reclaimed language, I will admit. I think that people have the right to call themselves what they want, use whatever labels they want, and reclaim whatever historically negative word they want and turn it into something powerful. That's also why I feel invested--because of the principle of the thing. I can't even tell you how much shit I got over my screen name when I first started posting here (and still get). OMFG--I got hateful private messages and was told I should change my screen name and that my choice of my name was offensive, stupid, thoughtless, anti-woman. I was told I should leave, that I obviously had no experience with butch/femme community. I was told I was obviously just a 22 year cis dude trying to invade sacred space. It was RIDICULOUS. And actually, this screen name is very carefully selected and very meaningful to me. So it was really fucking annoying. I know there are a lot of women who hate the word bitch, and I get that and I get why--but I will NEVER stop using it. And it's kind of just too bad for them. I do get where RuPaul is coming from. This is just one example.

Also, on a final rambling note: I appreciate both the Laverne Coxes and the Rupauls/Miley Cyruses of the world. I think we need both. Laverne Cox is beautiful and smart as hell and spunky. I am glad she is visible as a trans woman, I am happy that the trans community has her as a representative. It's wonderful and I celebrate it. But she is also visible as a trans woman BECAUSE she is beautiful and smart and spunky WITHOUT being too threatening. She's relatable. Which is not a bad thing--like I said, we need people like her. But I think we also need the people that say FUCK YOU to the entire world and do what they want and show us, even if inadvertently so, why being yourself, even if it offends hoards of people, is really the most valuable thing you can do at the end of the day. I do think Laverne Cox does that, she is just a lot more graceful at it. I just happen to admire grace and bitchy attitude in equal measure.