Lesbian crowned Homecoming King

[BTB]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/07/lesbian.homecoming.ap/index.html

Hood College is reviewing its homecoming rules after a lesbian was crowned king, a college official said.

Jennifer Jones, the 21-year-old senior who beat out three men for the honor, said the crowning was a positive step for the private liberal arts college.

[msnicolea]

You know what bothers me about this? That it promotes the sterotype of lesbian women being "mannish" or somehow less womanly. I understand the statement--I'm just not sure it's all that "helpful" in terms of combatting such stereotypes.

Maybe there should just be a neutral position like "Homecoming Representative" and then anyone of either gender could represent their class.

[thedoorchick]

I can't believe I'm saying this ;) , but I agree with msnicolea.

Although, I'm not necessarily a fan of the gender neutral titles. I don't see what's wrong with having a king and queen. Elect one man and one woman, and it's all fair and equal, no?

[sue-bert]

I must admit that I never understood the entire concept of a "homecoming king/queen." As far as I understand, it is some sort of popularity+beauty contest combo that is timed to coincide with a football game played on home turf. Is there more to it than that?

[thedoorchick]

That's pretty much it. The homecoming game is the one where they make a special effort to get exes to "come home" and attend the game, so I suppose they figured it was a good time to have the popularity contest.

[chrisinluv]

I think it's a sign that people are expressing their differences more freely these days, and one of the main issues right now is gender. It is difficult to classify a woman who is masculine, because we don't have any socially recognized classification. This causes some people to be confused, because they resist challenging their own conceptions of gender.

Interestingly enough, the woman tried for homecoming "prince" last year, and wasn't allowed. It brings to light many issues regarding gender and sexuality. Here you have a person who wants to participate in a yearly ritual that other students participate in, but she doesn't fit the stereotype of "homecoming queen." I guess it was easier for her to run for "king" than try to singlehandedly convince people to expand their idea of what a woman can be.

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

I agree with msnicolea too.

I'm also wondering if there's any kind of undercurrent of- well, not quite sexism- but something close. I may be reading too much into it, but it said in the article that the college wasn't truly co-educational until 2003, when men were allowed to live on campus too. This is now only the second year of a Homecoming court for the college, and they've elected only females to head the court. Is it sort of a backlash against men in the college community? Is it an anti-male gesture?

Like I said, I may very well be reaching- I haven't put a lot of thought into it yet either, but I find the whole situation interesting.

[msnicolea]

I can't believe I'm saying this ;) , but I agree with msnicolea.

Although, I'm not necessarily a fan of the gender neutral titles. I don't see what's wrong with having a king and queen. Elect one man and one woman, and it's all fair and equal, no?

Hey! We agree every once in a while--I mean, there was that time back in 2002 when I said "ITA" to one of your posts ;)

And a woman who is "masculine' is still a woman--why do we need some other type of classification?

[chrisinluv]

I'm not saying we do. I'm saying that society tends to want to classify, rather than expand their own idea of "woman" and "man," for example.

[msnicolea]

I'm not saying we do. I'm saying that society tends to want to classify, rather than expand their own idea of "woman" and "man," for example.

Oh--gotcha--thanks!

[IrisHope]

I agree with Nicole. She's a girl not a boy.

[thedoorchick]

I'm not saying we do. I'm saying that society tends to want to classify, rather than expand their own idea of "woman" and "man," for example.

Maybe so. I do see what you are saying.

But there are lots of ways in which women don't fit stereotypes but that doesn't make them less of women. I love sports (Incidentally, my husband doesn't - should we refer to me as the husband and him as the wife?). I dislike shopping. Etc, etc. I don't think any woman is 100% girly, any more than a man is 100% macho (despite what they would like to think!).

[BTB]

Interestingly enough, the woman tried for homecoming "prince" last year, and wasn't allowed. It brings to light many issues regarding gender and sexuality. Here you have a person who wants to participate in a yearly ritual that other students participate in, but she doesn't fit the stereotype of "homecoming queen." I guess it was easier for her to run for "king" than try to singlehandedly convince people to expand their idea of what a woman can be.

The article explained that she tried to be on the homecoming court last year, but a petition was required; her petition was denied. This year there was no approval process or signatures required, it was just open balloting, and enough people wrote her name in for "King" that that's what she won.

[chrisinluv]

But there are lots of ways in which women don't fit stereotypes but that doesn't make them less of women. I love sports (Incidentally, my husband doesn't - should we refer to me as the husband and him as the wife?). I dislike shopping. Etc, etc. I don't think any woman is 100% girly, any more than a man is 100% macho (despite what they would like to think!).

Exactly. Why should anyone be thought of as "less of" something if they don't fit the image, regardless of the ways? Personally, I would have liked to see her run for Queen, but it appears that she, herself is having trouble expanding her idea of what a woman is/can be; or she just knew that she would never be able to win homecoming queen..

The other point mentioned here about that it might be a backlash is fascinating. We know it happened when women started invading schools and business (still happens today), so it's entirely possible that they are doing the same thing to guys. Judging from the responses of the male contestant, he would probably agree. But then there is this quote from the article:

Jones tried to run for homecoming prince last year, but a student committee wouldn't let her on the ballot even though she had gathered the required number of signatures on nominating petitions

It seems like this has already become a huge issue on campus. I'd like to learn more about what's going on there, and why people voted for her.

[Regina Phalange]

This is just silly. It's called "Homecoming King" identitying the role as male. If she were trasngendered or something and won I'd say "Hey! Good job!" but she is female. What is this proving for her?

[chrisinluv]

The article explained that she tried to be on the homecoming court last year, but a petition was required; her petition was denied. This year there was no approval process or signatures required, it was just open balloting, and enough people wrote her name in for "King" that that's what she won.

Whether one is nominated, nominates herself, or is written in, I doubt she was surprised, and I think that she probably campaigned for it. Sorry for not being more clear in that old post.

[phoenics]

You know what bothers me about this? That it promotes the sterotype of lesbian women being "mannish" or somehow less womanly. I understand the statement--I'm just not sure it's all that "helpful" in terms of combatting such stereotypes.

Maybe there should just be a neutral position like "Homecoming Representative" and then anyone of either gender could represent their class.

I am so glad I'm not the only one who was bothered by this. Why could she not be elected homecoming queen? She's still a woman for goodness sakes.

[phoenics]

The article explained that she tried to be on the homecoming court last year, but a petition was required; her petition was denied. This year there was no approval process or signatures required, it was just open balloting, and enough people wrote her name in for "King" that that's what she won.

I wonder what the intentions were for her being written in as 'king'. Was this a slam at her? It sounds like it actually could be a slam against her and the men in general.

I'm not sure why she's celebrating this. As a woman, I'd be ticked.

She hasn't broken any barriers, imo. She's basically just deepening the stereotype against women who don't fit the mold.

I don't understand the celebration.

[jp'swife]

I am so glad I'm not the only one who was bothered by this. Why could she not be elected homecoming queen? She's still a woman for goodness sakes.

I totally agree.

[Rose]

I'm not sure why she's celebrating this. As a woman, I'd be ticked.

I agree, I would be offended. I would want to win as the Queen or not as all. It does imply that she is less female than whoever won Queen.

[dionysia]

You know what bothers me about this? That it promotes the sterotype of lesbian women being "mannish" or somehow less womanly. I understand the statement--I'm just not sure it's all that "helpful" in terms of combatting such stereotypes.Seriously. :mad:

Will they have 4 categories next year: "Femme Queen, Butch Queen, Bear King, and Queen King?"

Di

[msnicolea]

"Queen King" made me lol!

[dionysia]

"Queen King" made me lol!Well, I was going to write "Fag King," but I thought better. ;)

Di

[wendalah]

You know what bothers me about this? That it promotes the sterotype of lesbian women being "mannish" or somehow less womanly. I understand the statement--I'm just not sure it's all that "helpful" in terms of combatting such stereotypes.

This was exactly my reaction. I have no issues with her sexual preference, and would have thought it fine if she'd won "queen."

[imagirliegirl]

Ok, she might be a lesbian but she's still a woman. And a woman should not be able to be homecoming KING.

She hasn't broken any barriers, imo. She's basically just deepening the stereotype against women who don't fit the mold.

Agreed. I don't see a victory here except that she made the news.

[lawyerlee]

I wonder what the intentions were for her being written in as 'king'. Was this a slam at her? It sounds like it actually could be a slam against her and the men in general.
My thoughts exactly. All those students writing in *her* name for King sounds as much like an insult as anything else. :(

[jp'swife]

Now that I finally watched the video attached to the news, it seems like she is genuinly happy to have gotten the title. She says that she isn't the 'queen' type since she wears sweatpants, jeans, etc. (actually, that's all I wore in college too and I was a Homecoming rep in the running for queen but I digress)....but she seemed really happy and I guess if she is ok with it, that is all that matters. Shrug.

[dionysia]

I'm definitely not a femme-y woman, but I'd still be annoyed if someone voted me "King."

In any case, we don't know if she has any gender-identity issues that would warrant her from preferring a "king" title.

Di

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

Well, she lobbied for the position last year, so I'm pretty sure she's happy with it now. I don't care whether she's happy with it or not though. I don't think it's fair to the male students, or a positive move for the other female students.

[dionysia]

I don't think it's fair to the male students, or a positive move for the other female students.ITA.

Di

[Lil_Mrs_0702]

My high school had only a Homecoming Queen so one year we voted a boy as the queen to see what would happen. They let him walk as one of the candidates at the pep assembly but then didn't allow him on the final ballot.

I think by the next dance they had a guy and girl court for every dance.