You Don't Get to Tell Us When to Be Offended, RuPaul

[Shana A]

Rebecca Juro
Freelance journalist, blogger and Internet radio talk show host

You Don't Get to Tell Us When to Be Offended, RuPaul
Posted: 1/19/12 04:24 PM ET

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-juro/rupaul-->-bleeped-<-_b_1212019.html

RuPaul was recently interviewed by Michelangelo Signorile on his Sirius OutQ radio show and clearly demonstrated how completely out-of-touch he is with the reality that most full-time trans people (i.e., transsexuals) actually live in.

Before I continue, I want to make clear that my opinions expressed here are directed toward RuPaul exclusively, not toward drag performers in general, nor toward drag as a concept or an art form.

The truth is that RuPaul's drag persona is not a real person but a fictional character he portrays as a performer to make money, no more a reflection of true reality than Captain Kirk or Stephen Colbert, who, like RuPaul, also uses his real name when portraying a caricatured, fictional character created and performed solely for entertainment purposes. As RuPaul himself has said of his drag performances, "I do it once in a while for fun, but I really only do it when I'm getting paid, ch-ching!"

[Michelle-G]

OK, RuPaul, so let me get this straight - if it's "just words" and words have no impact, then it's OK for us to refer to you by the N-word?  And of course, if it applies to you then it applies to all other African-Americans as well?

His remarks are astonishingly ignorant of any equal rights progress made in this country during the last 50 years.