Prom Night

My hometown finds a place in the LGBT fight. I really hope K.K. wins his suit. One thing that really strikes me is the comment made about masculinity in women versus femininity in men. I really believe there is some truth to this. To quote Madonna's "What It Feels Like for A Girl": For a boy to look like a girl is degrading because you think that being a girl is degrading. There lies a lot of truth in this. Why else would that nutburger sheriff in Arizona think that dressing male convicts in pink is a form of punishment? The indignity of picking up trash along the road is one thing, but having to do it wearing pink!!! Oh the shame. What exactly are the chicks made to wear that will make them feel horrible? Why do you have expectant parents who find out what the sex of their baby is beforehand so they'll know what colors to paint the room or to buy the clothes in? Since all babies come out looking like that old guy in Metallica's "Unforgiven" video, a person needs a signifier to know what the heck (gender) that is wrapped in all that swaddling. And heavenforfend Li'l Wayne be mistaken for Li'l Kim. And think of all the "masculine" things girls get away with (to a degree): "boyish" short hair, wearing pants, eating like a pig. While long hair on fellas is rarely commented on anymore (that hair can't be too pretty though), a guy in a skirt is gonna foster some comments. I recall a rash of commercials over recent years telling guys to "eat like a man." Remember those commercials with the guys doing stuff like waving away a bee or sneaking away from a card game to call their wives. They were then crushed by a giant beer can as the annoucer proclaims, "Men should act like men." So men should get stung by bees and let their damn wives worry.

I would like to think we are moving away from these kinds of labels and signifiers. Hopefully, this suit will bring some enlightenment to some school administrators.