02/27/2008
Pink Flight: Gayest Airline Flight Ever Takes Off
Right now, the Pink Flight, the gayest flight ever, is winging its way to Sydney with Kathy Griffin and a gaggle of gays aboard. When they promised gay, they weren't kidding.
I really hope they removed that boa and those eyelashes off the plane before take-off — wouldn't be good news if those got sucked into an engine.
There's a brief news report AFTER THE JUMP from CBS 5 in San Francisco showing some of the pre-flight preparations that went on, including the arrival of the flight crew which, according to our sources, are named Buckwheat, Miss Ribena, Miss Tess Tickle, and Miss Venus Mantrapp.
If my calculations are correct, as I write this the plane has about another nine and a half hours of gay in the air.
Check out the clip AFTER THE JUMP (sorry about the quality)...
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Posted 8:10 AM EST by Andy in Kathy Griffin, News, San Francisco, Sydney, Transportation, Travel | Permalink
Comments
Am I alone in thinking that this is pathetic and embarrassing?
Posted by: holdensf | Feb 27, 2008 8:50:42 AM
No, you are not alone Holdensf, this is a throwback to an earlier time, a time it seems many gay men want to see returned.
It does help the media though, helps spot which one of the us has the "gay".
Blah! Bet they show "Sex and the City" reruns...or "Birdcage"...or "Hairspray"...or "QAF"..or....
Posted by: protogenes | Feb 27, 2008 9:15:02 AM
Oh, that's funny!
I love that!!
Posted by: Allen | Feb 27, 2008 9:18:21 AM
You're right Holdensf, it is embarrasing. As a gay man I'm sick of being equalted with everything flamboyant, effeminate, campy and transgendered. Why can't we have an airline whose flight attendants look like Francois Sagat or Damien Crosse?
Posted by: BlueBlur | Feb 27, 2008 9:51:00 AM
Oh who cares. I'm not a flaming effeminate tranny, but I have no problem with those who are. Let 'em have their pink flight if they want it.
Posted by: Wes | Feb 27, 2008 10:19:59 AM
Can you imagine how shrill everyone on-board must be? Oh, God.
Call me self-loathing, but that plane is like a gay cruise magnified by 100. Not a good thing.
I hate being ghetto-ized.
Posted by: jeff | Feb 27, 2008 10:27:42 AM
Ah, come on, fellas. A little eyeliner would go well with your developed, macho, gay biceps. But get rid of the mustaches and underarm hair, darlins'.
Take off, Miss Thaing!
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Feb 27, 2008 10:29:49 AM
I came here for the self-loathing and community-criticizing ("Get your hands off me, you damned flaming queen!" a la Chuck Heston), and I was not disappointed.
Please, carry on -- it's a lot easier for our opponents to hurt us if we're already battered, bleeding, and too weak to fight back because we're sparring over perceptions, levels of butchness/femmeness, and what is the "correct" way to be gay.
Posted by: tjc | Feb 27, 2008 10:32:41 AM
Agreed TJC.
And everyone else on the string needs to lighten up. The people on the flight - from crew to passengers to the entertainment - will be having a great time and their good time doesn't affect me or my status as a non-fem gay in the slightest.
Gay is colour and they chose pink. Deal with it.
Posted by: Murray Nathan | Feb 27, 2008 10:42:06 AM
What's the harm? People who think we're all flamboyant drag queens will think that no matter what we do, and what's wrong with a flamboyant drag queen anyway? If that's what brings you joy, then it's fine with me. And if being a possibly steroided, certainly muscled, head-tattoo wearing, hairy chest having, butch-talking porno god (like Francois Sagat) makes you happy and content, then that's cool too.
We get so wrapped up in how we can contort out social presentations to change the perceptions of straight people, and I'm tired of it. I find it's much better to be 100% authentically me, no matter what that is at the time, and let the chips fall where they may.
Posted by: The Milkman | Feb 27, 2008 11:00:48 AM
So, as background, growing up I used to be horrified by drag queens, the more femme of our tribe, and all your standard stereotypes. Basically, your standard Commercial Street crowd in P-Town during the summer.
I didn't identify with them -- I wasn't like _that_! I was "normal." Why to they have to carry on like that? They're giving the rest of us a bad name.
A few years later, AFTER I grew up, I had a little epiphany. Those "stereotypes" had bigger balls than I did because it took balls the size of Texas to do EXACTLY WHAT SOCIETY SAYS NOT TO. To be different. To be totally true to yourself.
I also realized that those "damn flaming queens" pave the way EACH AND EVERY DAY for those of us who AREN'T flaming, who CAN or DO "pass" or who simply don't "look" gay to other restaurant patrons, so we can all be _ourselves_.
If it weren't for the drag queens fighting back 37 years ago at Stonewall (throwing their shoes -- and more -- at the cops), we'd still be waiting for the most basic of recognition, and we wouldn't have non-discrimination laws, never mind marriage or civil unions, or hate-crime laws.
And I'll fully admit that sometimes super-queeny behavior makes me uncomfortable. But when I realize it, I try to ask myself _WHY_ do I feel uncomfortable, and work through it to get over it.
Personally, I'm not swishy. But I'm out as all can be -- talk about my husband as much as any other coworker talks about his or her SO; I've fought for marriage rights here in Massachusetts, and I've been active in local politics. I don't hit the gym as often as I should, but I do know how to change my own oil. And I owe all this personal freedom to the openly fabulous.
So to all you folks who put down this flight, who complained about "Jimmy Kimmel Fucking Ben Affleck" perpetuating stereotypes, and who didn't like the Jack character on Will & Grace, ask yourselves:
Have I thanked a queen today?
Posted by: tjc | Feb 27, 2008 11:03:10 AM
Flaming drag queens are stereotypes. Stereotypes, while entertaining, do nothing to end bigotry. It's the same thing as performers who used to wear "black face" used to try to represent black people. It's not funny and it perpetuates stereotypes. This kind of thing does nothing to further our efforts to achieve equality in this country. While the teevee crews are filming this spectacle, they ignore the gay families who can't get health insurance, the lesbian who can't see her dying partner in the hospital or the guy who got gay bashed for no reason other than to glance at another guy. I think instead of calling this the "gayest" flight ever, they should call it the campiest flight ever. Its not about being gay, its about a bunch of drag queens putting on a show. Big difference.
Posted by: Brad | Feb 27, 2008 11:42:37 AM
You're right, we should all be proud of this. Perhaps the next time there's a Million Man March for African-Americans, they can all board a plane done up in blackface, too.
Posted by: Scott | Feb 27, 2008 11:43:50 AM
Thank you, TJC.
Posted by: DwH | Feb 27, 2008 11:44:02 AM
Ack...Brad beat me to it.
Posted by: Scott | Feb 27, 2008 11:45:07 AM
robertwhittington1@yahoo.ca
MR.ROBERT WHITTINGTON
391 KING STREET WEST CHATHAM ONTARIO N7M-1G3
CANADA
LOVE TOO MASTUREBATE With you WANT TOO Worship at your BAREFEET MIKE BRANSON, iAM GAY!
D O B JULY-13-1967
WANT BAREFEET pictures so i can take too BED With me!
yours truly,
MR.ROBERT WHITTINGTON
Posted by: ROBERT WHITTINGTON | Feb 27, 2008 11:47:11 AM
Drag Queens were gay before homosexual men were. History means something to some of us.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Feb 27, 2008 11:50:42 AM
TJC, I concur with just about everything you said but I would like to qualify a couple of exceptions.
First, many of us who aren't drag queens or feminine are also true to ourselves and are just as publicly visible and active for the cause of gay rights and inclusion as any drag queen in a pride parade. A gay person doesn’t have to be effeminate to be true to himself; in fact to some gay men being effeminate would be not at all true to themselves.
And second, I love, love, love my MANY feminine gay male friends and would not change a thing about any of them. They have more balls than all the "straight looking and straight acting" closet boys put together. The media coverage of non gender conforming men is not my issue, I support it. My issue is the media's obsession with gay stereotypes of all kinds. I'm glad the media covers stories like this and pride parades, I just wish that they would be at least equally as interested in producing and airing news stories/movies/TV shows of gay men and lesbians that don't fit stereotypes so that that little kid who doesn’t relate to the stereotypes (like you and like me) would know that there are MANY different kinds of gay people and expressions and that being gay doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to grow up to be a drag queen or leather man. You might just grow up to be a boring, completely un-fabulous, husband and father living in the suburbs (without a lick of decorator, design or fashion sense) with your kids and a dog in a house with a white picket fence (welcome to my world). The thought that this would be the only possible future for them to look forward to would scare the hell out of some gay kids just as the thought that all gay people are flamboyant drag queens scares the hell out of others. That’s why I think it’s important to be more thoughtful in showing all sides.
You're right, we should thank a queen every day for all they have done, before and since Stonewall, to stand up for GLBT rights but we should not feel guilty for wanting and expecting our media to present GLBT people as the vastly diverse expressions we are.
Posted by: Zeke | Feb 27, 2008 11:52:01 AM
Zeke -- I completely agree with your second point (want more diversity of GLBT community in the media).
To your first point (you can be visible and helpful while not being a drag queen but by being yourself), we're in complete agreement -- that's why it's the 2nd to last paragraph of my earlier rant. :-)
Not swishy? Good for you!
Swishy? Good for you!
Posted by: tjc | Feb 27, 2008 12:11:14 PM
I also treasure all members of my gay family, especially those who are true to themselves, be they leather queens (just another form of drag), flamboyant female impersonators, or nine-to-fivers who can "pass"--even if that is not their goal. I am grateful that many of my brethren choose to work hard to make their relationships survive and raise their kids to be respectful and thoughtful adults despite a perverted view of what our gay family is, fostered by the media.
I share Zeke's disdain for the main stream media that continues to paint us all with one brush. In high school I dated a championship boxer who was as homosexual as we come but he could not relate to the images he saw of gay men in the media. He thought one could only be gay if one was flamboyant and he most definitely was not. He too missed the gay-decorator gene.
That was a long time ago but the focus on effeminate dress and behaviour to portray gays in the most negative light that the media can conjure has changed little. The John Amichi's of our world are too few and far between. Our family is diverse and beautiful but that is not what one would glean from the MSM.
Friends and I who attended Pride parades in the late 70s after moving to Manhattan from small towns were astounded by the non-stereotypical gay men who walked down Fifth Avenue arm in arm with the fabulously outrageous drag queens. We would always play a game of "guess who will appear on the nightly news"? Unfortunately, it was usually the stoned out transvestite wearing a mesh tank top with a spider dangling from her "breast," or some variation thereof.
I must admit that I still reflexively cringe when I see flaming behaviour but I remind myself that whomever it is, is just being themselves and that takes a great deal of courage.
Posted by: rudy | Feb 27, 2008 12:24:56 PM
^5 TJC! I agree with you and said so in my post but several parts were deleted. (Really having trouble posting today.)
Posted by: rudy | Feb 27, 2008 12:37:17 PM
Lighten up! Can't you ever just read an article without finding something to bitch about? Every fucking day! I'm over it!
Posted by: MJ | Feb 27, 2008 12:52:15 PM
Gay men not find something to bitch about on a daily basis? That'll be the day...
P.S. I'm TOTES jealous I'm not on that flight right now. It's like "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert 2: Mile High Heels Club". lol
Posted by: Brooks | Feb 27, 2008 1:01:16 PM
Dear ladies with their panties in a bunch. Newsflash, the heteros who already hate you are going to hate you whether or not there is a "pink flight" or not. Might as well have fun in life. those heteros who like and love us will always continue to do so. Quit worrying about what the assholes of the planet are busying themselves with. I wish I was on that plane, it sounds like a total blast...if having fun is what you're into, most of you on this comment page look like you spend your lives sucking up to wrong people for your approval...Jerry Springer needs guests just like you.
Posted by: Haxby | Feb 27, 2008 1:25:31 PM
Hi,
Drag queen from SF here. Too much pink for Nutella's taste - I much prefer the color brown!
All I have to say is, those are some tough girls willing to put on a show for 14 hours on an airplane. I'd probably kick open the hatch and bail out somewhere over the Pacific.
And you gays should lighten up. Try putting on a pair of tasteful pumps the next time you do your vacuuming. I guarantee you'll be hooked...
XOXO.
Posted by: Nutella | Feb 27, 2008 2:28:53 PM
Drag is a HUGE part of the scene in Australia and New Zealand, so it would be weird to NOT have drag queens on the flight--unthinkable, even.
Some of you have a problem with that? Fine. You may want to consider not booking a ticket on next year's flight. But stop trying to ruin the fun of the few hundred folk who obviously felt it would be a good time.
Posted by: Arthur (AmeriNZ) | Feb 27, 2008 2:32:11 PM
Oh don't worry, Arthur, I wouldn't be caught dead at this event. A "Mardi Gras" party on a Saturday? *After* Ash Wednesday? Very tacky. You'd think they could have thought up an original name, instead of using one that's incorrect on all counts. What kind of gay men are they, anwyay?
Posted by: Scott | Feb 27, 2008 4:57:43 PM
Who decided that being butch or non fem was better than being flamboyantly gay? We are all sucking Dick. If your Mama could see you with a cock in your mouth...she wouldn't care how "straight acting" you are...Its 2008 deal.
Posted by: reacenyc | Feb 27, 2008 5:52:45 PM
Am I alone in thinking that this is pathetic and embarrassing?
Posted by: holdensf | Feb 27, 2008 8:50:42 AM
Sadly you clearly are not. When I was younger I was a bit put off by drag queens but then I learned the history of Stone Wall, it took a bunch of drag queens to say enough and fight back. Where were all those butch boys then? Most likely hiding.
Having gone to Mardi twice it is one hell of a party. The people of Sydney were great and the flight from the east coast is a bitch. One nice part was I stayed for three weeks so when we flew back the sweet gay fly boys upgraded all the gays to first class.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Feb 27, 2008 6:47:48 PM
I'm not a fan of men that try to look like women, but men in over the top clothing/makeup etc are funny. A farce.
Having Kathy Griffin on there should be hilarious.
Posted by: Pecos Bill | Feb 27, 2008 11:05:23 PM
Well, Scott, it's been called Mardi Gras for a very long time. I think it was originally held at the "correct" time (since Lent moves), but the Sydney event is always in February, which is one of the best summer months (generally stable weather, warm, but not too warm, cooler nights). The parade is a night-time event, followed by an all night dance party. At one time it was the largest GLBT event in the Southern Hemisphere--don't know if it still is, but it brings in millions of dollars to the economy of Sydney and New South Wales. The whole thing began as a protest when homosexuality was still illegal in that state.
Also, most of the drag queens are of the farce variety (think of "Priscilla"). That's really what I meant is part of the GLBT communities in New Zealand and Australia. Naturally, that's not ALL there is, and every single person reading these comments would find something/someone of interest at Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Not to mention the huge tourist opportunities in both New Zealand and Australia.
Posted by: Arthur (AmeriNZ) | Feb 28, 2008 5:09:34 AM
No Arthur, Lent, and therefore Mardi Gras do not "move". Mardi Gras is always the Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday; which is always 40 days before Easter; which is always the first Sunday after the full moon following the Vernal Equinox. ;p
You are correct that the big gay party in Sydney that is called "Mardi Gras" is always held in February due to the favorable climactic and economic effects. Similarly, there have been proposals made to establish a permanent date for the Mardi Gras celebration in Rio de Janeiro for precisely the same reasons. In contrast, it would be unthinkable to do so in New Orleans, where the celebration is still tied, albeit tenuously, to its Creole Christian roots.
Way too much information but I could not resist because I once one a sizable bet on this point. Most importantly, I hope everyone had a gay old time and wish that I could have joined all y'all this year.
Posted by: rudy | Feb 28, 2008 7:36:00 AM
Hum - interesting comments. I work at Air New Zealand and just want to say that we sure didn't want to offend anyone in our community with this party flight. We celebrate and respect diversity at Air New Zealand Kiwi's have a great sense of fun, and it is sometimes irreverent. But Drag and Pink are in the history of the gay world and the Sydney Mardi Gras is a huge event in our part of the world. So we are delighted we were able to have a flight dedicated to the celebration of this historic Gay and Lesbian event in Australia. Our world is your world.
This was a party flight, not a statement and not to reinforce stereotypes - but just to allow some of our community to have fun together. The media may be promoting the stereotype aspect of the flight, but check out some of the blogs from guys who travelled on the flight for the real insider perspective. Joemygod and Vampirehours have already posted.
Hey - we want to do something similar again, so if you have any suggestions for a fun, gay themed flight drop me a note.
Posted by: Gillian | Feb 28, 2008 3:16:48 PM
oh and here is an email address you can use to contact me.
Posted by: Gillian | Feb 28, 2008 3:20:52 PM
gillianmcl.airnz@gmail.com
Posted by: Air New Zealand LAX office | Feb 28, 2008 3:24:41 PM
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