hey- there's been a lot of 'in defense of joni' postings stating that her comments about lesbians don't make her 'a homophobe'. i just want to point out that all of us have little streaks of 'homophobia' (or big streaks) - and racism, sexism, classism, etc, no matter how progressive we are in our politics or how thoughtful we are about social justice because we are products of homophobic, classist, racist, sexist (ageist, ableist, etc) societies.
there is value to being aware when our (and other people's) biases slip out. and to my understanding, no one was saying 'oh joni the evil homophobe' but a) to pull from your head and through your mouth some comment about deep voices and hairy chests and lesbians - which is not even really a common stereotype about lesbians (hairy legs, maybe, but chests?) - means that you have an association there where none exists in real life. and b) i suppose you could argue about whether she thinks being labeled as a lesbian is an undesirable thing, or whether she's just saying its stupid that people get labeled that way. it is stupid that people get labeled that way but what is most stupid is that straight people CARE when they are labeled gay - (it is something straight people DON'T want to be labeled - why? it isn't just because people don't like being 'labeled' - i mean, if you were accidentally thought to be an intellectual because you wear glasses, you wouldn't be nearly as irritated... its because being gay is a stigmatised identity). people getting upset for being called gay are showing the homophobic bias that they have been taught (not by choice). i would still claim that joni, in that statement, and no matter how gay-positive she generally is, is showing a little homophobic streak. so, notice and move on. and as far as bob dylan goes - it wouldn't have been sexist if he said "joni's been able to resist the industry's need to sexualize female musicians to make them sell" which is really what the issue is, i think, but to say "she's like a man" - and he DOES mean that she's better because of it - and joni IS proud to be 'better' than the other women in the industry is showing a sexist streak. (and i don't think the fact that he said it 25 years ago is much of an excuse - the 1970's was definitely not the dark ages as far as feminism is concerned). on some level, so what? we all have been taught oppressive beliefs. i still believe it is good to point it out. if i had been chatting to joni at that point, i would have said, "oh, y'know, i think it is so unfortunate how people in our society get hung up over being labeled 'gay' or 'lesbian', like its a bad thing." and joni being who she is would probably have agreed (and realized that her statement came from the place in her that has internalized societal homophobia. and that would be cool. since she isn't here reading, WE are having the conversation, and i at least am thinking about my own internalized homophobia and other -isms and maybe some other people are too, and that's cool. has anyone read this far? ok, off the soap box for a few minutes, yael
