Thread: Homosexuality, Bisexuality and Burlesque!!!!

Evening all!!!!

As a lover of Burlesque and all it has to offer ive grown more and more intrigued about sexuality within the industry and whether or not the scene is so "Predominantly Straight". I would like to find out if there are actually gay and bisexual performers out there who feel comfortable within the scene to express their sexuality and if "coming out" actually had any impact on the work you have been offered!!

Thanks for your time

Sootybear!!!

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Hmmm... Good question. I'm bisexual and although I don't shout about it from the rooftops, if it comes up in conversation I am open about it.

As far as I'm aware it doesn't affect my performances in any way whatsoever.

Sorry, that wasn't the most productive of answers :lol:

Being Gay myself i have found the scene is very "Straight" but that doesnt stop me being part of it.....if anything i find it a break from the normal claustrophobic and 2 dimensional Gay Scene!

Being straight myself I've found it to be very bi! I think your perception of it as very straight may be partly at least where you are coming from as opposed to actuality...

edit - actually open and accepting may be a better term than bi?

It was daunting comming out on the scene as a newbie however this is the most accommodating sector of society I have ever encountered. Unfortunately on the gay scene I fall under the 'femme' label, despite years as a bouncer at several attempts to 'butch up' (for want of a better phrase). That label goes hand in hand with complete contempt and leaves you a target for patronisation from every insecure lesbian on the scene. Wearing a dress or make up is asking for trouble. Burlesquers don't have a care in the world for sexual identity, only for the time and effort you put into your work and ability to entertain. I personally feel I can be far more my own person in the burlesque world than in the gay world. My girlfriend is neither femme/butch and has attended classes with me and supported my performances. I don't think sexuality has given her any issues in the burly world either - she's also considering performing. As for gay men on the scene - I've not met any so far but theatre and drama is pretty accommodating in that respect!

I think the Burlesque scene is so much more expressive and free thinking and there isn't that need to "label" everything. I adore femme women and believe that, yes, femmes are marginalised within the gay community which is so frustrating. I have been out with femme women who have been told they cannot go into the club as they dont look gay. I wouldnt want by gf to look gay, and for one how are we supposed to look, like clones, i dont think so.... i think we need to re-educate a community that has fought for years for recognition yet is so marginalised and backward in treatment to a large part of its diverse community!!!

ANDDDD BREATHE LOL.....!!!

I have several gay "friends" who reckon I am playing at being gay coz I am bi.................Now, I sit on a thin fence top here with my sexuality as do a fair few other Crossdressers in that I CANNOT "go" with a man, only another CD. As John i have no problems being with a Crossdresser and as Michelle again, I have no problems being with a CD.

I have put this on another post a couple of days ago but, just for you, here goes again

I tiptoed in to the MoB shitting my self until I found that no bugger actually gives a shit about a 53 year old bi CD who is a witch and wants to do a Burlesque routine and does a magic act as well. "So what?" they said to me, "we are all one under the same roof attempting to do and succeeding with what we want to achieve."

Kittie and Lord Dashwood and a few others all want to see my routine when I get the balls to actually go and do it! Others have asked me to come and do some of my magic act in a couple of venues, they ALL know I am bi and a Cd, they don't mind or bother.

So, I don't think there is any impact at all on our work whether we be a gay male or female or bi or CD or not.

My gay friends think that bisexuals are kidding themselves... very hard to get taken seriously. I've never found it's been much of an issue within this community though, everybody seems too busy having fun to care much what other people may or may not get up to xx

i think it's hard for me to speak for the burly scene here because Brisbane tends to be fairly open with sexual preference anyway... especially in the valley and city where just about everyone who's not gay or bi has experimented to some extent!

i know quite a few performers who are gay or bi (both male and female) and we also have a few cross-dressers performing. when you find out that someone isn't straight, there's rarely an eyelid batted. everyone loves everyone... that's about all it comes down to here lol.

it's actually a great city to live in if you're gay, bi or just not completely straight... i think there's more of an attitude or being attracted to people - there may just be a preference for a particular sex... or there may not.

but i would definately say that alot of pigeon-holing goes on with the gay scene itself... like the whole "bisexuals are kidding themselves" as the minister and miserabelle just mentioned... or the "femme" girls not being taken seriously with their sexuality. which is a shame.

Originally Posted by Dolly Royale

It was daunting comming out on the scene as a newbie however this is the most accommodating sector of society I have ever encountered. Unfortunately on the gay scene I fall under the 'femme' label, despite years as a bouncer at several attempts to 'butch up' (for want of a better phrase). That label goes hand in hand with complete contempt and leaves you a target for patronisation from every insecure lesbian on the scene. Wearing a dress or make up is asking for trouble.

Wow! As a straight woman I never knew this was something that went on. At uni one of my best friends was a gay girl but as she was not particularly girly the issue never came up (although she always felt under pressure to be the lesbian equivalent of an alpha male in gay clubs - uber assertive - otherwise she felt she would be picked on/stepped on). It seems a pity that in a group that is often marginalised by 'manistream' society that there is still this sort of attitude from some parts of the group.

My other half is bisexual although as others have already said it's more about the person as person rather than as an example of their gender, but as he is rather a pretty boy he always gets accused of 'playing' the part of being bi to get girls... which is riduculous as he already has a girl - me!