This weekend I had a dilemma because there were multi-events going on around the new Barbie movie coming out. Gaydom is all aflame about using this new Barbie movie starting the studly Ryan Gosling as Ken as a platform. One event was bear themed but in a Barbie way (Barbie with chest hair? Ew no! We focus on Ken). And then there was another at a different venue called Brobie set up by Wayne Underwear and promoting his dolls of Brobies. Gay male versions of Barbie dolls. Each event of course promoted their own set of go-go dancers, porn star deluxe, and other glitter and glams to get you out to party hearty. There was no “wool pulled over” this gay man’s eyes, however, that both of these events happened on the same night making people choose which venue to land at. Healthy competition? Rush before the movie comes out? As to why that was, I’m not sure, but it didn’t feel like a smart move.
I don’t know which one event did better because I just don’t go to these types of events alone and I couldn’t get anyone to join me, which was disappointing at first but gave me pause later. All of my friends said that they had “moved on” from this type of thing or the “bar scene” in general. And though I have too pretty much, I thought this one might be fun. But, their choice got me reflecting on why adults have chosen, yet again, a very child-like symbol, and a very iconic fake representation of humanity to come out and celebrate? Don’t get me wrong. I think the movie will be fun, and it’s not like I see a whole lot of harm in having fun around these things because I like to as well. I’m a big kid at heart and I like to get sexy with stuff too as the events were mixing in. But there is a pattern in our community that we aren’t really teaching or mentoring our younger generations into more maturity but continued celebration over shallow role models in Hollywood, Porn, and Make-Believe. It’s like we are still saying ‘That’s right twinks, we blazed the freedom trail for you, so keep partying, don’t grow up and be shallow as fuck like we were but enjoy it shamelessly now!” This isn’t the right message. It’s not like I’m saying exclude the partying, the porn or all those fun things that don’t take a lot thinking but it seems like that is what is front center at our venues.
There is this fixation on this plastic, pink, fantastic childhood nothingness of Barbie right now in the gay community and you have to ask yourself why. Do you find it curious? I do. One ad had fetishized a pic of a real guy half glazed over so he looked plastic.
Now that’s hot. I’m sure the event was fun as only Wayne Perry can do so I’m not putting the event down. I am saying what message are we sending on what we value as a gay community with event after event that typifies a lot of shallow and plastic values? Then we had the ad for the Bearbies which isn’t half as bad as the ad above though as far as messaging.
And most of us, not all of us mind you, but most of us go to these kind of events, and it is “okay” but eventually determine like my friends, it is time to grow up. But, we find ourselves returning and returning because there is nothing else we are offered. So why aren’t more gay establishments growing up in what they offer us? Why are we still feeding into this shallow-minded culture that generates a youth that in turn doesn’t learn from our mistakes of the past? Can we have fun events that don’t feed into this mindset that had us making the same mistakes? I think we can.
And then there is this. This kind of attitude we espouse and lift up in our community. Where we applaud the attitude of being arrogant and showy. This is another form of Barbie-esque, and I think that is why Barbie appeals to a lot of gays but she does more so in a humorous way. We can poke fun at Barbie and have fun at that. This is because in a more adult manner some evolve into these arrogant queens or at the least are entertained and applaud them. It is the vogue, strike a pose, look at me, aren’t I a bitch? People applaud but what average Joe public wants to be around an individual with that kind of attitude or virtues? So why do we applaud it? As youth see this, and see that applause, they go down a soul path that is dangerous for them personally though they may find an “act” professionally” that will pay if they have a talent. I’ve seen it over and over again just even in encouraging a gay youth in a healthy good way, they can misinterpret it and become arrogant, self-grandiose in their persuits as they look around them and see what it is around them telling them to think of themselves more than they ought. There is so much unhealthy versions of ego representation out there in the gay community right now.
In conclusion, I don’t think anyone is winning. At least not in the community out here where I am because there are few to no gay role models. Everything is an event to bring you in and entertain you to get your dollars. And while I know I like to check out these events and would probably be at more if I had more people to go with just to see them, I also know we need to offer more than just this. We need to promote some better values. Youth are looking at porn, modeling/stripping and queening it up as their only path to gay stardom and that isn’t good. The events are doing what they are doing to take off on the immaturity of the community to grab the money they can off of the Barbie wave. The Barbie movie will make its money from its viewers. That’s what it all boils down. Business. We need a community that isn’t all about offerings centered around business. Still, I’ll still see the Barbie movie, you know that, right? I don’t miss a Ryan Gosling movie LOL.
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