Susan's Place Transgender Resources

QuoteThe 1972 hit 'Walk on the Wild Side' was called 'transphobic' by the University of Guelph student association, which apologized for playing the song on campus.

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/05/22/university-student-union-takes-a-walk-on-the-controversial-side-over-lou-reed-song.html (https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/05/22/university-student-union-takes-a-walk-on-the-controversial-side-over-lou-reed-song.html)

The Star   Peter Goffin   05/22/201

This caused quite a bit of discussion on FB.

Some of the older like me remember when "Walk on the Wild Side" came out.  For me a youngish 21/22 in the Navy at the time, it was a kind of inspiration.  Would listen to it quite a lot.

I could/can see where some of the younger more active now might have a problem with it.

Always controversial when a 40+ year old song gets such reactions.
Partly due to Political Correctness now.

Quote from: Georgette on May 25, 2017, 10:41:22 PM
This caused quite a bit of discussion on FB.

Some of the older like me remember when "Walk on the Wild Side" came out.  For me a youngish 21/22 in the Navy at the time, it was a kind of inspiration.  Would listen to it quite a lot.

I could/can see where some of the younger more active now might have a problem with it.

Always controversial when a 40+ year old song gets such reactions.
Partly due to Political Correctness now.

Yeah, what she said! 

I don't agree with this whole backlash against political correctness though.  For the most part it's just an excuse for bigots and other malcontents to be asses in public.  Fortunately, cellphone videos and YouTube expose them for the world to see what they are.  Usually white, obnoxious, loud, and uneducated.


Conform and be dull. —James Frank Dobie, The Voice of the Coyote

I was in high school when that song came out.  I don't recall anything offensive in it.  If anything I thought someone might take offence at "the coloured girls go".

Quote from: AnneK on May 26, 2017, 06:07:56 AM
I was in high school when that song came out.  I don't recall anything offensive in it.  If anything I thought someone might take offence at "the coloured girls go".

I remember thinking the same exact thing back in 1973. 


Conform and be dull. —James Frank Dobie, The Voice of the Coyote

I don't know what it is about university student unions.  This isn't the first time I've read about a student union being a touch too sensitive.  I hope they've learned something from the response they've received.

I always thought it was Lou Reed's way of saying it's okay to be different.   It was no big deal to be yourself.  This was way before I knew about his personal life.   As the article stated, he certainly wasn't transphobic.

Take care,
Paige :)

QuoteI don't know what it is about university student unions.

I have noticed the same thing.  In Toronto recently, there was a case about a radio personality who was accused of sexual assault.  He was acquitted, though I suspect he was guilty.  However, there were a lot of problems with the case, including the victims colluding on testimony and other issues.  The lawyer, a woman, was accused of betraying her gender and was blocked from speaking at a university etc.  These people seem to be forgetting:
a) everyone has a right to a defence
b) the lawyer was simply doing her job
c) the victims compromised the case

Yet the lawyer was held to chastised for simply doing what she was hired to do.

Honestly, its seems bizarre to characterize "Walk on the Wild Side" as transphobic (or the famously bisexual Lou Reed).  I would really need to see the particulars of that argument. 

I've always taken the song to be a positive presentation of some of the personalities surrounding Andy Warhol.  Their lives had a gritty component no doubt.  I admired Lou for telling it straight; I thought he was courageous, and still do.   It was a tough world for transgendered people in the '60's.  Not that it is a piece of cake today.

The girls in that song are featured in other songs in his ouvre.  Here are the lyrics to "Candy Says", written about Candy Darling.  These are not transphobic lyrics.  Rather the opposite.

lyrics to "Candy Says"

Candy says, I've come to hate my body
And all that it requires in this world

Candy says, I'd like to know completely
What all they discretely talk about

I'm gonna watch the blue birds fly
Over my shoulder
I'm gonna watch them pass me by
Maybe when I'm older

What do you think I'd see
If I could walk away from me

Candy says, I hate the quiet places
That cause the smallest taste of what will be

Candy says, I hate the big decisions
That cause endless revisions in my mind

I'm gonna watch the bluebirds fly
Over my shoulder
I'm gonna watch them pass me by
Maybe when I'm older

What do you think I'd see
If I could walk away from me

Songwriters
Reed, Lou

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPgGjUSEWss

Quote from: AnneK on May 23, 2017, 08:22:32 AM
"The 1972 hit 'Walk on the Wild Side' was called 'transphobic' by the University of Guelph student association"

There aren't enought hours in the day ...
to address each/every inane thing "said" ...
WorldWide ... on a day to day basis ... :icon_rolleyes2:

The following YTvid is the BEST
"Walk on the Wild Side" YTvid
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi64.tinypic.com%2F5a43dw.jpg&hash=406ad5de1b0dec892792beed37711485d6ed6072)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi66.tinypic.com%2Fnzr8gm.jpg&hash=13d3e11fe1f6c8aced12018aae66dde477990adc) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAHRAKQMfzA)

Is there any "for-sure" BBcode Syntax for embedding YTvids ... "here" ... @SsP :icon_confused:

Have to say I love the song; thought it promoted the lifestyle, for its context.  A 20 something has no idea what it was like to live in the 70s.  Don't  know what Lou's personal lifestyle was like; rest his soul.  Was a tad disappointed that his wife eulogised him as "her prince".

Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" certainly opened my mind to the idea that the world is not as clearly
defined as some traditional models may present it.  I would like to give credit where due, and absent Mr. Reed
opening some doors, I might have taken more time to arrive. 

Those up in arms today may not quite understand what was revolutionary in its day.