Drag Queen Bingo

[Lydia]

Hi all,

You might be interested in a local flap in progress here in cultured Sarasota, Florida.

Here are the facts:
Recently, in an arty section of town, there has appeared a “Drag Queen Bingo Club.” Aside from the usual bingo, there is entertainment and “commentary” by several transvestites. This is aided by a very powerful sound amplification system, and the speeches are often rowdy and very raunchy.
Inevitably, there have been complaints from neighboring residents, not only about the sound level, but the effect of the nasty language on youthful ears. The city authorities are hoping the problem will go away, and there is vague talk about the establishment needing a license. There is no question that money is being accumulated, but the Bingo management claims it is donated to charities (percentage or amount donated not specified).

IMHO:
In the interests of free speech and tranquillity, turning down the sound level might be an adequate alleviation. However, I have another complaint that will be more difficult to solve. Personally, I object to the whole public debasement of cross-dressing and transgender. It reinforces the all too prevalent general notion that CD and TG is equivalent to perversion and immoral homosexuality. Unfortunately, any protests from our community would only add fuel to the fire.

There is a fairly large gay community in this town, and they have no reason to get involved in this fracas. The extent of CD in general is totally unknown, and I am not including the transvestite prostitutes who prowl our streets.

All this makes me even more fearful of doing my occasional shopping en femme.

Any opinions? Ideas?

Hugs,

Lydia

[CJ]

Hi all,

I don't get it, Lydia. Are they playing... strip bingo?

If not, I'm not sure what the big deal is. If it's the decibel level, well, then, just a quick chat with the bingo hall manager should quiet things down a little. If, on the other, the mumbled protests have something to do with the activity being specifically a "drag queen" bingo, then I say they'll have to live with it. We're here to stay. If these grumblers prefer their transvestites out on the sidewalks rather than in bingo halls, they just need to continue complaining as they do.

Good luck with the flap, Lydia!

Love,
CJ

Edit: For those that are interested: Drag Queen Bingo

[Virginia]

Well, I too am a bit confused - which as you know is easily done!
Not wishing to again cooped the thread but semantics = definitions are the first thing that comes to mind. Now I realize that "the public" is not interested in defining who's who but I have been called to task = being taken to the woodshed over trying to define, categorize, pigeonhole, "us" and our other brothers and sisters.

What I have been told is that most ?some? how about an unknown percentage of DragQueens are simply gay entertainers?!
Transvestite prostitutes are cross-dressing gays - mostly?? somewhat??

Now since the thoughtful trend defines most crossdressers as heterosexual males it becomes difficult to intertwine transvestite prostitutes with "crossdressers'" I think?

Evidently what is happening is that bingo is being played in some type of outdoor venue which is interspersed with raunchy behavior by folks who do not fit societal norms for dress and action. And this is compounded by louder than acceptable vocal media.

Since we don't know the full story, it would seem that just having "them" turn the volume down would serve as the best solution would it not??

Good luck and keep us posted if you find out who is behind all this. Bet it isn't going to happen on St. Almands Key?

Love,

Virginia

[Lydia]

Update:

Drag Queen Bingo wil no longer use PA systems or bullhorns, but are setting up a "personal" sound sydtem with walki-talkies. The language of the entertainers will be more subdied. The prizes will be gift certificates to local restaurants. Now this ought to satify the compainants. We shall see.

Vigrinia: My turn in the woodshed. Beng a semantic wonk, I should have been much more careful in my language and avoided stereotyping. Frankly, I find the Milton Berle and Benny Hill type of CDing hilarious, although it too preserves the myths about us, and satirizes the woman. BTW, the local paper and TV have shown pictures of the entertainers: They look fantastic, but after all they are pros. I'm envious.

Would I go? I tried, but they are fully booked for the forseeable future.

Hugs.

Lydia

[Chrissie]

This is an interesting topic. I remember my parents going to a drag show (a very good one) when I was very young, and that I was perplexed about why it was funny....and I still don't laugh at many of the jokes.

I think that much of the humor, like all humor, comes from tweaking peoples fears and inhibitions. I don't think it's necessarily degrading to cd's, but it does create a stereotype in people's minds that many of us don't fit.

Perhaps that's better than nothing, that after spending some time in a room with gorgeous ladies, the average bloke will look with kinder eyes and a smile, instead of fear, the next time he encounters a lady, and might even start up a conversation...

chrissie