Fort Worth article: SN, Gay Icon

[Livia]

IS THIS REAL STEVIE, DRAG STEVIE, OR JUST A CRYSTAL VISION?

One of my humble missions on this big blue marble is to expand the notion of what a gay icon is. And people, you won’t find a bigger gay magnet than the white winged dove, the leather and lace-clad gypsy, the Welsh witch herself – Stevie Nicks. She performs tomorrow night (Aug 12) at Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie in support of her latest album In Your Dreams.

Nicks was an obsession of mine during the first half of high school. My parents thought I had a crush on her. (Poor deluded souls — they also thought the poster of Marilyn Monroe on my bedroom wall was a sign of heterosexuality). But I didn’t lust after Nicks, I admired her — there was something about her velvety nasal voice purring testimonials about enchanted worlds full of fickle lovers that really hooked me.

As I got older, I came to realize that A) Nicks has recorded her share of mediocre tuneage but B) she is a very underrated songwriter. But back to the gay part: In 2006, Rufus Wainwright famously picked her as one of his unsung gay icons, declaring: “She separates interesting homosexuals from uninteresting ones.” (I’ll take that compliment). Just last May, the annual New York City fanfest Night of a Thousand Stevies celebrated its 21st year with a video message from Nicks herself.

Stevie may be arriving late to her gay fan base, but the woman isn’t stupid – rock goddesses of a certain age can rely on their queer stalwarts long after all the fickle straight dudes have gone away.

http://www.fwweekly.com/index.php?option=com_wordpress&p=11736&Itemid=482

[louielouie2000]

Geez, that way of looking at the world is annoyingly narrow minded. :rolleyes: Being a gay man myself, gay nazi's like these really irk me. And I take issue with his saying her straight male fanbase has left her. He's obviously never been to a live show- even now, you'll always be in the presence of extremely drunk guys who repeatedly yell that they'd "do her" (or some variation thereof).

[tabruns]

Meh, I didn't anything particularly wrong with it. He's a Nicks fan and proud of it, so good for him.

[louielouie2000]

Meh, I didn't anything particularly wrong with it. He's a Nicks fan and proud of it, so good for him.

There's no doubt Stevie has a very large & faithful gay fanbase- the Ledge shows plenty of evidence of that, as do the audiences at her live shows. But to say they're the only ones who are keeping her career propped up is blatantly incorrect. :)

[mylittledemon]

haha it was a snarky article in some ways wasnt it? :laugh:

[markolas]

I didn't see anything snarky or narrow-minded about it at all. I took the comment about gay fans supporting her after the straight ones lost interest as hyperbole. Where are you getting this "gay nazi" stuff from? :shrug:

[louielouie2000]

I didn't see anything snarky or narrow-minded about it at all. I took the comment about gay fans supporting her after the straight ones lost interest as hyperbole. Where are you getting this "gay nazi" stuff from? :shrug:

I guess the whole gay nazism in my eyes is the blatant overstating of everything gay that some folks never seem to calm down from after they come out. Yes, it's great to be empowered and to realize the buying power & significance of the "gay dollar" and what avid gay fanbases can do for certain celebs. Many veteran women such as Bette Midler, Cher, and others most certainly owe their continued staying power to their very vocal and sharply focused gay fans. However, unlike those women, Stevie isn't solely a gay icon at all. There's plenty of evidence to the contrary at her shows. Yes, there are no shortage of LGBT folks there, but there's also plenty of straight men and women as well. Stevie's audiences with & without Fleetwood are really quite a variety pack of ages, genders, sexualities, etc.

I guess mainly I just didn't like the tone of this article. It seems to suggest that since the author is gay, he has some sort of supernatural advantage of taste & loyalty that other folks do not. I think that's silly. We're all just people regardless of the cards we're dealt in regards to gender, ethnicity, sexuality, etc. I just don't think this kind of rhetoric is a good thing at all. Broad sweeping generalities & overreaching statements like this writer made just irk the ever living crap out of me. I know you'll undoubtedly disagree with absolutely everything I've written here, and that's okay too... we just view the world from different lenses. :)

[HejiraNYC]

I guess the whole gay nazism in my eyes is the blatant overstating of everything gay that some folks never seem to calm down from after they come out. Yes, it's great to be empowered and to realize the buying power & significance of the "gay dollar" and what avid gay fanbases can do for certain celebs. Many veteran women such as Bette Midler, Cher, and others most certainly owe their continued staying power to their very vocal and sharply focused gay fans. However, unlike those women, Stevie isn't solely a gay icon at all. There's plenty of evidence to the contrary at her shows. Yes, there are no shortage of LGBT folks there, but there's also plenty of straight men and women as well. Stevie's audiences with & without Fleetwood are really quite a variety pack of ages, genders, sexualities, etc.

I guess mainly I just didn't like the tone of this article. It seems to suggest that since the author is gay, he has some sort of supernatural advantage of taste & loyalty that other folks do not. I think that's silly. We're all just people regardless of the cards we're dealt in regards to gender, ethnicity, sexuality, etc. I just don't think this kind of rhetoric is a good thing at all. Broad sweeping generalities & overreaching statements like this writer made just irk the ever living crap out of me. I know you'll undoubtedly disagree with absolutely everything I've written here, and that's okay too... we just view the world from different lenses. :)

I am not sure how/why you viewed this article as being critical of Stevie or assigning labels to her fanbase. After all, the writer is writing for a gay-oriented publication, so his perspective is going to have a decided gay slant to it. There is nothing in his write-up that says that Stevie is solely a gay icon. Rather, if anything, he is trying to make the case that, in addition to being a mainstream rock star, she also has an under-acknowledged GLBT following. That is absolutely true. But in a way, I can appreciate someone who is not condescending or judgmental about the various demographics that comprise her following. She is just above all that pettiness, I suppose.

[fringed n fab]

There's no doubt Stevie has a very large & faithful gay fanbase- the Ledge shows plenty of evidence of that, as do the audiences at her live shows. But to say they're the only ones who are keeping her career propped up is blatantly incorrect. :)

I have to agree.

[Jondalar]

I have a different take on this. Stevie is an outsider in a lot of ways. Infact, you could say that she is the Queen of the Outsiders. She was admired and made fun of in the 70s in 80s for doing her own thing. People didn't know what to make of her. Often times, people don't know what to make of gay people. Stevie didn't budge. She is who she is and she never changes and looks what has happened. She is clearly a legend and she made it by sticking to her own guns and by being different.

I also think that Stevie is the anti-madonna or anti-lady Ga Ga. She never pandored to gay people. She never shoved anything down people's throat or tried to be an icon. She led by example. That is something to be admired.

Let's face it. Alot of gay people are hurt and feel alienated. Society is cruel. Stevie's music provides a great excape into la la land and she also has songs such HAS ANYONE EVER WRITTEN, LANDSLIDE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST... that are very comforting and satisfies an emotional need. Her dreamy songs provide a great escape. To me, she feels like a pide-piper trying to bringing comfort to outkast and those in emotional pain.

[fringed n fab]

I guess the whole gay nazism in my eyes is the blatant overstating of everything gay that some folks never seem to calm down from after they come out. Yes, it's great to be empowered and to realize the buying power & significance of the "gay dollar" and what avid gay fanbases can do for certain celebs. Many veteran women such as Bette Midler, Cher, and others most certainly owe their continued staying power to their very vocal and sharply focused gay fans. However, unlike those women, Stevie isn't solely a gay icon at all. There's plenty of evidence to the contrary at her shows. Yes, there are no shortage of LGBT folks there, but there's also plenty of straight men and women as well. Stevie's audiences with & without Fleetwood are really quite a variety pack of ages, genders, sexualities, etc.

I guess mainly I just didn't like the tone of this article. It seems to suggest that since the author is gay, he has some sort of supernatural advantage of taste & loyalty that other folks do not. I think that's silly. We're all just people regardless of the cards we're dealt in regards to gender, ethnicity, sexuality, etc. I just don't think this kind of rhetoric is a good thing at all. Broad sweeping generalities & overreaching statements like this writer made just irk the ever living crap out of me. I know you'll undoubtedly disagree with absolutely everything I've written here, and that's okay too... we just view the world from different lenses. :)

I took the article the same way Louie. Sadly it is true though that some gay people are like this. You're just speaking truth. :nod:

[louielouie2000]

I am not sure how/why you viewed this article as being critical of Stevie or assigning labels to her fanbase. After all, the writer is writing for a gay-oriented publication, so his perspective is going to have a decided gay slant to it. There is nothing in his write-up that says that Stevie is solely a gay icon. Rather, if anything, he is trying to make the case that, in addition to being a mainstream rock star, she also has an under-acknowledged GLBT following. That is absolutely true. But in a way, I can appreciate someone who is not condescending or judgmental about the various demographics that comprise her following. She is just above all that pettiness, I suppose.

Oh no, I didn't mean the writer was disparaging of Stevie at all. Quite the contrary, he's extraordinarily complimentary of her. :)

I guess this is why I don't read gay publications- they're just drivel to me. Suggesting gay folk who don't like Stevie are uninteresting, and that all of Stevie's straight male fans are fickle & have abandoned her? Come on... these are just silly summations.

I do however agree with the author on some levels, though. Stevie is definitely a better song writer than she's ever received critical support for. And like the author also said, she's also recorded her fair share of stinkers as well. :)

[brocadelady]

Stevie is relatively enigmatic.
Her lyrics tend towards ambiguity as do her answers in interviews.
Any person can easily gravitate towards her and her music for this reason.
She can appeal to anyone willing to really listen to her music.
I also think this is why nearly every fan and every chiffon-headed individual can come across like a jingo or rather bellicose in expressing their opinions on Stevie.
Her ambiguity and transient ethereal style allows the music to speak to each individual in a spectrum of the unique.

[ButterCookie]

I am gay and what is this


I guess mainly I just didn't like the tone of this article. It seems to suggest that since the author is gay, he has some sort of supernatural advantage of taste & loyalty that other folks do not. I think that's silly. We're all just people regardless of the cards we're dealt in regards to gender, ethnicity, sexuality, etc. I just don't think this kind of rhetoric is a good thing at all. Broad sweeping generalities & overreaching statements like this writer made just irk the ever living crap out of me. I know you'll undoubtedly disagree with absolutely everything I've written here, and that's okay too... we just view the world from different lenses. :)

Thankyou!! My sentiments exactly.

[michelej1]

Many veteran women such as Bette Midler, Cher, and others most certainly owe their continued staying power to their very vocal and sharply focused gay fans. However, unlike those women, Stevie isn't solely a gay icon at all.

Is Cher solely a gay icon?

Michele

[HejiraNYC]

Is Cher solely a gay icon?

Michele

Gays... suburban soccer moms... all the same, Rhiannon.

[chiliD]

Jeez...nobody's brought up Liza Minnelli yet. Oh well, carry on.


:lol:

[mikephxaz]

I have a different take on this. Stevie is an outsider in a lot of ways. Infact, you could say that she is the Queen of the Outsiders. She was admired and made fun of in the 70s in 80s for doing her own thing. People didn't know what to make of her. Often times, people don't know what to make of gay people. Stevie didn't budge. She is who she is and she never changes and looks what has happened. She is clearly a legend and she made it by sticking to her own guns and by being different.

I also think that Stevie is the anti-madonna or anti-lady Ga Ga. She never pandored to gay people. She never shoved anything down people's throat or tried to be an icon. She led by example. That is something to be admired.

Let's face it. Alot of gay people are hurt and feel alienated. Society is cruel. Stevie's music provides a great excape into la la land and she also has songs such HAS ANYONE EVER WRITTEN, LANDSLIDE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST... that are very comforting and satisfies an emotional need. Her dreamy songs provide a great escape. To me, she feels like a pide-piper trying to bringing comfort to outkast and those in emotional pain.

I agree...Stevie danced to her own tune then and now...like Cher, Midler, Madonna and other gay icons, Stevie created her own image....it also doesnt hurt that Stevie's music is narcissitic and depressing....lol..gay men are suckers for sad songs about love lost and the totured women who feel their own pain and make a career telling others about it...

[Jondalar]

I agree...Stevie danced to her own tune then and now...like Cher, Midler, Madonna and other gay icons, Stevie created her own image....it also doesnt hurt that Stevie's music is narcissitic and depressing....lol..gay men are suckers for sad songs about love lost and the totured women who feel their own pain and make a career telling others about it...

I don't agree with this wholeheartedly. I see Stevie as an alternative to Cher, Bette Midler, Madonna and Lady Ga Ga. Stevie never pandored to gay people. I always fealt that the others used gay people to further their careers. Not her.

I don't see her music as depressing. I see it as escapism.

[tabruns]

Well heck Stevie is enough of a gay icon that the director who made "Another Gay Movie" had previously made the "Edge of Seventeen" AND "Gypsy 83" movies....so she's been a gay icon going way back.

"Gypsy" in particular seems to speak to a lot of gay men.

I don't know Louie, I read the article and also being a gay man I just didn't see anything particularly wrong with it. :shrug:

[Moz]

I can confirm that there is a very, very small percentage of lesbians who love Stevie as much as some gay men do. :laugh:

[Jondalar]

I can confirm that there is a very, very small percentage of lesbians who love Stevie as much as some gay men do. :laugh:

Obviously, she has been referenced by Rosie and Ellen several times.

[ahafan02]

I don't agree with this wholeheartedly. I see Stevie as an alternative to Cher, Bette Midler, Madonna and Lady Ga Ga. Stevie never pandored to gay people. I always fealt that the others used gay people to further their careers. Not her.

I don't see her music as depressing. I see it as escapism.

I don't think Madonna ever used gay people...her brother is gay and was her best friend...she had other gay friends as well....she was one of the first celebrities to support gays and AIDS research back in the 80's when most celebrities wouldn't go near it....as for the others...Bette Midler's career pretty much started by singing in gay bathhouses and I think she still feels gratitude for that.

[tabruns]

I don't think Madonna ever used gay people...her brother is gay and was her best friend...she had other gay friends as well....she was one of the first celebrities to support gays and AIDS research back in the 80's when most celebrities wouldn't go near it....as for the others...Bette Midler's career pretty much started by singing in gay bathhouses and I think she still feels gratitude for that.

I agree. I don't really think any of the listed people have necessarily pandered to gay people. I think it's largely been very sincere.

[PenguinHead]

Stevie is relatively enigmatic.
Her lyrics tend towards ambiguity as do her answers in interviews.
Any person can easily gravitate towards her and her music for this reason.
She can appeal to anyone willing to really listen to her music.
I also think this is why nearly every fan and every chiffon-headed individual can come across like a jingo or rather bellicose in expressing their opinions on Stevie.
Her ambiguity and transient ethereal style allows the music to speak to each individual in a spectrum of the unique.

:thumbsup: I like your perspective as well as your articulate style of expression (writing).