Mary Cheney - Why is "drag" okay but "blackface" not?

[LizLemler]

My first thoughts on this is that blackface was used as a means to persecute the black community, and drag didn't really serve that purpose for the GLBT community, but I'd need to read up more on this.  Thoughts?


www.cnn.com/2015/01/30/politics/mary-cheney-facebook-post/


Washington (CNN)Mary Cheney wants to know why it isn't "socially acceptable" for a white person to "put on blackface and act out offensive stereotypes of African-Americans" if drags queens are allowed to imitate female stereotypes?



If a man can dress up as a woman to entertain an audience, then why can't a white person get on stage in blackface, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney wondered aloud Thursday in a private Facebook post obtained by CNN.



"Why is it socially acceptable -- as a form of entertainment -- for men to put on dresses, make up and high heels and act out every offensive stereotype of women (bitchy, catty, dumb, slutty, etc.) -- but it is not socially acceptable -- as a form of entertainment -- for a white person to put on blackface and act out offensive stereotypes of African Americans?" Cheney wrote in a post on Thursday her private Facebook page. Some of Cheney's posts appear to only be visible to those who are in her Facebook network.





"Shouldn't both be ok or neither?" Cheney wondered.



Cheney, who is openly gay and married, emphasized that she was not drawing any comparisons between white people painting their faces black and transgender individuals, only men who entertain in drag. Cheney said the question was sparked after seeing an ad on TV for the upcoming season of Logo's RuPaul's Drag Race.



Asked via Facebook message whether she'd like to clarify her comments, Cheney gave a brief response: "Seriously?"



It's not the first time Cheney has taken her views to Facebook.



Cheney took to Facebook in Nov. 2013 after her sister Liz, who was campaigning for Senate in the Wyoming GOP primary, reaffirmed her opposition to same-sex marriage.



"Liz -- this isn't just an issue on which we disagree -- you're just wrong -- and on the wrong side of history," Cheney wrote then on Facebook.

[sugarglider]

It is kind of a interesting question, though. Drag queens are entertainers who exaggerate stereotypical female traits in a comedic fashion, so there are some similarities. But they end there. Drag queens mock women affectionately, sort of like a roast. Really, I can't think of any other entertainment practice that carries the same historical baggage as blackface.

(My former roommate, whom I adore, was a drag queen when we lived together, so I have seen several shows, both big and small, and caught several episodes of Drag Race.)

[ringstrue]

Drag is such a unique entity. Some people get breast implants for it, and augment their face and hair to better suit their alter persona.

I wouldn't say drag is "dressing up as a woman"- in fact, a woman can become a drag queen too if she wanted. It's more about dressing up femininely but also larger than life. I guess someone could take offense to a drag queen character, but the intent isn't to mock women or act "as a woman". I think in a drag documentary some even describe drag as a 3rd gender.

[pixy0stix]

pandce.proboards.com/thread/415314/mary-cheney-asked-drag-blackface