Before I head off into territory that is going to darken my name further, amongst the PC police and their snitches, I can say that it is for reasons of curiosity that I am posting this post.
The first thing I want to look at is the growing fashion statement, amongst gay presenters, that is the 'orange fake tan' . I thought David Dickinson had the monopoly on this one. Disclaimer coming... if Mr Dickinson is gay then not openly so...and assume that he is a happily married man...assume because you never really know what goes on anywhere except in your own life and even then I am not sure that anyone can ever be 100% about anything..."We fade to grey"
Anyhows....the first presenter I clocked going for the full on orange effect was Dale Winton. Not sure if Graham Norton came on board next or Stephen Fry but, recent viewings of Mr Fry on QI (which I still find quite interesting and much more so when Johnny Vegas is on)have had me toning down the brightness on my tv. Am wondering if it is part of a 'gay celeb' status symbol. Or just really shit taste.
Let it not be said that I am totally biased, although confess to a high level of biast when it comes to Stephen Fry. I have clocked a more svelt like SF, lightening his hair (easy on the eye) and seeming to have become more aware of how to co-ordinate his costumery. Not that that actually makes much difference of my opinion of him as an 'essential item in anyone's recovery tool kit'. I didn't mind him on the plumpish side, with greying hair and not being a dedicated follower of fashion. I was more worried about this iconic status, as a MH gugu and spokesperson for us loonies at every MH gala event/media opportunity going.
No...it is for me a question of why? Why fake tan and why so orange? I mean I know us Brits love our gay celebs on the camp side. Not sure we are quite ready for a non camp gay celeb (for years we watched John Inman... telling us he was free... and although I am sure we knew in our heart of hears that he was gay...we couldn't quite bring ourselves to speak about it openly) but it wouldn't hurt for the water to be tested on that. There are possibly (because it is a pool full of lots of celeb fishes) that there are gay presenters who no one clocks are gay because they (for whatever reasons) haven't got a camp side to their personality. I am not knocking 'camp' in itself...more asking what the options are. What I am trying to say is that there must be more to gay people than being camp.
Possibly it is the historical comedic appeal of camp that prevails (stamped on the Brit psyche) but I am not sure that does gay people any favours if they actually are looking at equality or if it doesn't matter so much when they make celeb status as long as they make celeb status. Or maybe it does..and they just don't dare think about it????? Whatever, the orange thing does not look good on anyone (Gay or not) but is guaranteed to get a person noticed.
My second concern.... and this is much more serious.... is about Lesbian celebrities. How many can you name? I can only think of one: Ellen Degenereusse..I can't remember how to spell her surname but it sounds like that. If I remember rightly, she is an AMERICAN comedienne turned presenter turned talent contest judge. I have a certain amount of respect for her because I think she has actually done some trail blazing. Problem is the trail hasn't blazed it's way across the Atlantic. We reckon the Americans can be 'conservative' but I, unless oblivious to what is happening on the celeb scene, can't think of any celebs who are Lesbians. Perhaps people think this is petty but if we are talking about equality...then surely that means 'accessing all areas', being able to be open about one's sexuality (or not if one doesn't want to..but not being in the closet because ambiguity seems the most popular/safe route to take).
Are we 'as a nation' happy to stick with the camp gay male celebs but see lesbians as far more of a threat? If so a threat to what? Along the same lines but off on a bit of a tangent...female celebs seems to be becoming camper as well. What is all that about?
Maybe the fact that I am writing about celebrity is the crutch of this issue. In order to be a celebrity now...you gotta be brighter or louder or cleverer or polyfilled to the max and ORANGE!!! You gotta have a gimmick and a gimmick that keeps the suckers wanting more even if you have no real talent at all (had to get Katie Price in there somehow)...and in my books they don't get anymore camp than her.
What a backwards step for equality it all seems to be and a forward step for faking it for fame.
And maybe the orange thing is a bit tongue in cheek or maybe it is about something a little more complex. Hmmmmmmmm
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Seriously hadn't noticed the Orange thing was so rife amongst gay UK TV presenters and thought Stephen Fry's near glowing 'Orangeness' was simply a transitional phase between his current role as ghastly celebrity Know it All and his destiny as imperious Sun God.
ReplyDeleteGood point about absence of Lesbian TV presenters over here. Perhaps its time we had a Lesbian Prime Minister . Dianne Abbot may just out herself to correct the homophobic imbalance but as a feisty woman of colour - hear her purr with aggression around Michael Portillo! - she'll probably draw the line at dying herself Orange .
Fry as sun God Shamash lol
ReplyDeleteMaybe Mind is sponsorng celebs to smear themselves in the PoundShop's own brand fake Sun tan lotion as part of a Well Being campaign, you know, Paul Farmer waffling on about how the latest Mind survey shows how people can transform their lives and look and feel a million bucks on £1 a day....
The Future's Bright, the Future's, Orange!
Perhaps I just have an aversion to orange people, Norm.
ReplyDeleteDianne Abbot. I think the fact she is standing for the leadership is refreshing in an otherwise middle to higher class, public school boy dominated arena.
Would I vote for her...should the Labour Party become more of a party I relate to? Hmmm..maybe. Does she stand much chance of being voted the leader by her party colleagues? Nah! Old habits die hard and Margaret Thatcher did for women's lib in the political world what Stalin did for the fair treatment of all in the United Soviet Socialist Republic.
At least she will bring some colour and I don't mean that in regards to ethnicity but actually vibrancy to what could be another boring round of suit versus suit.
Wondering which 'emergency budget' will bring with it the battering of the mentally ill.
New Labour wanted to assimilate...maybe the coalition will just want to obliterate. Am erring on the side of 'total neurotic fear'. Don't want to be disappointed now, do I?
Neurotic fear. No. You're untouchable. That might change.
ReplyDeleteThanks for making the mammoth and brave effort of responding anonymously to my comment.
ReplyDeleteUntouchable????..I don't think you have the first idea of what that means to me on any other level than in regards to impending benefit reform. You most probably don't care either only for popping in (briefly) having a quick pop and popping off again.
150 billion pounds worth of debt is the errant offspring of mis management.
ReplyDeleteLesbian celebrities - Mary Portas(?) from Mary Queen of Shops recently married her girlfriend, who works for Grazia magazine.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the BBC sports presenter woman?
In the states there is Jane Lynch now of Glee fame