sundries

[rm]

Patty still has a cold, but is recovering. I wish I looked that good when I have a cold.

I have neglected to mention that several nights ago, due to the Doctor Who tie-in novel I am currently reading, I had to ask Patty if neanderthals sounded like parrots. Then she Googled. Then we found some wacky BBC documentary theorizing on the voices of neanderthals and laughed ourselves sick. Parrots sound better.

gulf_aid_now: Fandom auction to benefit the Gulf.

Restrictions on journalists around BP spill finally making mainstream news.

After a fire aqeldroma needs some help.

US state department now recognizes transgender people's accurate gender on passports even if they are pre- or non-op. ETA: Useful details for dealing with this process here (includes template letter for doctors). update via tenacious_snail.

For US LGBT people with foreign partners, the choices are heartbreaking.

Charges dismissed against Warren Jeffs. Jeffs is evil and I know waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much about this topic.

The truth about The Biggest Loser is that it's dehumanizing and dangerous.

deepad takes on the latest round of RaceFail with satire. Stay for the comments.

Natural perfumers.

Oh, suburban Maryland has another moment of grotesque rich boy sexism and predation.

But aside from my "those fucking assholes" reaction to this piece, it made me think about something tangental I've been noodling on for a bit now -- which is how women don't get to play sexual games (either destructive and predatory, or *gasp* normal and healthy) with a peer group, because a woman is always going to be labeled a slut for that sort of thing.

What that thought came out of? What I do and don't get to say on a con panel vs. the men and how it's dictated by my gender presentation. The only reason no one calls me a whore for the ridiculous sex-related bullshit that comes out of my mouth on semi-appropriate con panels is because I'm not wearing a dress. FUCKED UP.

verasteine has thinky thoughts about the UK coalition government, all the RPS in the news, and homosexuality as a punchline.

Torchwood fic rec (god, there are like five GREAT fics today, but I've not time to talk about all of them): Cops & Robbers, Cowboys & Indians by solsticezero. Ianto and Sarah Jane have tea. Totally G rated, completely lovely. Broke my heart into tiny little pieces, and I bet you can all guess at what line.

Comments

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

US state department now recognizes transgender people's accurate gender on passports even if they are pre- or non-op.

That is indeed progress (which allegedly makes us more progressive on the issue than Canada - apparently SRS is required over there!), though there's still the issues of a) those who can't afford the medical attention required to get the doctor's note that will enable this recognition; b) whether this recognition does, or will, extend to things like green cards.

Great to see that there's an oil-spill version of help_haiti now in session.

I think the restrictions on journalists did merit a mention on one of the news networks thus muzzled, MSNBC or CBS or similar, I forget which, but it's high time that NYT/WP covered it.

[weirdquark]

verasteine has thinky thoughts about the UK coalition government, all the RPS in the news, and homosexuality as a punchline.

I was thinking about similar issues yesterday -- the Lady Gaga video discussion had me looking up other videos, and the "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" video made me remember a few other scenes from musicals of that era:

There's a Gene Kelly/Fred Astaire skit called The Babbitt and the Bromide where the two of them do a song and dance, which is awesome, because they're both amazing dancers. At one point they waltz together and it's just another part of the skit. I don't know if there was any controversy over this back when they did it, but I've seen guys flipping out over the idea of ballroom dancing with another guy, so it's possible that they could only do that because of their assumed straightness.

There's a scene from Anchors Away, back when Frank Sinatra was young enough to play innocent and inexperienced instead of a rake, and Gene Kelly is teaching him how to pick up girls, and is like "okay, I'll be the girl" and sashays across the screen with very feminine body language. And then a random man walks by and stares at them, and Gene and Frank both kind of freeze.* As far as I remember, nothing more is said about it, but there's an example of it being funny that people think the (characters of) the leading men are gay. I'm not sure how this fits into views of homosexuality of the time, but I find it kind of interesting that the actors (and producers) were comfortable portraying perceived homosexuality, even as a joke. And if they could get away with this because the actors were known to be straight, I'm betting Rock Hudson was never involved in that sort of scene, even jokingly.

*Found the clip in this compilation of scenes from the movie that the person making the video thought had subtext -- the one I mentioned starts around minute two.

[verasteine.livejournal.com]

I'm on my way out the door or I would look up the details for you, but I remember that the scene you reference from Anchors Away was also remarked upon (and not, I believe, in a positive fashion) by Vito Russo. If you're interested, I can see if I can find the exact passage and share it with you when I get back?

[weirdquark]

Yes, please do.

[verasteine.livejournal.com]

I've got the book in front of me now (thank god for indexes!), and he references the film twice, the second time only for comparison.

America's ostentatious fascination with the difference between masculine and feminine behaviour and society's absolute terror of queerness, especially in men, continued to be served by the requisite yardstick sissy.(...) Grady Sutton, Kathryn Grayson's Milquetoast suitor in Anchors Aweigh is easily disposed of by all-American sailor boy Gene Kelly. The difference between the sissy and the real man is underscored when Kelly teaches buddy Frank Sinatra how to pick up a girl on the street and in doing so acts out the part of the imaginary female (to the horror of a lone male passerby). The same comic routine that made Sutton famous as a movie sissy here establishes Kelly's virility. It also serves to allay any lurking fears in the minds of the audience about the nature of the relationship between Sinatra and Kelly. Sinatra's hero worship of Kelly is played so broadly and so repeatedly throughout the film that it is clear he prefers Kelly's company at all times.

Later in the same chapter he says about these type of films (the buddy films of that era):
The only acknowledgement of homosexuality in buddy films has come from those critics who attribute the misogynist attitudes of such films to the covert gayness in them. He adds a few examples about directors who may not have been aware of the unconscious subtext that the exclusion of women (or negative attitudes towards women) might mean to the impressions the film gives. Russo's basic point remains that the "weaker" male serves as a confirmation of the (straight) virility of the leading man.

[weirdquark]

Interesting.

I never found Gene Kelly to be particularly virile, and in fact see his gender presentation as kind of fluid, but possibly this says more about how I think about gender presentation, sexual orientation, and their relationship with dancing than anything else.

[verasteine.livejournal.com]

I can't remember much from that film in particular, but in general I think the films in that era were viewed with a different eye. There's a reason why pop culture references are said to have a twelve minute shelf life :). The men in the films from that era were always a bit too suave, too slicked for my 21st century experience. Especially the musical films, where, as you rightly point out, dancing wasn't considered effeminate. I do wonder what that says about (male) film stars today, and when that perception changed.

[weirdquark]

Hm. I'm not sure I meant to imply that I think dancing is effeminate -- more that I think of "dancer" as being its own gender presentation, and dancing is like sex, except you can do it in public.

But it's true that dancing is considered effeminate in general, and that while it was expected for men to be able to sing and dance if they wanted to be movie stars, these days they just have to stand there and look pretty.

Oddly enough though, I don't consider Fred Astaire's gender presentation to be fluid in the way that I do with Gene Kelly. It may have to do with Gene Kelly's style being more playful, but I'm not sure if this makes him read to me as "kid" or if it makes it seem like his gender is as much of a performance as everything else.

[rm.livejournal.com]

It's all in the hips. Seriously, as dancers they move very differently.

[verasteine.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure you implied it; that might be my subconscious showing through, tbh.

I think, actually, that not only did dancing used to be required, now it would be viewed as a negative asset. That a man who is a good dancer might have his sexuality questioned faster (alas) than a man who's buff and presents as very masculine.

I can't give an opinion on Fred Astaire; I'm very unfamiliar with his work, alas.

[weirdquark]

Fred Astaire was very classy, and tended to do some combination of gentleman/rogue.

Probably the most famous routines he's done are both from Royal Wedding:

Dancing with a hat rack, thus proving that not only can he make anyone he's dancing with look good, but he can make anything he's dancing with look good.

Dancing on the ceiling, which is a pretty good camera trick for 1951.

He's most famously partnered with Ginger Rogers, who did everything that he did, only backwards and in high heels.

[taffimai.livejournal.com]

Oh, suburban Maryland has another moment of grotesque rich boy sexism and predation.

Wow, am I glad I live in the poor part of that county. Fewer assholes.

[alterjess.livejournal.com]

I was really hoping that MD story wouldn't be about my hometown...oh well.

(Landon is actually the brother school of the all-girls high school I went to, but since I was a giant nerd with no friends, I didn't get invited to those sorts of parties. Lucky me, I guess!)

[ladypeculiar.livejournal.com]

Maryland pride!! Ahhhhh, Landon.

What's interesting to me though, is that B-CC actually had something of a corollary thing that came to light (only socially through the kids) as something that the girl's field hockey team (or another all-girls sports team), where guys were put on a list and evaluated based on looks and personality, and if someone happened to hook up with them, there was a rating system for that too. It was generally frowned upon, but I don't think teachers ever knew about it.

I thank my lucky stars on a daily basis that I'm no longer in high school.

[arjache.livejournal.com]

Re: the passport news, that's wonderful! I honestly did not think I'd see the federal government drop that requirement in my lifetime.

The WA state government recently moved to similar requirements for correcting driver's licenses/state IDs - just need a letter from a doctor, no specific medical requirements. For a short time before that they had a very onerous requirement of an amended birth certificate, which was insane because there are states that will flat out never amend them, even with a surgeon's letter. Thankfully the local advocacy groups here are really effective and managed to get it sorted out.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

The Texas side of the Jeffs story happened while I was still working at the hotline. Ugh, ugh, ugh. I hope they bring him here and make his life hell.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

The good side of the Warren Jeffs thing is that they're only dismissing charges in Arizona so he can be tried in Texas sooner, and supposedly they have nastier charges there.

Did anyone NOT think The Biggest Loser was fucked up and dangerous? I can't believe nobody's died on that show.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

MTE, I didn't think this was news (though maybe it's finally penetrated to the mainstream media as such).

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

They came pretty close two seasons ago when two people ended up in the hospital on the first episode.

[xtricks.livejournal.com]

On your thing about gender and presentation and expectations ...

Blagovitch has been asked to stop showing any expression at all. My take on that being partly the fact that men are generally not allowed to express much, or to gesture much -- unless it's anger.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100610/ap_on_re_us/us_blagojevich_trial_gestures

(note: this by no means I'm supportive of Blagovitch, it was an interesting example to me of the gender games men are expected to play, or be penalized).

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

I was reminded of the flipside of that while reading comments on a post that cropped up on friendsfriends - the post was generally about "blaming moms", but one commenter piped up with the urban legend of "refrigerator moms" - based upon the notion that all mothers/women are expected to be emotional and empathetic and that's why they're the ones who do all the parenting (never mind what role the fathers may play without acknowledging it).

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

What I do and don't get to say on a con panel vs. the men and how it's dictated by my gender presentation. The only reason no one calls me a whore for the ridiculous sex-related bullshit that comes out of my mouth on semi-appropriate con panels is because I'm not wearing a dress.

Akycha and I talk about butch privilege a lot, vis a vis my workplace(s). For instance, I was able to do and say things at my previous job that more femme (and even more senior) women couldn't do/say without major managerial repercussions. I pushed my boundaries a few times -- butch I may be, but I still don't have a penis, and that mattered at my previous company -- so I was walking this bizarre, nigh-invisible liminal space of tolerance.

It will be interesting to see what I can do with that space at my new place, which has many more men and is a software dev environment, but is ensconced in a life science environment with a lot of women in charge. The gender dynamics will be fascinating once I garner enough expertise to start pushing my boundaries again.

[austengirl.livejournal.com]

That article about foreign LGBT partners/spouses totally broke my heart. Two of my friends from college struggled to find a country where they could live together legally, one was American, the other Anglo-Japanese. Once civil partnerships were introduced in the UK they were able to stay here, though sadly they're no longer together. Though the American friend now has UK permanent residency and I'm glad she wasn't forced to leave just because the relationship ended.

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad my husband's 12 year old cousin non longer goes to Landon. He's a sweetie and needed to be away from those "honorable" young Landon lads. (He'd be so much better off a one of the local public schools but his mom's got money...)

I'm glad we live in one of the truly middle class sections of Metro DC as well. It's so much better for the kids.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I remember watching the biggest loser and thinking this can't be healthy? You are not supposed to put so much stress on your body and you are not supposed to fucking puke after a work out! At least, not so often (I've vomited after a really intense session of Kung Fu).

That story you reced. I also pinged a line there, I suspect it's the one that pinged you.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I saw yours. The one that got me was "willing flowers" -- this perhaps, I am sad to admit, because of my age may be tied to a Sting song we all listened to OVER and OVER and OVER again in my Cold War childhood.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

The Cold War is totally lost on me... I'm sometimes accused of being clueless because I didn't live through that time and don't know that Humanity is Evil and Nothing Can Change.

I like your typo :)

[rm.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am awesomely bad at reading lately. No, I misread the original story that way. It's like misheard song lyrics. I fail at Thursday.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I hear you, Arthur.

[abnormal-apathy.livejournal.com]

I have always felt the same way about The Biggest Loser. We're told to only lose 1-2 pounds per week for "safe and healthy" weight loss and then these people post 5 and 7 pound losses in a "week". Total bullshit!

[elisi]

deepad's post nearly slayed me. Thank you so much for linking! (Of course then I had to go look up the source and am now trying to detach my head from the desk.)

Oh - and also thank you for pointing out the new Lady Gaga video yesterday. It made me go look up Madonna's Express Yourself video, because even though it's... oh at least 15 years since I last saw it (probably more), the imagery was still stuck in my head. Lady Gaga is just more... disturbing. (My best friend during my teenage years was a HUGE Madonna fan, so I knew her stuff very, very well. It's bizarre seeing it referenced and deconstructed at the same time.)

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

women don't get to play sexual games (either destructive and predatory, or *gasp* normal and healthy) with a peer group, because a woman is always going to be labeled a slut for that sort of thing.

This, this, and this again. I spent the better part of my early college years trying to figure out just WHY women weren't supposed to "sow their wild oats" in healthy ways. Turns out that some could, but the they were always perceived as unhealthy even when by their own accounts they were unscathed.

On the restrictions on journalists

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

Have you heard that Chervon is trying to block the documentary "Crude"? I'm like WTF? I never like any of Michael Moore's documentaries, but that doesn't mean they should not be allowed to be shown. That's got to be a serious violation of the First Amendment.

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links. All were good to read.

Deepad was way too funny.

I've never seen a episode of "The Biggest Loser." (Really, I just have no interest in 'reality' tv so I've never bothered.) I had no idea they go to such extremes.

Natural perfumers, I am so going to have to look those up. Or how to make my own? I'm allergic to perfumes. By this I mean the ones at the department store counters. OTOH, the coughing fit they induce is great for chasing away customers. (They probably thought I had swine flu! lol!)

Verasteine's post does raise some valid questions.

Surprised about the US state department recognizing transgender. I never thought I'd see that in my lifetime. Srsly.