LGBTQI+ Folklore
GAYLORE – – FOLKLORE OF THE GAY AND LESBIAN SUB CULTURE
Every marginalized group be it ethnic, religious, social, sexual or whatever creates folklore, usually as a self-defense and identifying mechanism. This is even more obvious if that group exists in a normal community yet is still outside of that community. The gay and lesbian community of Sydney is a large, vibrant and in some ways vocal group with a long public history. It is internationally recognized for the annual Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras that is staged every February and includes a massive public parade.
Gay, and I use that descriptive word to also include lesbians, are particularly tribal. They are seen as being at the forefront of some social change and this, of late, has been reinforced by the popularity of television programs like ‘Queer Eye For The Straight Guy’ where gays are seen as tastemakers on food, décor, wine, personal hygiene and the modern look in hair and clothing. Public acceptance of television programs like ‘Queer Eye’ reinforces how gays and ‘straights’ see themselves and also their tribal set. Often these views are based on stereotypes and far from the mark.
Gays are more tribal than any other group of the community. There are obvious distinguishing looks, word usage and recreational pursuits that define their unconscious or conscious membership. Tribes include skins, leather, preppy, camp, punk, pussy and suburban. Some see themselves as ‘manly’ and follow sport, particularly the AFL, and usually wouldn’t be seen in a ‘camp’ club. The same applies to the usually younger crowd who view the ‘leather queens’ as a race apart who frequent clubs like Manacle and Signal while they stick with Clubs like The Stonewall and the Columbian. Dress usually defines the tribe: skins shave their head hair and leave the rest to nature while, on the opposite side, the camps will ‘torture’ or ‘burn’ their hair into the latest look and wax most parts of their body to achieve a ‘buffed’ look. The leathers will wear camouflage pants and the camps designer wear. As they say: horses for courses.
History shows that these ‘looks’ come and go and, in some way, emulate the current look in America or Britain. In the nineteen fifties it was velvet jackets and paisley frilly shirts, sixties saw the heyday of the James Dean Levi jean and white t-shirt, in the seventies the clone look was popular – moustache, check shirt and blue jeans, the seventies saw a strange mess of every style including the dreaded safari and zoot suit. It was in the eighties that the British look evolved with gay ‘bovver’ boys in heavy black lace-up boots, tight t-shirts and workingman pants. The nineties showed that it was okay to go ‘designer’ again but one simply had to also maintain a jeans and t-shirt collection reflecting the popularity of street and dance wear. Message t-shirts au go go.
In Sydney the gay community historically tends to live in what were previously low -income homes, apartments and terrace houses. Suburbs like Paddington, Glebe and Surry Hills were ideal being close to the inner-city and Oxford Street and ripe for creative renovation. Having two disposable incomes didn’t hurt in the renovation scramble.
There is an active Gay History Project that has documented Sydney’s homosexual history and there have been a number of books published although none specifically venture into folklore.
It has been said that Sydney-siders are obsessed with property and that can also be said of the gay community. Gays have a particular wit that has affected our overall language although, like all language, it is a slow process of transmission.
Particular streets, suburbs and even buildings are given ‘gay names’ to distinguish them from suburbia. Oxford Street, home to many of the gay hotels, shops and clubs is known as ‘The Gay Mile’ or ‘The Golden Mile’ when talking about the power of the ‘gay dollar’. The clubs on the strip are also given names: The Midnight Shift becomes The Midnight Frock, whilst its street level hotel is referred to as ‘chopsticks and walking sticks’ because of the older and Asian clientele; Stonewall becomes Stonewash (after the jean wear of the same name) or Stonehedge (referring to older gays where the overall crowd is predominately quite young. Arq, a popular disco, becomes ‘Farque’. The Exchange Hotel becomes the Sex Exchange because of its drag show history.
One apartment block at the back of Paddington’s Trumper Park is referred to as the Valley of The Molls because of the number of gay people who reside there. The building itself, a tall apartment block built in the seventies is referred to as the Hanging Gardens of Fabulon because of the washing seen on the many balconies. Cook and Phillip Swimming Pool is Cock and Feel It because of its large gay clientele. The Palisades Building in Darlinghurst is often referred to (even by homosexuals) as The Palace of Aids whilst the suburb of Darlinghurst itself is known as Darling-it-hurts. Pott’s Point is Poof’s Point and Elizabeth Bay is known as Betty Bay.
Homosexuals refer to themselves by a number of derogatory names much in the same way other minority and persecuted groups do (such as Aborigines will call each other Abo’s) however these pejorative names are not acceptable from straight people. Some of these names include Queen, Faggot, Poof, Fairy and Fruit. The following names are usually not used in colloquial language but are used by straight people, mostly as vindictive insults – dung puncher, ring pirate, pork & beans (ie queens), prissy, ponce , pillow biter and poofter.
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Queer people have a history of using language colourfully. The community is generally tribal, possibly representing its inclusiveness. Words come and go into and out of fashion. The presence of online dating and sex sites has also contributed to new descriptives being introduced into the queer language. Some of the words are confusing to outsiders in the same way words are created and circulated in other youth tribes, for example, the surf culture has many words exclusive to surfers.
Secret languages came about because of repression, particularly sodomy laws and the threat of prosecution. In England a secret language known as Polari was developed using exaggerated stresses (similar to the actor, Kenneth Williams) and secret words. Little was known of this language until it was featured in a popular BBC radio series, ‘Round the Horn’ in 1964. Sydney’s GLB history had a similar (although much more limited) secret language and also body sign language, used in places where queer people were known to frequent. In later years, styles of clothing defined some of these tribes, especially men wearing checked cowboy shirts, denim jeans and sporting a moustache – in the 70s these men were aptly described as ‘clones’. Even bars were described as ‘clone bars’. Eventually this look disappeared and, a few years later, ‘bears’ appeared as a tribe, with sub cultures.
The following are some of the tribes of Queer culture in Australia.
Beat – a place where men frequent to find anonymous sexual encounters. Regulars are called ‘beat queens’.
Baths – gay sex steam baths or saunas.
Beach Bitch – a gay man who frequents beaches, particularly nude beaches like Sydney’s Lady Jane beach.
Bear – stereotypically a chubby, hairy gay man. Often projecting overt masculinity. Bears have special nights in the sauna promoted as ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.
Cubs and Otters – younger members of the bear pack.
Chubby Chaser – Gay who prefers overweight gay men.
Twink – a young attractive gay boy/man.
Twunk – a twink with well-developed physique – and also an older man who looks/behaves like a younger man.
Auntie – older gay man. Also Mag (matured aged gay)
Muscle Mary – a man obsessed with his physique. Aka – gym junkie.
Silver Fox – or Silver Daddy (as in hair but not necessarily related to hair colour).
Pig – sex obsessed person, usually seedier and kinkier than normal.
Chicken – young gay
Chicken Hawk – older man who chases younger.
Queen – gay person.
Poofter – one of many abusive ‘names’ decommissioned by gay people.
Rice Queen – European who prefers Asians. Euros are ‘white bread’
Gaysian – a gay Asian person.
Bussy – a portmanteau of boy pussy.
Bottom – submissive. Power-bottom
Camp – gay. Also ‘femme’
Friend of Dorothy – as in Wizard of Oz.
Fag Hag – a straight woman who socialises with gay men.
Gaymer – a GLBT person who plays video games
Top – the active sexual partner
Trade – any casual sexual partner
Lesbians also have their tribal groups:
Butch – masculine-looking woman
Lipstick Lesbian – smartly made-up and attired lesbian
This list is endless… and doesn’t take in the complexities of the many other forms of sexuality including pan sexual, trannies, cross-dressers, bi-sexuals etc.
Newspaper Sightings
The following newspaper reports are posted without comment – other than to say some are hilarious!
MEN DRESSED AS WOMEN
SYDNEY, October 5.-A constable told the Central Court today that when he went to a dance hall at Randwick on Saturday night he saw men dressed as women and using lipstick.
Michael Castelli, 24, waiter, admitted offensive behaviour. He was fined £5 and ordered to enter into a bond to be of good behaviour for two years.
Constable R. Boswell said he found Castelli wearing a wig and dressed as a woman. One of two rubber containers which Castelli was wearing to improve his figure had burst and water was running from it. Castelli had claimed, Constable Boswell said, that he was performing a burlesque act with a male partner also drèssed as a woman. The other man had been given permission by the police to change into male attire, but could not be identified when he had donned the male clothing.
SOURCE Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 6 October 1948
DRESSED IN THE LATEST FRENCH FASHION
Harold Ashley (19), and Percy Jackson (21), wore charged at the Central Police Court, Sydney, with having behaved in an offensive manner in George-street, city. – Constable Ham stated that at 8.15 on Saturday night he saw the defendants sitting at a table in a tearoom in George Street. They were attired in women’s clothes, and a number of people were staring into the shop. Witness told defendants to go outside, and they did so. Somebody in the crowd said, ‘It’s a shame to see men walking about the street in that way.’ Ashley gave evidence that he and Jackson were dressed in the latest French fashion. He had tights on. They were going to the White City fancy dress carnival as chorus’ girls. Jackson gave similar evidence. Mr. Love, S.M., stated that the (question was whether the defendants, in being attired in women’s clothes were liable to conviction for offensive behaviour. His impression was that they were not. He therefore discharged them.
SOURCE: Richmond River Express and Casino Kyogle Advertiser Friday 30 April 1915
MEN WORE LIPSTICK
Allegations that men put on lipstick, powder, and women’s dresses at parties in a city shop were made in Adelaide Police Court today by the police prosecutor (Inspection Finn). The case was one in which Colin Robert Jones, 18, salesman, of Gover street, North Adelaide, pleaded guilty to a charge or having committed an act of gross indecency with a male person. He was committed for sentence. Inspector Finn read a statement to the court which Jones allegedly made to Detective Lenton. Describing parties allegedly held in a city shop known as “The Lamp Shade Shop,” the statement said on Saturday and Sunday nights the shop was frequented by as many as 15 men, many of whom assumed girls’ names. One was known as “Bertha.” Melbourne. State Cabinet has decided to send Dr. B. P. McCloskey, Health Department officer, abroad to study the latest methods of treating the disease.
SOURCE: News (Adelaide, SA) Tuesday 21 February 1950
MEN DRESSED AS WOMEN ARRESTED
Four young men in complete female attire were among between 30 and 40 men surprised by a party of licensing police under Senior Constable Downie, when they raided alleged sly-grog premises in Melbourne last Saturday night. Bangles. necklaces and rings were worn by the men, who displayed little concern at the arrival of the police. Several of the other men, however, made hasty retreats, climbing through first floor windows and sliding down drain pipes. The raiding police seized a quantity of liquor and took the names of a number of men.
SOURCE: Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 – 1954), Saturday 11 June 1938
MEN DRESSED AS WOMEN IN DOCK
SYDNEY.-Two young men dressed as girls appeared in the dock at North Sydney Court. They wore expensive silk stockings and fashionable high-heeled shoes and were made up as completely as any woman. It was alleged that they attracted and “robbed soldiers.
The young men, Frederick Drummond 19, waiter, and Colin Carson, 19, tailor, were charged with vagrancy and with ‘having” possessed military clothing reasonably suspected of having been stolen.
Drummond . was also charged with having American dollar bills on his person and suspected of having been stolen.
SOURCE: Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 – 1954), Monday 15 June 1942, page 7
MEN DRESSED AS WOMEN.
To the Editor.
Sir-Will you kindly allow me to express my disgust at the actions a man is going about the streets of Adelaide dressed as a fashionable lady? People seemed to treat it as a huge joke, and because he said it was for a wager, he was allowed to go free on payment of a small fine. One cannot help smiling when one thinks of the way he duped the police and other gentlemen who were out for an evening’s amusement. Supposing there had been some other motive? What about the white slave traffic? If young men are allowed to go about dressed as ladies, and their disguise is so perfect as to deceive some of our best men, all I can say is, “Look our for our young, innocent girls.’ They could easily be led away by such persons. What is to prevent two young men’ going together dressed in this manner? If they took a couple of young girls to the hills for a motor drive their friends might never see them again. We have heard too much of the “White slave traffic.”‘ No end of. trouble may come if the practice of dressing in female attire is not checked. There is another side to the picture. Many ladies are obliged to travel alone. Fancy going to Melbourne by the express train, travelling all night in the carriage marked, ladies only, with a man dressed as a woman. It is too disgusting to think Ryan and Townley donned woman’s attire. It is a very serious offence and should be severely punished.”
I am, etc. (signed: An Australian Woman). Northfield
SOURCE: Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 – 1931), Monday 18 January 1915
NOT FUNNY – THREE MEN
Sydney dancers are in revolt against three men who, dressed in most elaborate and revealing female garb, have attended every big fancy dress dance during the last few months.
When they first began to make themselves conspicuous people were apt to laugh at them, congratulating them on their excellent female impersonations, but at each dance, as the evening wore on, the organisers have had repeated requests from patrons to have the men removed. At the first popular ball at which they were particularly noticed one of them traded on his disguise to the extent of entering the ladles’ dressing-room and showing off his gown and eyelashes to the occupants. A feature of their make-up is the abnormal length of the eyelashes, which one of the men obtained in Hollywood, he said, and which the three glue to their eye-lids when making up their faces. Until dance committees became aware of the significance of these men’s presence, they were actually awarded prizes for their impersonations of well-known screen stars. Two of them have also appeared as twins in frilly organdi frocks and wearing enormous picture hats.
Transparent Bodice – Last night they forced themselves on the notice of dancers at a popular ball, Joining the parade, one wearing a scanty costume of short transparent bodice, and trunks, with an expanse of bare body showing between the two. His bare legs were covered by an incomplete skirt which fell back as he walked, drawing attention to rather than concealing his limbs. At another important ball a few weeks ago, the crowd was so infuriated by the men’s behaviour that the organisers found it necessary to arrange the pageant, and judge the sets, behind curtains, through Which they would not allow these men, who were again making themselves objectionable by their revolting impersonations. If they are unable successfully to vamp other men into dancing with them, they will dance together, smiling over each other’s shoulders at the men about them.
SOURCE: Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 – 1954), Friday 9 October 1931
GAYLORE – DRAG NAMES
I am indebted to my Aussie Rome-living legend (and art curator), Jonathan Turner, for vigilantly tracking the ever-surprising world of drag queen names.
A drag queen is a person, usually male, who uses drag clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Historically, drag queens have usually been gay men and have been a part of gay culture.
People do drag for reasons ranging from self-expression to mainstream performance. Drag shows frequently include lip-syncing live singing, and dancing. They typically occur at LGBT pride parades, drag pageants, cabarets, carnivals and nightclubs. Drag queens vary by type, culture, and dedication, from professionals who star in films and spend a lot of their time in their drag personas, to people who do drag only occasionally. Women who dress as men and entertain by imitating them are called drag kings.
Those who do occasional drag may be from backgrounds other than the LGBT community. There is a long history of folkloric and theatrical cross-dressing that involves people of all orientations. Not everyone who does drag at some point is a drag queen or a drag king. (wiki). Most drag names are devised by the wearer or their friends and many of the costumes and exaggerated features are designed to enhance the name. Ru Paul’s Drag Show created a new drag industry. The names often have very amusing (subtle and not-so-subtle) twisted play-on-words.
| Aida Lot All-beef Patty Amy Housewine Andrea Doria Angela Mercy Anita Greencard Annie Depressant April Fools April Showers Art Simone Auntie Climax, Aysha Buffet Barbara Seville Bea List Bertha Vanation Beverly Wilshire Burley Chassis Candeggina Lollobrigida Carla from Bankstown Carmen Dioxide Charismabelle Charity Case Cherry Kills Chocolate Boxx Courtney Act Courtney Fish Crystal De Canter Cybil Unrest, Dakota Paint Dallas Dellaforce Dawn Service Decoda Secret Delores del Culo Demanda Refund Di Abetes Dinah Soar Donna Kebab Drew Pictures Dusty Springboard Elektra Fence Elle Word Estee’ Louder-Harder-Faster Eve Elle Felicia Foxx (Faboriginal) Fembot XYZ Fran Chise Gemma Pell (French) Gina Colada Hannah Conda Heavy Flo Helen Back Helluva Bottom-Carter Hope Floats Ivana Mandic Jamaica Hormone Jennifer Hoplez Jeri Mandering Jojo Zaho Judy Free, Julia Child-molester Karen from Finance Katherine HepB Kim Chi Kitty Glitter Lana Opportunity Lois Common-Denominator Lois Price Lorraine Campbell-Parade Lynn O’Leum Maebe A. Girl Marcia Larts Margarita Ondarocks Marie Claire Mary Poppin Maxi Shield Maxie Pad May Lox Mia Culpa Miley Highclub, Millie Minogue Minnie Cooper Miss Ann Throp Miss Leading Headline Nana Miss Koori Nicole Face (anti-fracking protester) Nunya Bisnez Nutella Versace Olive O’Sudden Pat Dry Philippa Hole, Philmah Bocks Philmah Pants Phoebe Jeeby Prade Clutch Rhuma Hazzet Rita Book Robin Kradles Rosie Future Roxanne Paper-Scissors Sara-Belle Palsy Sarah Tonin Scarlet Adams Scarlett Fever Sellma Soul Shirley U. Jest Silicone Valerie Sissy Spacecake Spring Break Summer Salt Tayla Mac The Dutch triplets: Anita Hanjaab, Minnie van Fleet, Kara van Park Tippi Canoe Torna Hymen Trai La Trash Tromba Daria Tyra Bankstown Ulla Rouge Vanity Faire Whore Derve Whoopi Kushion Winnie Baygo Prozac Luke Warm Alan Quay Basil Pesto Bathroom Bill Brendan Butter Buried Trevor Chris P. Bacon Cliche’ Guevara Cocker Sparrow Drew Peacock Hugo Slavia, Jason Recliner Justin Case Keith Lorraine Mike Oxlong Paddy O’Furniture Pino Pause Rex Everything Rice Paddy Special Ed and they keep on coming! Allison Chains Amanda Reckonwith Anita Procedure April Showers Barbara Seville Blake Deadly Brandy Alexander Brianna Cracker Carlos the Uber Driver Chaka Khanvict Chelsea Piers Crystal Decanter Dixie Normous Dora Jar Eileen Dover Eileen Sideways Esther Gin Fibonaci Sequins Gina Lotrimin Hedda Lettuce Heidi Haux Helena Handbasket Ida Slapter Ivy Profen Izzy Uncut Jacklynn Hyde Jenny from the Cock Liza Lott Lois Common Denominator Maci Sumcox Megan Whoopi Miranda Wrights Misty Meaner Misty Mountains Mona More Nicole Onoscopi Olive D’Nightlife Olympia Bukkake Paige Turner Patti O’Furniture Rhoda Dendron Rita Menu Robin Kradles Sarah Tonin Sheila Noya Sheila Tack Shelby Late Shelita Baby Sutton Lee Seymour Tasha Salad Tina Burner Wilma Titzgro Terry Towelling |
In 2014 I was invited to the Miles Outback Festival on the Darling Downs. Great weekend with wonderful bush characters. One, ‘Watto’ Wotton, a talented bush poet, took particular delight in sharing this poem with me.