The Devil Is In The Details
No Me Digas. Op-Ed: Keith Price
Shoutout to Lil Nas X, because this QWEEN IS NOT HAVING IT!!! Perhaps, Mr. Montero may take umbrage at me for calling him that name, but please tell him that it is meant with mad respect. He single handedly set the politically conservative and religious communities on fire with his video, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME. This Grammy© Award winning, Out and Proud rapper’s recent video shows the clashing of homosexuality and the church while using Devil imagery to express his artistic rage, and those folks are mad, Gurl! The conversations that have happened in the media since its debut are laughable. Especially Rudy Guiliani’s attempt to explain what he saw.
He shut those fake religious conservative folks down in his tweets. He uses social media like a true gangsta, and it is clear that he is going to live in his truth, make that money, and NOT care what the haters think. His defiance is so palpable and hopefully contagious. He kicks down the doors of homophobia in a way that many recently OUT celebrities can not do. Yes Jussie Smollet, I am looking at you.
While watching a recent episode of MSNBC’s Tiffany Cross’ weekend show, CROSSTALK, one of her panelist, Paola Ramos, made note of the impact that Lil Nas X’s video has on the up and coming LGBTQ+ culture, especially black gay culture. As I watched Lil Nas X set the world on fire in this video, I couldn’t help but be slightly jealous of this LGBTQ+ generation. The images and role models that they now have are so amazing and so vast. I know that some “folks” in my gay generation will begrudgingly have to agree that what we are witnessing is awesome.
Paul Lynde’s Uncle Arthur in BEWITCHED along with every moment on the HOLLYWOOD SQUARES, Jonathan Harris’ Dr. Smith in LOST IN SPACE, Billy Crystal’s Jodie Dallas in SOAP, were some of the big images of my day. Don’t get me started on Michael Caine’s performance as in today’s lingo, a Trans identified, homicidal, psychologist in DRESSED TO KILL. However, for a burgeoning, young, gay, black kid, the landscape was very scant. I was trying to think of what were some of my black and/or gay images during my adolesent development. I had to dig deep. It might be dated to you, but before you judge please remember that this is ALL I had.
The description of the film is this: “A black man is distraught when he discovers his son is gay and is determined to set him right.” This film at that time was groundbreaking because of the caliber of established stars of the day: Redd Foxx and Pearl Bailey, and up and coming HILL STREET BLUES star, Michael Warren. As someone who had a father somewhat like Redd Foxx’s character, it was subconsciously relatable to me. Seeing the movie later as an adult, it ALL became crystal clear. You can see it on Amazon Prime.
For many of us young , black, gaylettes trying to figure out who we are going to become, Antonio Fargas plays a sort of black queen/ possibly early trans type character amongst a host of crazy folks that include comedy legends, Richard Pryor and George Carlin. It was a stark contrast to his popular character, Huggy Bear the Pimp on the 70’s crime drama series, STARSKY AND HUTCH. Of course most do not know that Mr. Fargas is a classically trained actor with quite a long list of fabulous credits. I am not going to pretend that I did not at one time say, “Huggy Bear is Angie’s dad?”, when he was on my favorite soap opera, ALL MY CHILDREN. Google it.
Flip Wilson as GERALDINE JONES
Long before Madea, RuPaul, and Mama Klump, the black man in the dress was owned by Geraldine Jones. Flip Wilson’s iconic drag character, for this young gaylette, was EVERYTHING. He was all women. She clowned with many of the biggest stars of the day like Ray Charles, Joe Namath, Jim Brown and Harry Belafonte. Geraldine changed my life. She’s the sassy aunt at the barbecue that might drink a little too much, or the one that gave you money to get her some Kool Filter Kings, and then let you keep the change. She was the aunt that you could come out to before you told your parents. Her entrance to my favorite stripper song, NIGHT TRAIN, still tickles me. In the early 70’s, Mr. Wilson was the only BLACK man to headline his own variety show series. Look at my Aunt Geraldine at the skating rink.
Meshach Taylor’s Hollywood Montrose in MANNEQUIN, MANNEQUIN ON THE MOVE, and Anthony DESIGNING WOMEN, also did leave a mark. Looking back now, I still question exactly what it was. Although in Designing Women his character, Anthony Beauv is “straight”, many of his choices were definitely questionable, especially his prison partner.
Lil Nas X, RuPaul and her Drag Race, Michael K. Williams in THE WIRE to HAP AND LEONARD, Comedian Sam Jay, the entire cast of POSE, and so on, and so on, are serving so many options for the kids coming up today. As a jaded, “Yassss Hunny” Queen of a particular age, I have to admit that my evolution with rap music really ended with Rob Base, Heavy D and the Boyz, and whoever fell out of the New Jack Swing period. I know that you are judging me, but I do not care. Put on “It Takes Two” and watch the room. How many of you are losing your mind with that Tag Team Geico commercial? “Scoop! There it is.”
And as with each new generation, the door opens a little wider, and it’s nice to see what images get expressed. So you better work it out, Montero. Many of your gay uncles are LIVING. We are not dropping it like it’s hot because of our knees and stuff, but we are LIVING.
Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Stay Distanced.
