I’m Black, gay and HIV+. While I do appreciate the spirit in which this clip (and this site, I hope) is intended, the allusion being made here - particularly that being gay leads to crystal meth addiction which leads to HIV/AIDS infection which leads to death - is really not funny at all.
Yes, I admit that this is a hilarious parody. I’m trying to see it as just that and not take it more seriously than I should, but I wonder how real any of this (either drug addiction or discrimination based on race and/or sexual orientation) is to anyone involved in creating either this clip or this site. The global reality is that, almost 3 decades later, HIV/AIDS still disproportionately affects LGBT people of color - many of whom can’t afford the ‘intervention’ being parodied because of lack of adequate health care.
OK - let’s say that ‘Bob’ (the parody’s protagonist) stops doing Tina and decides to take care of himself. Then what? Who’s lining up to offer him employment or a way to continue his education or affordable housing or health care? Mind you, I’m not even talking about ‘acceptance’ - fuck that. There will always be people who won’t accept him. The problem is that those people are usually the same people doing the hiring in human resources. No, not just your local pharmaceutical or on Wall Street, but on Broadway. At Motion. At Viacom. At Microsoft. At Google. At Craigslist. At the LGBT Center. Hell, probably at the deli where Kristin bought that sandwich. It’s easy to sing to someone you love when you’re concerned that his life might be at risk, but I’m guessing that drug addiction usually starts somewhere else. No one’s at FunnyOrDie seems to be poking fun at the people who actively ensure that other people they dislike or can’t relate to don’t have any way to take care of themselves. I guess it’s more difficult to find the humor in that.
Concern about drug addiction is one thing but using that as a conduit to dictate what kind of sex LGBT people should have is pretense - no matter how much it’s wrapped up in the fabulous musical theatre divaness that is Kristin Chenoweth. We don’t tell you how to fuck, so maybe you should concentrate on something closer to home, like what kind of sex you’re having with your boyfriends and husbands. And what they’re doing to facilitate that urge when you’re not around. During this parody, the gay meth addicted son/kid brother gets all the spotlight for his love of sucking dick, but consider the possibility that his father and older brother might be up on Craigslist right along with him. (When I typed this, I couldn’t help but notice ads on the top and to the right of this clip for CBS’ “Gary Unmarried” - a sitcom I’ll probably never watch. Coincidence?) Personally, I don’t care what other consenting adults choose to do sexually - gay, straight or otherwise - I just hope that all parties involved are enjoying themselves and taking care of each other. I’m more focused on the sex I have and want to have - not on someone else’s sexual itinerary.
Leave a comment