Comment Archives: stories: News+Features
Re: “Delays in Store: Despite setbacks and funding gap, officials say Hill grocery store will open — eventually”
You can utilize www.bestgrocerydelivery.net in the meantime for online grocery delivery. They deliver everywhere in Allegheny County.
Re: “Wealth and Welfare: As budget ax prepares to fall on social services, big business gets a hand up”
Despite City Paper's anti-big business posturing, the author of this piece (who also happens to be its news editor) moonlights by writing for a magazine called (I kid you not) Corporate Board Member.
https://www.boardmember.com/search.aspx?searchtext=%22Charlie%20Deitch%22
(If the link doesn’t work, just search his name through www.boardmember.com)
Re: “Dragged into Debate: Reality-TV fame puts spotlight on Sharon Needles' controversial act”
Red face exists as much as Black face.
Red face is when non- Native people dress up and “play Indian”. We see it at Halloween, Thanksgiving and mostly at sporting events; when one team has an “Indian” for a “mascot”. Chief Wahoo, the Tomahawk chop and that craazzzyyy guy that dresses like a Washington Redskin, are all Red face. In which one exhibits the worst traits associated with group of people, a cartoon stereotype that has little basis in historical fact. Red face is very offensive to actual Native Americans.
BUT when a drag queen dresses like Cher (a performer with Native heritage), no one screams Racism! Because it is generally understood that this is a tribute to a specific person, and not a negative caricature of an entire race of people.
SO…..
when a drag queen dresses like RuPaul (a performer who is African American) is it:
a.) a tribute to a specific person?
b.) a negative caricature of an entire race of people?
cause something about Brandon Thomas’s accusation of Sharon Needles being racist and nothing said about Chad Michaels….. seems inconsistent to me.
Re: “Dragged into Debate: Reality-TV fame puts spotlight on Sharon Needles' controversial act”
I love the attention drag is getting from all forms of media from local to international. Laura did get one piece of info wrong when Sharon was looking to relocate she looked up drag queens on the internet from several different city's and my pic and info on myself came up. She tells the story much much funnier and Sharon has a full schedule touring but she has done shows at the Blue Moon as well as the Brillo Box and has up coming bookings in the city she loves and adores.... When I was referring to her do a black character I was talking about when she did Rupaul and it was on point not The Rocky Horror Show pics lol... no matter what any of us post or say about Sharon she is just carrying on a long legacy that traces from Rupaul, Lady Bunny, Jim Bailey , DIVINE and Charles Pierce ....That Legacy is. DRAG QUEENS Pushing buttons ....
Re: “Dragged into Debate: Reality-TV fame puts spotlight on Sharon Needles' controversial act”
I find it extremely interesting that local government is supporting and recognizing a drag queen, while the local "alt" paper and Pride celebrations have turned their backs. I would suggest that Ms. Daley actually go see a performance of Ms. Needles' show for herself, but that will be rather difficult as Sharon is performing in pretty much every other US city but Pittsburgh these days.
Fairly disgusted with CP's "reporting" on this issue. More responsible use of your media outlet would have been reporting on the bullying that Mr. Coady/Ms. Needles has experienced, or outside the Needles story altogether, talking about some of the *truly* hateful things that could be heard outside of the Pride in the Street event, or on the corner before/during PrideFest.
Perhaps it is a sign of the times. Your next cover should read: "Shock" drag queen mainstream enough for city government, too mainstream for "alternative" press.
Re: “Dragged into Debate: Reality-TV fame puts spotlight on Sharon Needles' controversial act”
Dowd is lying through his teeth!
His chief of staff had this video posted to her facebook wall a full 4 days before the proclamation. (Of course it has now been conveniently removed)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcEyihTYh-A
Watch this and tell me that this is a person who deserves to be honored by our city.
Dowd is political opportunist who spends more time working to get his name in the paper than tackling the real corruption and problems that the city faces.
Re: “Dragged into Debate: Reality-TV fame puts spotlight on Sharon Needles' controversial act”
I have a lot of problems with this article. It seems poorly researched (I''m sorry Eli, but I don't know what show you were at that you are describing, but Sharon does not own a swimsuit with swastikas on it, much less two. I've been to a lot of drag shows and have never seen a scene like what you were describing.) Also, all this stuff that is being dredged up about Sharon is at least 2 1/2 years old, much of it a good deal older. If people insist on judging someone, why don't they judge them on who they are now, and what they are doing now, because what Sharon is doing now is a whole lot of good for disenfranchised folks and folks who are looking for a role model who helps them believe in being themselves even if its different or weird. Finally, Sharon has not done "blackface". The picture that floats around the internet is intentionally misleading, and the people who like to post it know this. Sharon was doing a performance of the begining of Rocky Horror Picture Show, where its just red lips against a black background. She even had a little movie stage she held up in front of her face and everything. This photo was taken in someones bedroom many many hours later. She has done her make up somewhat darker when doing an homage to Ru Paul, and also during a night honoring Beyonce, but in my opinion, a drag queen using makeup (which is part of her artform) to honor another performer or drag queen is not blackface. Blackface includes playing up racially based stereotypes and biases along with exaggeratedly dark makeup. This is not what Sharon has done. This article seems inflammatory, poorly researched, and biased. And using a picture as the lead picture where Sharon looks angry and scary? I was there that day, it's not an accurate representation of her demeanor or performance as a whole.
Re: “Dragged into Debate: Reality-TV fame puts spotlight on Sharon Needles' controversial act”
I think being a drag queen is an art form and expressive but she does this to shock people and get a reaction. When she's confronted as to why she does these things, instead of giving people an intelligent answer or explaining herself very well she acts like it's no big deal. She really doesn't even give a shit what anyone thinks! To me that's crazy, you don't have to care about every single person but the audience got her to where she is now.
I think there are more people in Pittsburgh doing inspiring things than Sharon Needles that show us diversity and artful performances where they deserve their own day, not her. Putting on black face and nazi uniforms doesn't really make me or many of my friends feel like she's dealing with real issues.
Last note, why would any of the papers interview Sharon before Drag Race? What the hell did you do that was so important?
Re: “Dragged into Debate: Reality-TV fame puts spotlight on Sharon Needles' controversial act”
Some of this, frankly, sounds like concern-trolling. God, how many punks and rockers have used Nazi imagery to get people outraged and angry?
OTOH ... the fact that she seems willfully, gleefully ignorant that people are offended by her blackface routines is troubling. Or, maybe it's just a sign of shallowness and immaturity. (I was going to say the "callowness of youth," but she's 29. Not exactly a kid.)
I guess what I'm saying is, maybe she's not a racist, she's just an immature punk who's using one of the lowest forms of discourse (insults and slurs) to shock people --- and hey, it's working!
Re: “Dragged into Debate: Reality-TV fame puts spotlight on Sharon Needles' controversial act”
do words scare you, electriclemur ? maybe you should move back to the land of make-believe where things don't upset you so much.
Re: “Dragged into Debate: Reality-TV fame puts spotlight on Sharon Needles' controversial act”
Well electriclemur your comments to this article are more racist than this whole pathetic witch hunt on Sharon. This sad attempt attack is both tired & totally out dated its 2012 so stop with the N word shit Sharon, Veruca and myself have been called Cracker by uneducated people and we laughed and walked away because we are all human and make mistakes.. Wake up and see that Trash comes in every color, race, and gender and belongs in the same bag on the Curb!
Re: “Dragged into Debate: Reality-TV fame puts spotlight on Sharon Needles' controversial act”
http://s1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh605/pittsburgh-anti-racist/
Re: “Dragged into Debate: Reality-TV fame puts spotlight on Sharon Needles' controversial act”
Ah, Pittsburgh you hokey little po-dunk haven for racists where even erudite museum directors give other white people a hall pass for racism. It's deeply disappointing that the director of the internationally-known Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh doesn't see a problem with blackface or white people calling black people the N word. Someone send that boy a Tim Wise DVD. It's also deeply disappointing that queer African Americans who approached Needles in a club to talk about her act, who were called the N word to their face, didn't talk to City Paper about that direct experience, one undeniable horrible part of the Sharon Needles story.
Re: “Wealth and Welfare: As budget ax prepares to fall on social services, big business gets a hand up”
Rich people are the best thing in this country (worked legally hard or inherited); however, if you work for us (Tax payers) you are not entitled to anything we (tax payers) are not. This is easy ; give me 50 computer with 50 intelligent people (common sense required) and the military just here at home (country), I will run this country for all of us to be happy and enjoy life before we are too old to retire
Re: “Wealth and Welfare: As budget ax prepares to fall on social services, big business gets a hand up”
I love how this GOP base demonizes schools and an entire vocation. All they accomplish in doing this is demonstrating just how they advocate ignorance while Jane Doe down there tries to refer to everyone else as stupid. Sure, Jane. Everyone but you and your lovely GOP base.
Who are this day going absolutely apesh** over President Obama's recent decision to not deport young people who study in our schools, who play in our neighborhoods, who pledge allegience to our flag every day and have lived here most of their lives.
Re: “Wealth and Welfare: As budget ax prepares to fall on social services, big business gets a hand up”
I do believe I've had it with the Republicans - especially CORBETT who is sudh a corrupt venal overpaid fraud.
Re: “Wealth and Welfare: As budget ax prepares to fall on social services, big business gets a hand up”
I love how this GOP tries to frame every argument with their inane assertions about how people who advocate fairness are just alluding to the "evil rich" . Sure, whatever you say, honey.
Hey, Jane Doe, why is it that the GOP base hates every all the people in our country except for the ones who threatened to seceed?
Re: “Wealth and Welfare: As budget ax prepares to fall on social services, big business gets a hand up”
Jane Doe do you really think you can frame this argument when it's the BUFFETT Rule you are complaining about? It's Warren Buffett for ch***s sake.
Re: “Dragged into Debate: Reality-TV fame puts spotlight on Sharon Needles' controversial act”
Well if your into her doing a white xmas in a kkk outfit having sex with a crusifix,degrading the bible, coran,911 and other things then shes for you not me.I find her offensive! She now is a role model and should act it,its one thing to be an actor and activist ,but people interpet what you do and act on it. Sharon lead by example.