Is RuPaul A Negative Or Positive Image Of The Modern Black Gay Man Or Just A Freak Show?
RuPaul has resurfaced from the dead and he is now back with his MTV LOGO television show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The ratings for “RuPaul`s Drag Race“ are huge and the show is now into the second season.
However, I admit, I have anxieties about RuPaul, I feel conflicted about him. I understand that RuPaul is an individual, and he has a right to express himself. However, why does RuPaul wear a dress and act like a freak?
Why does a gay black man have to act like a woman in order to obtain mainstream attention?
I just don’t understand the drag culture because I believe it is wrong for a man to dress up as a woman. I know gay people will disagree with my personal opinion.
I believe a man should be a man and not dress like a woman. There is so much negativity in this world about gay men and drag queens just perpetuate the negative stereotypes.
My argument is, the reason “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is so popular is because people like to “laugh at” gay drag queens. The outrageous clothes, high-pitched voices, finger snaps, are part of the “freak show”.
In private, people are saying “look at those faggots they wear women`s clothing and all gay men act like women.“ The problem I have with drag queens is they
are promoting a deleterious message about gay men. Most of the gay men I know, we are masculine men we do not act like women!
I resent the fact there is a paucity of black gay men in pop culture that are not effeminate. Where are the images in pop culture of masculine gay black men? Where are we? We are invisible, it seems only the effeminate gay guys obtain mainstream attention! The question remains why?
I hate Tyra Bank’s show “America’s Next Top Model”! I hate the fact that Jay Alexander and Jay Manuel are representations of gay men of colour in pop culture!
Jay Manuel and Jay Alexander are over the top, they go to the extreme in expressing themselves!
I just feel these effeminate gay guys are presenting negative and distorted images of black gay men. Most black gay men we are not drag queens!
Why are the regular black gay men so invisible? For example, I don’t really understand “drag culture”, because I think it is weird and bizarre.
I don’t understand why a black gay man would want to put on a dress, lipstick, makeup, and high heel shoes? I prefer to wear suits, ties, baseball caps, boxer shorts, and dress appropriately since I am a male.
Where are the black gay men the “ordinary” black gay men in pop culture? I miss the television Noah’s Arc so much because this show was a positive television show about black gay men. The black gay men on Noah’s Arc wore regular clothes and did not conform to this effeminate image of the black gay man.
Gayblackcanada 
Like you, Orville, I really would like to see more images of black gay men who are masculine because the black gay male community is comprised of masculine as well as feminine gay men.
Having said that, I applaud RuPaul for unabashedly being himself and I don’t consider him a freak. I don’t watch the show RuPaul’s Drag Race, but I’m glad it’s a success. Maybe people do laugh at RuPaul and the rest of the people who are a part of the show, but RuPaul has the last laugh as long as his show continues to be a success, which I hope it will.
As far as the two Jay’s on ANTM are concerned, I give them credit for being themselves with no regrets. I hope they will continue to be themselves.
It’s a doggone shame that Noah’s Arc was cancelled and I miss it dearly. There was such diversity on the show. Orville, I can’t say I agree with you that the characters in Noah’s Arc wore regular clothes. Noah in particular wore some of the most outrageous clothes, though he knew how to work them. I think that Noah, Alex and Chance were effeminate.
Anyway, I view RuPaul as a positive image for the black gay community. He doesn’t represent the entire black gay community because not all gay men dress in drag, but he has paved the way and you have to admire his longevity.
Hi Ashley, thanks for your comment. I am cognizant that RuPaul is an individual and he has a right to express himself. I believe the images of Rupaul, Jay Manuel and Jay Alexander are socially constructed. The image of gay black men that is palatable is the over the top freakshow. I just feel these effeminate gay guys give a bad name to masculine gay men! There are millions of gay black men WE DO NOT wear dresses, make up, lipstick, or act like women.
However, I am concerned about the paucity of positive images of gay black men in pop culture. The danger is, people will actually think RuPaul represents “all” gay black men. I do not do drag and there are millions of gay black men just like me.
However, where are we in the pop culture? I guess a “normal” black gay man that wears men’s clothing has no interest in wearing make up, doesn’t speak with a lisp, or act like a freak isn’t good enough for television? It is always the over the top queens such as RuPaul, Jay Alexander, and Jay Manuel receiving the attention.
There seems to be this predilection that gay black men we are all effeminiate, bitchy, queens and that’s just not true. I want to see a balance of imagery about gay black men in pop culture.
I hate RuPaul, Jay Alexander, and Jay Manuel because I feel they are cardboard cut out stereotypes of gay men of colour.
you’re kidding, right? noah’s arc is considered to be a portrayal of “ordinary gay black men”? not every gay black man is the same. by the way, jay manuel is hispanic. furthermore rupaul is just as “normal” a gay black man as you or i. he just does drag because he wants to. it doesn’t make him a stereotype. i’m a gay black man and i don’t do drag! but i don’t judge those who do. who are ANY of us to judge, anyway?! really? and, if all we see on tv are “abnormal” gay black men on tv, name someone other than jay alexander and rupaul…
(jay manuel doesn’t count because he is not black)
Daniel, thanks for the clarification about Jay Manuel`s racial background. However, I disagree with your opinion about drag queens. Of course, gay black men we all different because we are individuals.
However, I believe there is an imbalance in the pop culture and the freaks such as RuPaul receive a lot of media attention. Ru Paul is a negative stereotype of a gay black man he is a freak! The stereotype is gay black men we are effeminiate, bitchy, and are involved in drag culture.
I am against drag culture because I believe it is wrong for a man to wear a dress and try to look like a woman. Now this is just my personal opinion.
I believe drag is abhorrent. I just think it is gross that a man would put on a dress, makeup, high heel shoes, and pretend to be a woman. It is just disgusting! The drag queens and effeminiate gay men are promoting negative stereotypes and I don’t agree with it!
Jay Alexander and Jay Manuel are also stereotypes of gay men of colour they are outrageous and bizarre. Don’t you notice how they act like sissies with the finger snapping, neck rolling, and the way they walk?
Why does a gay man of colour have to be at the extreme to be on television? The problem is these freaks are promoting an imbalanced view of gay men of colour. Where are the masculine gay men of colour? Where are we?
I think the reason freaks such as RuPaul, Jay Manuel, and Jay Alexander are on television is so straight people can laugh at them. These freaks are a disgrace and a joke!
I believe there needs to be more of a balance I do not agree with the drag lifestyle nor do I agree with the effeminiate gay men acting like so gay. These guys are over the top!
I honestly think RuPaul is a prime example of a modern day gay black man. I’m actually really kind of taken back from you saying he acts like a freak. I mean have you actually watched RuPaul ever before in your life or are you just prejudging someone because I can hardly think of someone who is as articulate, whitty, positive and charasmatic. I’ve watched RuPaul countless times on tv and in movies over the years and he’s great. He’s taken his career very far and I’m really proud of him. I think it’s pretty damn ignorant to think “men should dress like men, just cause they men and that’s what men do”. If he wants to dress as a woman let him. He’s good at it, hell he’s beautiful.
Okay you are entitled to your opinion. However, I still stand by my argument that the gay black men that tend to receive mainstream attention are the freaks.
The problem here is the imbalance and I think this is due to homophobia. It is more palatable in society for people to watch RuPaul because he’s over the top drag queen and at the extreme margins of society.
However, society is fearful of masculine gay men that’s why we are more invisible.
Society doesn’t mind laughing at RuPaul and the other drag queens and effeminate queens such as Jay Manuel and Jay Alexander. People love to laugh at these gay men of colour.
You don’t even bother to ask why do the effeminate gay men receive so much attention in the media?
RuPaul is a negative stereotype of the gay black man. RuPaul is bitchy, effeminate, he wears women’s clothing.
I am against the drag lifestyle and culture because I do not believe in it. I think it is wrong for a man to wear women’s clothing and that’s my personal opinion.
I am tired of these effeminate gay men receiving so much attention they do not represent all gay men.
There are millions of gay men we are masculine we wear appropriate men’s clothing and we do not wear dresses.
Yes, RuPaul is a freak, he is indeed someone that goes to the extreme since he is a drag queen. There is a paucity of positive images of gay black men in pop culture.
If you disagree with the Drag lifestyle, fine, but don’t hate against it if you don’t understand it!
Drag is an ART FORM which uses make-up skills, theatrics and costume design. I see it as a character you’re playing on stage. You are allowed to be bitchy, happy, loud – it’s a character.
I am a healthy gay man, who is INDEED masculine, I am not queeny, or throw myself around loud. I am ALSO a DRAG QUEEN.
I do it for entertainment. as many thousands of drag queens do.
PLEASE understand the art form before you knock it.
It’s hatred in the world in which we don’t need.
PEACE!
I’m really disappointed to see so much hate and ignorance towards people with alternative gender presentations in this article and the following comments.
I support gender diversity. That means I support masculine gay men, and feminine gay men and men who are neither of those or both. And I too wish that there was a greater representation of gay men in the media.
I don’t know why it is that effeminate gay men appear to be overrepresented by the media. Maybe it’s because masculine gay men aren’t as easy to spot. Maybe it is all about the ‘freakshow,’ like you say. People are intrigued by things they aren’t familiar with. And people are familiar with masculine men.
Whatever the reason for this image in the media, you are absolutely right. Not all gay men are effeminate.
I disagree with your statement, though, that “the images of Rupaul, Jay Manuel and Jay Alexander are socially constructed.”
How about the idea that wearing ” suits, ties, baseball caps, boxer shorts” is inherently masculine? I mean, since there are so many people don’t fit into the rigid categories of gender that are supposed to be natural or normal, then I would say those ascribed gender markers are socially constructed. Just because we call those items men’s clothes, doesn’t make those pieces of fabric masculine and somehow tied completely to men.
It’s very true that gay men generally face discrimination based on assumptions of their gender presentation. Ignorant people assume that gay men are all effeminate cross-dressers. People are repulsed by the idea that a man would be anything but masculine.
Wouldn’t you recognize this discrimination as transphobia? Transphobia being the discriminatory treatment of individuals who do not conform in appearance and/or identity, to conventional conceptions of gender.
Why not support trans and gender-variant people, so that none of us have to face that hate, rather than jump on board with the haters and continue to spew these hateful sentiments?
In the US, at least one trans person is murdered each month. Their murderers are the same people that harass, assault and murder queer people, people of colour and people from other marginalized groups.
Don’t you think it would be more helpful for all of us if you allied with trans people rather than allying yourself with the homophobic and transphobic people that destroy our communities?
I agree that diversity is important in the gay community but I have a problem when the freaks such as RuPaul receive so much media attention. I have a question, why are you bringing up transgender people?
Who cares about transgender people? I certainly don’t. Homosexuality and transgenderism are two entirely separate issues. Transgender people are mentally ill people this is what the American Psychiatric Association says. I think transgender people are sick they need to find their own movement.
This topic is not about transgender people but about gay men. Transgender people have their own issues and this topic isn’t about them.
However, I feel it is abhorrent and disturbing that the effeminate gay men receive so much attention.
Every year I turn on the television to watch gay pride it’s always the freaks, the guys in drag that are on the six o’ clock news. Don’t you even question why the freaks receive so much press? The reason the media present the freaks during gay pride is to stereotype the gay male community.
You see the freaks in hot pink, or twirling their pixie dust during gay pride. It is really disgusting!
There needs to be more balance in the media in the representation of gay men.
It isn’t just because the freaks are different from the norm. I believe society thinks gay masculine men we are more “dangerous” because we
are real men. There is a fear in society of gay men that don’t conform to the negative stereotypes. People don’t take freaks such as RuPaul, Jay Manuel or Jay Alexander seriously they are just a joke but the joke is on them!
I believe the reason RuPaul and the other drag queens obtain a lot of press is because they are freaks.
RuPaul, Jay Alexander, and Jay Manuel are stereotypes of gay men of colour. The problem is the freaks gain so much attention. The limp wrists, the high pitched voices, the make up, and the effeminate way these gay men act is just gross.
The public like to “laugh” at these queens and they stereotype the entire gay male community in the process.
I am against drag culture because I think it just bizarre that any man would want to wear a dress. I believe drag queens and transvestites are mentally ill people.
Hello there,
Though I am black, I’m not gay or a man, so I hope that my comments on this forum will not be automatically disqualified. I am a dancer, and that puts me in close proximity with a lot of gay men, some of them black, and some who do like to dress up in women’s clothing. Though I do agree that there is a lot of negative stereotyping towards gays and minority men who are gay, I also think the media will always attach itself to whatever phenomenon is the loudest, boldest, maybe even crassest, as long as it can get the most attention, and therefore the most money possible.
But I don’t think the media represents what people think, only what they would like people to think – and buy, and consume and use up and throw away! Earlier, I mentioned the fact that I was a dancer because I wanted to say that when the Dance Theatre of Harlem in NYC was created, apparently the artistic director didn’t want the members of the troupe to come out of the closet. He thought black men had enough on their plates just being black and shouldn’t have to shoulder the weight of being gay on top of that.
All this to say that I don’t think anyone should have to put a cap on their personality. But, if you don’t think you’re being represented properly, you have to find a way to make sure you are. I just read a blog post where a gay black man in Hollywood was said to “have gone mad”. I think there is something within the community that makes these men want to keep a fundamental part of themselves a secret, and I could see how that might lead to different forms of rebelling in some… if you could call it that…?
I think the freaks such as RuPaul or the effeminate gay men have a right to act the way they want to. However, I think it does such a disservice to other gay men such as myself.
I don’t understand why it is so hard for some people to believe there are masculine gay men out there in society?
I don’t like it when people make the assumption that all gay men are outrageous queens or effeminate freaks.
I think the media does look for the most outrageous personalities in the gay male community because they believe this will sell to the mainstream. The quandary is, the gay male community is stereotyped by gay black men such as RuPaul.
I think this is the reason I started my blog because I wanted to present an alternative point of view. I do not conform to the ludicrous ways some of these gay men act such as wearing drag, wearing makeup or women’s clothing. I personally believe drag culture is abhorrent but that’s just my personal opinion.
firstly as a drag queen myself having worked 7 years in the buisness all throughout europe and realise how hard the job actually is especially when your up against small minded critics like several above, i just want to point out the following.
1. YOU DONT HAVE TO BE GAY TO BE A DRAG QUEEN..I know several queens who are straight, very knowledgable with fashion and superb performers.
2. NOT ALL DRAG QUEENS IMPERSONATE WOMEN..Drag in itself is a form of art and stands for huges statements. If a woman were to do it would they be critisized the same. How many women wear 6 inch stilletos and 15 inch tall wigs and have eyebrows higher than their ears…Think about what your saying people.
3. DRAG QUEENS DONT REPRESENT GAY MEN….Football players dont represent staright men….enough said work it out! STEROTYPE THAT!
4. DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU COMMENT!..The life of a drag queen is harder than that of any gay man…we are the ones that have to spend half of our life looking in the mirror and critisise ourself, portraying your inner feeling physically is an intellegent art form…if your smart you will see that.
5. AS FOR RUPAUL…WHAT AN AMAZING BEAUTIFUL PERSON…WELL DONE AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS……
I think someone is J.O.R.B (Jealous Of RuPaul’s Boogie – in reference to her song J.O.O.M.B [Jealous Of My Boogie]) by the name of Orville!
Bravo Lee on your comment!
Orville, you are a freak according to Hitler for being black AND gay, so stop calling others freaks!
RuPaul is a successful business person, who happens to be gay & a drag queen.
No wonder the gay community around the world is always constantly fighting with each other, because of this JEALOUSY!
All I have to say is I’m not phased by anyone if they are camp as a row of tents or butch as Jake Heke (watch Once Were Warriors) everyone is unique in their own way and entitled to be so.
Who are we to judge, there is only one true judge!
I have three words to end on for those haters: BUILD A BRIDGE!
First, let me say this is the first time i’ve visited your site. I was so taken back by your blog posting that I just had to respond. I am surprised that as someone that wishes to promote diversity you are so negative about a section of our gay community. Not everyone is masculine and not everyone is feminine. Drag is an artform and believe it or not takes a lot of strength and courage to do. I once was fairly close minded and indeed a little intimidated by drag performers. I made a lot of assumptions about what kind of people they are. In fact they are usually pretty down to earth and can be the most giving and caring people in the community. Living in the Washington, DC metro area I can tell you the countless times drag queens have volunteered, done charity events as well as shows to raise money for a wide array of causes. they can use their sparkle and shine to bring awareness to many issues.
The example you give of Noah’s Arc is a bit skewed. i’ve watched the entire series and several of the characters on that show are effeminate. Noah in fact was very effeminate and in one episode three of them actually performed in drag.
I am also just a little disappointed in the comments regarding the transgender community as being sick and you just don’t care about them. Basically you are saying you only care about individuals that look and act the way you do? I think you do yourself and the black men you wish to promote a huge diservice by making such remarks.
I can appreciate that you wish to promote a masculine black gay male. Yes all types of all races should be portrayed in mainstream media. However the hatred and ignorance of your posting reallyshoots holes in your own cause. I’m sure some of it was used for shock value to hopefully boost your own fame and stir up an outcry. It sounds a lot like the attention drag queens seem to be crying out for doesn’t it? Just food for thought.
He certainly only projects positivity so therefore he is positive. Despite whether he is masculine or feminine, he represents a facet of the community.I ultimately applaud him for liberating himself early on and be true to his identity!