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Gay Musicians Want to Break Country Music Barrier
Reuters ^ | August 7, 2003

Posted on 08/07/2003 4:45:16 PM PDT by sarcasm

NEW YORK (Reuters) - America's country music scene isn't exactly known for its gay artists, but a colorful pack of wanna-be stars pulled out their best rustic twangs and wailing guitars on Thursday to try to change all that.

Scores of country music hopefuls auditioned in New York for what is being billed as a television show to pick an openly gay country music star from about 50 contestants.

The musicians -- most of whom wore jeans and spit-polished boots -- wailed through Willie Nelson songs, crooned like Lyle Lovett and belted out ballads like Garth Brooks.

Livening up the day was The Dixie Chicks with Dicks -- singing drag queens in frilly petticoats and wigs big enough to make Dolly Parton envious.

Despite the gags and quips, most were serious musicians looking for a break, said Darren McDonnell of Baltimore.

``I hope it's not some kind of a joke. It could open up a lot of doors,'' he said, waiting on line.

``At the same time, it's a risk for everyone here,'' he added, calling the country music industry ``homophobic.''

Mark Taylor, who works in the design industry in Philadelphia but auditioned in cowboy regalia, said appearing on the show could be a bigger risk when it comes to facing his conservative family.

``If I make it onto the show, this will be the most silent Christmas we've ever had,'' he joked.

Producer Larry Dvoskin, who has not found a network to run the show tentatively called ``America Pride,'' declared himself pleased at the quality of talent. Final choices will be made in the coming months, he said.

With the success of gay-themed television shows, this one could be well-timed, said Scott Seomin, entertainment media director for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD, a non-profit media watchdog.

``The music industry with rare exception has been a bastion for homophobia, and the closet is still a place that artists who are gay are told to remain by record label executives, managers and publicity agents,'' he said.

Singer Matt Alber, who traveled across the country from San Francisco to audition, said: ``Country music record companies are scared America won't like a gay artist.

``I think it's ridiculous,'' he said. ``Don't they just want to hear really great songs? I hope this show will show America there's nothing to be afraid of.''


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: amassingwealth; americapride; countrymusic; culturewar; downourthroats; gayelitism; gaymafia; heterophobia; homocontrolfreaks; homosexual; homosexualagenda; kdlang; lavendermafia; music; musicindustry; pc; politicallycorrect; popularmusic; prisoners; protectedclass; queer; quota; setasides; whataboutgoodmusic
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To: Archie Bunker on steroids
So I'm not offended by the fact that someone would say I am gay.... I would never in a million years speak out against any kind of gay or lesbian group."

Well, that's bad enough to count.

101 posted on 08/08/2003 1:02:11 AM PDT by First Amendment
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To: jla
How in the hell are Kenny Chesney's songs gay? Tell me you're only kidding.

I mean "gay" as in "completely wussy".You know, as in "dude, that is soooo gay".

You wouldn't catch David Allen Coe or Johnny Paycheck back in the day singin' a song about going to a bar for a drink but instead settling for a glass of milk and a lecture from a preachy bartender. And if they did, the song would end quite differently, like with some lead in the bartender's butt.

102 posted on 08/08/2003 5:44:40 AM PDT by southern rock
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To: Antoninus
Don't worry. There's no way Kenny is a homo.

Nah, just a wuss!

Although there is this one scene in this one video of his ("Young", I believe)where these three shirtless teenage boys in short shorts are hanging out on a bridge together. That's the kind of scene that makes you go "uhhhhh...?!?"

103 posted on 08/08/2003 5:49:00 AM PDT by southern rock
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To: red-dawg
"From a Jack to a Queen."
104 posted on 08/08/2003 5:56:24 AM PDT by Kevin Curry (Put Justice Janice Rogers Brown on the Supreme Court--NOW)
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From a Jack to a [Queen]

From a jack to a [queen]
of loneliness to a wedding ring
I played an ace and I won the queen
I walked away with your heart . . . .

Oh for just a little while I thought that I might lose the game
Oh but just in time I saw that twinkle in your eyes . . .

(I'll never hear C&W songs quite the same way again.)

105 posted on 08/08/2003 6:18:55 AM PDT by Kevin Curry (Put Justice Janice Rogers Brown on the Supreme Court--NOW)
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Comment #106 Removed by Moderator

To: Tex-Con-Man
Ty Herndon, for those who don't believe the "it was a drug problem" story.

I had heard that he did some sort of nude photos, but didn't know that they were gay. Is that the case? I know it destroyed his career.

107 posted on 08/08/2003 6:25:53 AM PDT by HurkinMcGurkin
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To: sarcasm

108 posted on 08/08/2003 6:29:25 AM PDT by putupon (Send your Credit Card # w/ exp. date to PO Box BR-549 Trailer, AR & good fortune will follow you)
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To: Billthedrill
This just aint gonna happen. The main audience for the modern slop served up as country is moonstruck southern women. They have no use for a gay man. Period.
109 posted on 08/08/2003 6:31:09 AM PDT by oncebitten
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To: southern rock
You wouldn't catch David Allen Coe or Johnny Paycheck back in the day singin' a song about going to a bar for a drink but instead settling for a glass of milk and a lecture from a preachy bartender. And if they did, the song would end quite differently, like with some lead in the bartender's butt.

ROTFLMAO!!

So true. My how c&w music has changed.(And if DAC wrote a song called "The good Stuff", it would probably be about moon shine).

110 posted on 08/08/2003 6:34:23 AM PDT by HurkinMcGurkin
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To: sarcasm
How idiotic! One of the biggest reasons for the popularity of country music is the fact that is fairly clean compared to the crap on MTV.
111 posted on 08/08/2003 6:35:49 AM PDT by far sider
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To: sarcasm
Something tells me that, thankfully, we won't see the winner(s) touring with Charlie Daniels anytime in the near future, or at least until hell freezes over.

Hat-Trick

112 posted on 08/08/2003 6:38:05 AM PDT by Hat-Trick (only criminals, their advocates, and tyrants need fear guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens)
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To: southern rock
LOL! Hilarious, but true.
113 posted on 08/08/2003 6:42:55 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: sarcasm
Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowpies.
114 posted on 08/08/2003 8:22:16 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: cajun-jack
It's been done. Culturcide did a country song before they called it quits: "I Shot My Load On Telephone Road". It told about using the glory holes in a Vietnamese bar out near the airport and the lead singer was a homosexual.
115 posted on 08/08/2003 5:16:22 PM PDT by weegee
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To: Paul Atreides; red-dawg
LOL!
116 posted on 08/08/2003 7:22:32 PM PDT by apackof2
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To: sarcasm
Ladies & Gentlemen, your attention please! Now opening for the Dixie Chix, the newest hot country combo out of Texas, let have a big hand for "Steers & Queers"!

Sorry. I couldn't help myself after running across this thread on a search...

117 posted on 08/29/2003 10:50:32 AM PDT by PsyOp
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