So, did y'all know you're in the "gay mafia?"

[liberalhistorian]

Betcha didn't know that, did you? But a couple of wingnuts insisted on its existence tonight during an unfortunate conversation, so it must be true! And I guess I must be a part of it, too, as a "straight" (I hate that term since it implies something wrong or "crooked" with gays, but that's the term they used) gal who "supports and promotes their agenda." So, can I join the "mafia" now? And do I get some kind of cool initiation rite or something? :rofl: :rofl:

I mean, how dare a minority stand up for its right to be treated equally under the law, in society, in employment and housing, etc. The nerve!! :sarcasm:

Where the FUCK do people come up with this stupid shit anyway, much less believe in it?

[Dramarama]

1. I hear they're taking

a major politician that disagrees with them to Vinnies. *makes the sign of the cross*

[cliffordu]

2. I thought we were supposed to get toasters or something.....

Isn't that what Ellen said??

[imdjh]

3. I thought the Gay Mafia was a specific term having nothing to do with politics. n/t

[bluedawg12]

4. If I recall the term was initially used about Hollywood

and the "gay mafia" I have forgotten the original context and which movie mad them go nuts and start this slur.

It's an old slur, but like most slurs, they never die and usually surface with people who are behind the times with the latest slur.

Here's some info. you might find interesting: :P

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Mafia

>>"The Gay Mafia or Velvet Mafia is a term to describe the amalgamation of gay lobby and rights groups in politics and the media. The "Gay Mafia" and "Velvet Mafia" are typically associated with the upper echelons of the fashion and entertainment industries, and the terms are also used humorously by gay people themselves, some looking to David Geffen as the unofficial head. The term was widely used in the 1980s and 1990s, and could often be seen in the pages of the New York Post. The term was also used by the British newspaper, The Sun, in 1998 in response to what it claimed was an over-representation of gay people in the Labour British Cabinet.

Origin of the term
An early use of the term was when the English critic Kenneth Tynan proposed an article to Playboy editor A.C. Spectorsky in late 1967 on the "Homosexual Mafia" in the arts.<1> Spectorsky declined, although he admitted that "culture hounds were paying homage to faggotismo as they have never done before." Playboy would run a panel on homosexual issues in April 1971.

The term "Velvet Mafia" was first used by author Steven Gaines in an article in the entertainment section of the Sunday New York Daily News in the 1970s to describe the executives at a British film and record company. Gaines later used the phrase in a roman à clef about Studio 54 called The Club in reference to the influential gay crowd that became the club's habitués. This "mafia" included Calvin Klein, David Geffen, Barry Diller, Truman Capote, Halston, Andy Warhol, Sandy Gallen, and Jann Wenner. The term was tongue-in-cheek, describing a "powerful social clique, not some truly devious alliance ruling either an industry or our politics."<2>


Michael Ovitz scandal
Gradually, velvet came to be replaced with gay. The term may have gained wider social prominence after it was used in a Spy article in 1995 and became notorious after an interview with one-time Hollywood talent agent Michael Ovitz in Vanity Fair in 2002 in which Ovitz claimed that an organized group of gay men was singling him out to ensure that he would "never in again."<3>

Ovitz who, according to some, had a reputation for being homophobic during the height of his career in the 1980s and 1990s, claimed that DreamWorks SKG co-founder David Geffen, former New York Times reporter Bernard Weintraub, various former employees of Ovitz at the Creative Artists Agency such as CAA co-founder and Universal Studios President Ronald Meyer, and former Disney Chairman and CEO Michael Eisner, among others, were part of a powerful group that conspired to end his career.<3>

Velvet Mafia in popular culture
In one episode of the Emmy Award-winning British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, main character Edina seconds her best friend Patsy's accusation of a "gay mafia" conspiracy to explain their professional failures.

An episode of television sitcom Will & Grace revolved around the Gay Mafia, with singer Elton John as its boss. Details subsequently ran a story on the Gay Mafia in which it humorously claimed that Max Mutchnick, co-creator of Will & Grace, was a "gay godfather-on-the-make". The article also identifies several other "pink power brokers", including Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation entertainment director Scott Seomin.<4>

Robin Williams also referenced the Gay Mafia in his Live on Broadway special, referring to it as the "Mauve Hand", and portraying a "fairy Godfather" as Marlon Brando, quipping "Does this pistol make my ass look big?"

In the Emmy award-winning episode of The Simpsons entitled "Three Gays of the Condo", Homer Simpson refers to his two gay roommates as the "Velvet Mafia" to his wife Marge when they make him margaritas and his subsequent drunkenness causes him to be late for the reconciliation dinner planned by his wife.

In another episode of The Simpsons entitled "Jaws Wired Shut", there is a float during the gay pride parade titled "The Velvet Mafia", presenting them as a gay parody of a stereotypical Italian mafia.

In the episode "Sorry, Ari" of the HBO series Entourage, the character Lloyd says, "The gay mafia has been replaced by the gay assistant corps, Ari. We know all."

In RTÉ's The Panel, Dara Ó Briain makes reference to the Gay Mafia led by Graham Norton.

In a season 5 episode of Nip/Tuck one of the main characters talks with his publicist of how pandering to the Gay Mafia can bring in more business for their clinic.

<<<

[liberalhistorian]

5. Wow, that's some interesting information, thanks

for posting. I remember the Will and Grace episode; Elton John was hilarious.

[bluedawg12]

6. Yeah, I had no idea it went back as far as the 60's!

You are very welcome. :hi:

[sui generis]

7. Oh believe it. I am the god-daddy.

(our version of the godfather)

Let's add to the mystique - instead of the kiss of death, we do the accessory of death.

bitch I aim beat yo metro ass to death with this here Gucci belt buckle.

Seriously, it really is a Cosa Nostra - our thing, our family, our families.

I don't have a Gucci belt buckle - I'd have to settle for re-styling their hair using a hub cap.

[DarkTirade]

8. We don't leave horse heads in our enemies' beds... we leave PONY heads.

:P

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. Pinstripe suits can be quite slimming

And who doesn't like a good Italian red wine with Sunday brunch? :shrug:

[Fearless]

10. DUP

[xchrom]

11. our cement over shoes are modeled after the most cool

1995 vintage prada season.

[tbyg52]

12. >>"straight" (I hate that term since it implies something wrong

Is there an alternate term to use? (Not snark, actual question.)

Every time I hear the term "straight" I think about that Randy Newman song - "gotta be straight; don't want a bent one." You gotta be careful who you play him around - if they don't get it, they think you're a terrible bigot....!

Which also reminds me...

We went to see him at the symphony a couple of years ago. The first part was his movie music. The second part was his old stuff, and were the silver-haired season ticket holders baffled! Especially by "Political Science." :rofl:

[mitchtv]

14. I always spell it "strait"

I don't much accept "straight" either

[tbyg52]

16. Thanks.

So as far as you know, there's no alternate term, just an alternate spelling? Maybe we should make a new term up! Anyone....? ;)

[NMMNG]

13. Of course

If you're part of a minority and you demand the same rights everyone else has you're part of a "mafia".

If you're part of the majority and you work fervently to deny rights (as well as safety and even life) to others you're a downtrodden, persecuted victim.

They're pretty effed in the head.

[Jamastiene]

15. zOMG

:rofl:

I always laugh my ass off when they say "gay mafia." There is no such animal. I wish there was. My life would certainly be going better right about now.

[Iggo]

17. Shit. I joined a gang.

[TEmperorHasNoClothes]

18. those puritanical homophobes are the heterosexual mafia