Role Models

I’m a slow reader, but I’ll drop anything else I’m reading to pick up the newest John Waters’ book. I finished his latest, Role Models, faster than you can say “cha-cha heels.” John has written briefly about the subjects in Role Models in his other books (see below) and pieces for magazines, but here he pulls it altogether for a fascinating take on the traditional memoir. Even those who are not fans of his films can enjoy his wacky viewpoints on the subjects he adores, including Johnny Mathis, Leslie Van Houten, classic Baltimore characters and others (outsider porn directors, anyone?). His chapter on Leslie Van Houten is perhaps the best and most touching of the book. Most folks would not consider a murderess who committed a violent act to be worthy of any sort of admiration but, just as he does in his films, John makes you see the grace and beauty in those that society often overlooks. As a teenager, my role models were rock stars and artists, most with less than admirable traits. A little later, I fell in love with the films of John Waters for exactly the same reasons. If you felt at all like a weirdo as child/kid/teenager/adult, even, and like you didn’t quite fit in or that your interests were on the strange side, then it’s easy to understand the appeal of John’s wacky sensibility. His movies and writing feel like home to me in the same way as Warhol’s art. John is a wonderful writer and I love all his other books, but his voice as an author is truest in Role Models. I hope he writes more memoirs in this style. I’d love to read one about the many summers he’s spent in Provincetown or his dealings with the art world. And John–if, for some reason, you are reading this–PLEASE bring your one-man show to Houston!

John Waters’ other books include: Crackpot: The Obsessions of John Waters; Shock Value: A Tasteful Book About Bad Taste; Art: A Sex Book, and John Waters: Change of Life. I highly recommend them all!

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The Fortunate Homosexual

Despite all the speculation and everything that has been said about Ricky Martin over the years, he chose to come out on his own time and in his own way. Congratulations, Ricky!! The best part is, though, that he could not have been more gracious or humble in the way he chose to express his feelings about coming out. He didn’t choose to be on the cover of People Magazine or anything like that. No, he simply announced it online, through Twitter and his blog. Dlisted posted the whole piece, and it is so beautiful.

If someone asked me today, “Ricky, what are you afraid of?” I would answer “the blood that runs through the streets of countries at war…child slavery, terrorism…the cynicism of some people in positions of power, the misinterpretation of faith.” But fear of my truth? Not at all! On the contrary, It fills me with strength and courage. This is just what I need especially now that I am the father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who with their outlook teach me new things every day. To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids where born with. Enough is enough. This has to change. This was not supposed to happen 5 or 10 years ago, it is supposed to happen now. Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment.

These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed…I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.

Coming out may seem like a simple step these days to some, but for many others it is still a difficult process. Ricky Martin’s decision will help not only himself but many others to come to the same conclusion that it is far better to be yourself than to hide. I love the new phrase he came up with: fortunate homosexual. There is absolutely nothing unfortunate about being true to yourself and your identity and letting the whole world know, and those who still harbor closed minds towards homosexuality need to stop and consider the gravity of those words.

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The Architect and the Actress

Sometimes you learn new things, even in Harper’s Bazaar. First, there is a piece about the architect, Peter Marino, who I had somehow never heard of before. He’s quite the character–giving even Karl Lagerfeld and John Galliano a run for their eccentric money–but architects are, of course, among the world’s brightest minds. Turns out that Marino was a friend of Andy Warhol’s and even re-designed his townhouse as well as later incarnations of The Factory. More currently, he’s designed flagship stores the world over for majors such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton as well as private residences and other things. Beautiful stuff all of it. Oh, and he also collects antique (as in, some are as old as the 16th century) bronze sculptures, many of which will be featured in a show at the Wallace Collection in London. I thought he was gay, but turns out he’s not. But who would know any better considering that he dresses like Rob Halford of Judas Priest!

Also in the same issue is an interview with Gabourey Sidibe, star of the film, Precious. I still haven’t managed to see it, but I’ve really enjoyed reading all the pieces on her in various magazines. She is truly a breath of fresh air not only in film and fashion but just in life in general. Mostly because she says things like this:

“People always ask me, ‘You have so much confidence. Where did that come from?’ It came from me. One day I decided that I was beautiful, and so I carried out my life as if I was a beautiful girl. I wear colors that I really like, I wear makeup that makes me feel pretty, and it really helps. It doesn’t have anything to do with how the world perceives you. What matters is what you see. Your body is your temple, it’s your home, and…you should decorate it.”

How awesome is that?! Now if only Harper’s had put her on the cover instead of Miley Cyrus. But the fact that she is in magazines like Harper’s and others is a huge step towards opening doors to all things beautiful, no matter the size or color.

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Swish

In his “quest to become the gayest person ever,” Joel Derfner ended up writing an incredibly insightful and wonderful memoir. Of course the memoir market is a bit flooded at the moment with writers who decided to pursue some sort of lofty goal so they could do some soul searching and thus have something to write about, but Swish is something altogether different. Joel manages at the same time to make you laugh at his foibles and exploits while also forcing you to reconsider your own points of view and biases.

I found myself thinking, “That’s me, too!” more times than I can count while reading Swish, so I probably found some of the stories and experiences less funny than other readers will. This isn’t at all a negative thing–it’s just that for some reason I tend to relate more to gay, male, non-fiction writers than anything else. A similar phenomenon happens when I read anything by David Sedaris. My mother laughs out loud hysterically while I just think, oh, that’s clever–that’s how I relate to things, too! So I hope this book will reach a variety of readers, although it is often only shelved in the Gay and Lesbian section of bookstores when it really should be right next to Mr. Sedaris.

All of the nine essays in Swish are quite funny in some way, discussing Joel’s attempts at teaching aerobics and being a go-go dancer among other experiences. But it is the last essay, “On Exodus,” that is his strongest. Joel goes undercover to an Exodus (the largest organization dedicated to helping gay people become straight) convention and discovers things that change his perspective on the people who find solace in the group. He also discusses his own Jewish identity. This essay changed my opinions and viewpoints on quite a few things as well, and that’s not something that happens very often. Maybe Joel’s next book will further explore (or exploit!) his experiences in the musical theater world, but I’ll read anything he writes about in the future.

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