Our Lady of Gagalupe

I've been fascinated by Lady GaGa since I met her last fall. Before anyone knew who she was, before four (soon to be five) hit singles and a platinum-selling record, and far before any insinuations that she was quickly becoming the next big "gay icon". Yet here she is only a year later, the tiny woman who signed my CD and called me fierce, establishing herself as a household name. She's become the obsession or arch-nemesis of every gay male on the planet. I can't say that I'm surprised. I may not be an expert on the gay community, but I've lived as a part of it long enough to recognize the reasons why Lady GaGa polarizes its members so distinctly. And I think it's mainly because she really has become a representation of what it means to be stereotypically gay.

I would argue that most members of gay community are viewed negatively by peers (in terms of character traits, not in the sense that being gay could be seen as morally wrong) mainly for their perceived reckless way of living. Extreme alcohol and drug abuse. Overt sexual promiscuity. The lust for popularity and acceptance. And perhaps on the most superficial of levels, these are the exact topics of most of Lady GaGa's songs. "Poker Face" flaunts the experimentation of bisexuality, "Just Dance" details the excitement of inebriation, "The Fame" asserts that being liked by the masses is the most important thing in the world, and "Boys Boys Boys" is about just that. Couple the somewhat relatable subject matter with a decent beat and a catchy hook and you've caught a good number of the gays based solely on the music. But her influence goes deeper than that. I stand by what I said in class about the gay community both being very aware of its "otherness", as well as being very accepting of the "other" located within separate social groups. Obviously Lady GaGa does not fit into the typical category of "woman". She's powerful. She's exciting. And most of all, she's successful by her own making. She is different. So in a way, it would only make sense for the average gay man to be attracted to that. But this is where the separation occurs between the gays that love her and the gays that hate her.

The hatred for GaGa has gone past simple statements that her music isn't pleasing to the ear. Many have claimed that Lady GaGa's schtick is tired. That she brings nothing new to the table, that her eccentricities are trite, that she's pandering to our community with nothing to show for it, that she's an attention whore that will never be satisfied with the following she's already gained. But I think the real root of these claims is simple: gay non-fans really hate that the rest of their community idolizes her persona, not that she's a bad musician. A chasm is formed between those who accept the person she is, her indulgence in popular culture and obvious gay-related character flaws, and those who see her as a setback for the way their community is perceived. So this ends up as circular discussion of both GaGa and the gays. While Lady GaGa herself epitomizes what it means to be the stereotypical gay man (flamboyance, excess, overindulgence, promiscuity, difference), just being a fan of hers creates the same negative connotations. Now liking Lady GaGa has become just as stereotypically gay as a rainbow flag or an interest in Cher. She is becoming the next "gay icon" simply because she has created herself to be intertwined with the essence of the culture.

I have yet to come to a conclusion on my feelings towards this subject. While Lady GaGa may represent most of the negative characteristics of a stereotypical gay man, I myself do not feel adversely effected in my community's relationship to her. I'll continue to enjoy the music and try to stay out of the social debate. Her new CD just leaked anyway.