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30 May 2008 07:53 am

Obama and Clinton: Butch and Fem?

A reader writes:

I'm gay and intensely dislike the Clintons. I have found, however, that among a sampling of my friends, masculine gays voted for either Obama or Paul with one exception. My more effeminate friends voted for Clinton citing their love of "strong women".

I think it's identity politics at play within the gay community. Some gay men see themselves as victims. They march in pride parades to the beat of "I Will Survive" - Hillary's current campaign theme - fighting against perceived slights with all the tenacity they can bring to bear. Other gay men see their homosexuality as one small part of who they are and, while not hiding it or feeling any shame, simply carry on with their lives without wallowing in victimhood.

That is the difference as I see it. Some gay men see Alice, Maude, Rhoda, Joan Jett, Cyndi Lauper as exemplars of strength.

They watch Sex in the City and the Golden Girls and see their struggles reflected in that of women. I empathize with women, but I never identify my situation with a woman's and these gays see Hillary's struggle as their own. They ignore my points about Don't ask Don't Tell, DOMA, and how Hillary Clinton can barely bring herself to use the word "gay" in public. None of it has any effect. She's a diva. She's drama. She's Regina in Mean Girls and Barack is Lindsey Lohan and some gay men will always follow the Queen Bee.

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