08/24/2005
FLASH: Early Evidence of "Gay Vague" Discovered
Although David Colman recently outed "Gay Vague" in the NYT as a singularly "now" phenomenon, I'll go so far as to posit that the trend was ripe for investigation way back in those Reagan 80's, citing this photograph of SCOTUS nominee John Roberts and friends on Martha's Vineyard as an example.
The photograph recently appeared in another NYT article about Roberts' time at Harvard and was immediately picked up by blog Underneath Their Robes in its continuing quest for "John Roberts is Gay" evidence.
While I see no hard, cold information to support any argument that Roberts might be gay (aside from perhaps a compelling characterization of Peppermint Patty in his all-male high school production) there is evidence in this photo that the "Gay Vague" phenomenon was already incubating during Roberts' lobster boil days. (click for larger version)
John Roberts and his friends Don Scherer and Richard Lazarus display several attributes that might be characterized as gay vague:
Unafraid to display physical closeness to other males.
Meticulously groomed facial hair (Magnum, is that you?).
Attention to the season's latest cable knit sweater fashion.
Paper plates? Phooey! Here, use my Native American-themed crockery.
Real men don't eat quiche (or exhibit (gasp) pride in baking).
To me, this looks about as "we are family" as it gets.
Posted 3:00 PM EST by Andy Towle in Current Affairs, Fashion Men, Photography | Permalink
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I saw that pic, and I thought the exact same thing! Looks very "family" to me!
Posted by: Roy | Aug 24, 2005 3:06:28 PM
Pish Posh it was the look then.
Posted by: Donald | Aug 24, 2005 3:21:04 PM
I saw this picture in Time magazine- it's worth a thousand words as they say...My initial suspicion about John Roberts when I saw him first was immediately confirmed. The more I read about him the more I believe that he's a closet case..
Posted by: Igor | Aug 24, 2005 4:54:52 PM
For me the pics of his beard/wife do it for me. She is just trying to hard to be "Jackie" and not pulling it off. Nobody dresses their kids like that anymore!
Posted by: Alfredo | Aug 24, 2005 5:13:01 PM
I kind of think that the guy in the middle showers everything around him with fountains of gay and Roberts is just damp from the proximity.
Posted by: Michael | Aug 24, 2005 5:28:30 PM
Michael is right on!
Posted by: Billy | Aug 24, 2005 6:49:57 PM
Roberts is a hottie!
Posted by: Miguel Cabo | Aug 24, 2005 7:38:17 PM
They are all hot. I hope that had fun whatever they did.
Posted by: dan | Aug 24, 2005 8:52:03 PM
Bah, is there any pseudo-trend that the pathetic NYT won't publicize these days? If it weren't for the Sunday Arts & Leisure section--aka the Gay Sports Pages--that paper would only be good for use as cat box liner.
Posted by: Jim | Aug 24, 2005 9:46:42 PM
Gay,gay, gay.
Posted by: rudysdad | Oct 8, 2005 11:01:47 AM