Posted on 06/22/2003 2:19:34 PM PDT by El Conservador
23 June 2003 By MICHELLE QUIRKE
A Ms Gay Downunder winner was booed on stage at the weekend because she says she did not look gay enough.
Bindie Redden, 33, dressed as Barbie and later as a Playboy bunny with long blonde hair, lipstick and a fluffy tail, said she entered the competition at Wellington's [New Zealand] gay nightclub Pound to make a point.
"I don't look like the average lesbian. They look like boys, they don't shave under their arms, they have short hair. They just automatically assume that I'm straight."
Ms Redden said her supporters told her there was booing and calls for her to "get straight", though she did not hear it onstage.
"I really did not think I was going to win. . .. It's very political. For someone who looks like me to win, it's a big thing."
Drag queen Pollyfilla, one of three competition judges, said she was disappointed with the negative reaction from some women in the crowd.
"It's just a bit of fun. . .. The queer community as a group gets discriminated against so much, we don't need it from within our own ranks."
Competition organiser Cathie Sheat said she assumed the booing was an attempt by fans of other contestants to counter the large group of "Vote for Barbie" banner-bearers.
None of the seven other competitors had complained about the judges' choice.
"The woman who won, it could be interpreted that she was very straight looking, but I'd hate to think that the gay community was making rules about how we're supposed to look or be. If someone wants to enter the Ms Gay Downunder competition, that's gay enough for me, and she is queer. It's a matter of what the judges thought on the night," Ms Sheat said.
The judges made their choice based on categories including audience appeal, personality, stage presence, talent and show concept, casual and formal wear, and a question and answer section.
The marks were very close.
"We're happy with the process of how a winner was chosen," Ms Sheat said.
Now I'm not a lawyer, but somehow I'm pretty sure content-based suppression of speech is pretty common in just about all High Schools.
"That is not the most important issue here but if a jury decides to contribute to Natalie's college fund, all the better," Perez said.
Oh, no, of course money is never the point. No, no, of course not. And where would the money come from? The jury is passing the hat? What? No? Tax-payer money? Yeah, that's right, you stinky cows, belly up to the trough and get "yours." I hope Natalie grows up, goes to the Palestinian territories, and tries saving a terrorist's house from a bulldozer. I'm sorry, but I hate this self-satisfied twit already.
Is that true? Sure explains a lot...
I guess she should have just taken the shirt off. Right?
Then she could have returned to class.
The boys AND the girls could have gotten an eyefull.
Product of indoctrination.
Exactly! Again it's about what they do not what they are. You don't see normal kids with shirts that say Heterosexual YOU!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.