Gaga nixxes deal with Target over recent donations to anti-gay political groups

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

You probably have, but read up about LGBT buying power sometime... we're a formidable group of people:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_money

LGBT folks have a lot of cash in their pockets and spend it on things like entertainment. Obviously this stems from the fact most of us do not have children to support.

I used to feel the same way about Kathy Griffin, by the way. I felt she was simply pandering to gays to get her foot into the door of fame. After all, as Samantha said on Sex And The City: "First the gays, then the girls, and then the industry!" There just seems to be such a fine line between celebs smartly using LGBT folks as stepping stones vs truly being cheerleaders for them. I respect Kathy now... perhaps I will Gaga in the future. I am always way, WAY behind the curve!

Ok. Kathy Griffin is another matter. She is mean. And does anyone actually think that Kathy cares about anyone other than herself.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I sooo don't drink beer or watch football . But that's not what I meant, anyway. I just meant that my life is pretty boring and average outside of the sex of the person I'm dating. I don't spend my life in nightclubs, I don't do drugs, I don't have promiscuous sex, I don't dress up in pink boas in parades... I just pay my bills and live life like everyone else. I certainly don't hide who I am (everyone who's ever known me knows I'm gay), and I don't change who I am around anyone.

I guess people like Gaga and Adam Lambert just bug the crap outta me because they seem to be the only examples of what gay icons are like. They just seem to be crazily heightened stereotypes. Meanwhile, I have gay friends who build cars, who are dentists, realtors, attorneys, teachers, bankers, etc. Gay people aren't just glitter and drama... they're as diverse as any other group. THAT'S all I was getting at.

Mr. Moderator, can you look into, adding a "like button", on the Ledge?
Because the above post, needs one.

[daniellaaarisen]

I stand by what I said-- she was iconized by this demographic before she outwardly spoke about the said demographic. She'd still be a "gay icon" (and the biggest pop star in the world) if she didn't support their rights in the blatant way that she does. I think she's honestly using her fame to help a cause she's passionate about.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

You probably have, but read up about LGBT buying power sometime... we're a formidable group of people:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_money

LGBT folks have a lot of cash in their pockets and spend it on things like entertainment. Obviously this stems from the fact most of us do not have children to support.

Yes, yes. When I moved to Denver in 1992, the state was in the midst of a very public, very hateful campaign to strip civil rights from gays (literally - as in - I'm evicting you because you are gay. I'm refusing to sell you a car because you're gay. I'm not putting out the fire burning down your house because you are gay.) This very awful ballot measure was passed 51/49% - Amendment 2. It was declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court, and is barely remembered these days.

The single biggest marketing ploy that was used to get people to vote for this was that gays had pockets full of cash and that we didn't need 'special rights'.

Yes, many gays have a lot of disposable income - but I still think it's reaching pretty far to believe Gaga set out to get rich off gay people because we will stereotypically like her flashy clothing and dance beats.

[Christopher]

Let's just all hope now Stevie won't do some "Target Exclusive" with In Your Dreams. Can you imagine the conflict that her gay following would have after this debacle....

I'd probably still go there & buy it if it had a exclusive track. Art over Commerce or Commerce over Art...wait I'm confused now...who's side am I on

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Let's just all hope now Stevie won't do some "Target Exclusive" with In Your Dreams. Can you imagine the conflict that her gay following would have after this debacle....

I'd probably still go there & buy it if it had a exclusive track. Art over Commerce or Commerce over Art...wait I'm confused now...who's side am I on

I buy all of my CDs at a local Denver indie store ( Twist & Shout - I'm guessing you're familiar with it). A Target exclusive track would be unfortunate, for me individually.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

I buy all of my CDs at a local Denver indie store ( Twist & Shout - I'm guessing you're familiar with it). A Target exclusive track would be unfortunate, for me individually.

Love Twist and Shout! I find myself there and The Tattered Cover a lot. I live near by.
I always prefer to give the locals my biz before going to the big chains. BUT if Stevie had a Target exclusive, I'd go down and buy that sucker in a split second and put my politics "on the mantle" for the occasion. Lets just hope she sells her "deluxe" IYD CD through some other outlet. Though you must admit that a exclusive through Target would be great exposure for her. Adele did it, and Ricky Martin had no problem with Targets politics apparently.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Love Twist and Shout! I find myself there and The Tattered Cover a lot. I live near by.
I always prefer to give the locals my biz before going to the big chains. BUT if Stevie had a Target exclusive, I'd go down and buy that sucker in a split second and put my politics "on the mantle" for the occasion. Lets just hope she sells her "deluxe" IYD CD through some other outlet. Though you must admit that a exclusive through Target would be great exposure for her. Adele did it, and Ricky Martin had no problem with Targets politics apparently.

Straying off topic, here, but is there a deluxe version planned? I'm seriously hoping so!

[fringed n fab]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I sooo don't drink beer or watch football . But that's not what I meant, anyway. I just meant that my life is pretty boring and average outside of the sex of the person I'm dating. I don't spend my life in nightclubs, I don't do drugs, I don't have promiscuous sex, I don't dress up in pink boas in parades... I just pay my bills and live life like everyone else. I certainly don't hide who I am (everyone who's ever known me knows I'm gay), and I don't change who I am around anyone. I guess people like Gaga and Adam Lambert just bug the crap outta me because they seem to be the only examples of what gay icons are like. They just seem to be crazily heightened stereotypes. Meanwhile, I have gay friends who build cars, who are dentists, realtors, attorneys, teachers, bankers, etc. Gay people aren't just glitter and drama... they're as diverse as any other group. THAT'S all I was getting at.

You sound like me and I know what you're getting at. That not all gays lead colorful outrageous lives like some personas have you believe.

[fringed n fab]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

Ok. Kathy Griffin is another matter. She is mean. And does anyone actually think that Kathy cares about anyone other than herself.

I still can't believe she spent 30,000 on a custom sofa.

[markolas]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I sooo don't drink beer or watch football . But that's not what I meant, anyway. I just meant that my life is pretty boring and average outside of the sex of the person I'm dating. I don't spend my life in nightclubs, I don't do drugs, I don't have promiscuous sex, I don't dress up in pink boas in parades... I just pay my bills and live life like everyone else. I certainly don't hide who I am (everyone who's ever known me knows I'm gay), and I don't change who I am around anyone.

I guess people like Gaga and Adam Lambert just bug the crap outta me because they seem to be the only examples of what gay icons are like. They just seem to be crazily heightened stereotypes. Meanwhile, I have gay friends who build cars, who are dentists, realtors, attorneys, teachers, bankers, etc. Gay people aren't just glitter and drama... they're as diverse as any other group. THAT'S all I was getting at.

I barely know who Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga are, so I'm not so much talking about them...

Yes, gay folk are diverse, but I reject the idea that we're "just like straight people except for one thing" which is sort of the vibe I got from your post, but I could just be projecting, since my patience for that kind of thinking has worn extremely thin.

I don't wear pink boas either, but I'm not like any straight person I know, and wouldn't want to be.

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by markolas

I barely know who Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga are, so I'm not so much talking about them...

Yes, gay folk are diverse, but I reject the idea that we're "just like straight people except for one thing" which is sort of the vibe I got from your post, but I could just be projecting, since my patience for that kind of thinking has worn extremely thin.

I don't wear pink boas either, but I'm not like any straight person I know, and wouldn't want to be.

So you really think gays are fundamentally different as humans? I'd have to guess you believe Muslims are fundamentally different from Christians, too? Blacks from whites?

My only point from my post was this: People are people are people. Regardless of sexuality, religion, ethnicity, race, etc we all strive for the same core things: happiness, love, prosperity, etc. Regardless of whatever box people try to plop others into so they can be labeled and differentiated, we are all more similar than not when it comes down to it. That's all I'm getting at. And that's why I have a problem being associated with the likes of Gaga, Lambert, etc. Because that paints gays as this freakish sub population... which we really aren't. We're just people, like everyone else.

[fringed n fab]

I don't see us any different than straight people. People are people as Louie said.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

My only point from my post was this: People are people are people. Regardless of sexuality, religion, ethnicity, race, etc we all strive for the same core things: happiness, love, prosperity, etc. Regardless of whatever box people try to plop others into so they can be labeled and differentiated, we are all more similar than not when it comes down to it. That's all I'm getting at. And that's why I have a problem being associated with the likes of Gaga, Lambert, etc. Because that paints gays as this freakish sub population... which we really aren't. We're just people, like everyone else.

I don't think that's fair to say. There are many 'freaky' performers on the heterosexual side of things. Alice Cooper, Ozzy Ozbourne, Insane Clown Posse & Marilyn Manson just to name a few. The outrageousness of Gaga and Lambert has absolutely nothing to do with sexuality, and everything to do with stage drama to attract attention as a performer and stand out from the crowd. And Lady Gaga is no more gay than Madonna. Every artist creates a stage persona that hides or exaggerates their normal self.

[markolas]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

So you really think gays are fundamentally different as humans?

People are people are people. Regardless of sexuality, religion, ethnicity, race, etc we all strive for the same core things: happiness, love, prosperity, etc.

But different groups of people define those things very differently. Generally speaking, gay people have a point-of-view that is very different from that of straight people, and it colors damn near everything about us. And it's the same with blacks/whites, Muslims/Christians, etc.

I would not be the same person at all if I were straight. I would likely have had no reason to question the things that I questioned, and would've made very different choices because of that.

I might not be a flaming queen, but I would feel immeasurably more comfortable around a group of them than I would around a group of straight guys who might look, act, and talk more like I do.