Has anyone been watching Glee?! There is a character on the show named Kirk who is very androgynous looking and came out to his father on the last episode. His father said something like "I love you just as much as I always have, thank you for telling me." Kirk had said that he just realized that he could be whatever he wanted to be and so, his father should know that what he is is gay. Kirk also had a similar reaction from his friend at school who told him that people would accept him for who he is and he should not be scared of that. Not that Glee is necessarily a good barometer for societal opinion, I thought it was interesting how easy they made coming out for Kirk. There was little judgement from his peers and his parents, the only judgement was from Kirk himself.

This observation is perhaps more profound when compared with television or films portrayal of coming out in the past. A comparison could be to Dawsons Creek... When Jack is forced to come out of the closet by reciting a revealing poem in front of the class. The show from the 90's portrays a much more difficult time expressing ones sexuality. Is Glee sugar-coated or just moving with the times?

Hermaphroditos Asleep is one of the Louvre Museums most renowned sculptures. In the company of the Venus and Winged Victory, Hermaphroditos Asleep is not often missed by patrons of theesteemed museum. The sculpture illustrates a mythological character from Hellenistic times; the son of Hermes and Aphrodite whose body was joined with the nymph Salmacis who, lovestruck, convinced Zeus to bring them together into one being. As you walk around the figure who is lying in a dreamlike state on a mattress carved by Bernini, you are exposed to feminine curves and male genitalia.
The Louvre suggests, "this statue was one of the most admired masterpieces of the Borghese Collection in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries." Hermaphroditos Asleep continues to facinate many people, suggesting that people have been dealing with issues of gender and sexuality since ancient times. The Louvre terms the figure "bisexed" but explains that its creation reflects not an interest in gender differences but, "ineflecting the late Hellenistic taste for the theatrical." While it may reflect theatrical values, I would argue that society has been attempting to deal with gender and sex since at least the second century when the sculpture was created.

MM

In class discussion regarding gender and its definitions, I decided to interview a member of the Moustache Mafia (MM), a group of women who participate in public events dressed as men, moustache and all. In terms of gender definitions, the group may not have been inspired to challenge socially accepted behaviour, but they certainly do bring up some interesting questions with their performative group.
As founder of the Moustache, Megan Bertagnolli, otherwise known as "Donna Mustachio," reflects on the initiation of the group. After a somewhat humorous discussion of the only pornographic theatre left in Edmonton, Cinema 100, Bertagnolli and friends thought it would be funny to go to the theatre dressed as a stereotypical seedy male who one may find in such a theatre: sketchy trench coat and of course, a moustache.
Initially, the Mafia put on their moustaches in sexually charged venues such as Cinema 100 and strip clubs. They have since taken on more public venues like the works festival, the fringe, taste of Edmonton, art shows and bars. Bertagnolli considers that when you have stuck you moustache on, you "become anybody you to be, like theatre [it] gives you a lot of freedom." In reflecting on the public's reactions to the freedom, Bertagnolli assures that reactions are mostly positive. Many people are curious but when questioned on why they are 'all dressed up' the Mafia states, matter of factly, that they are members of MM. Even though there are elements of cross-dressing and drag, the members for the most part appear to be women and do not come across as drag kings. On some occasions, members have experienced some confrontations. Bertagnolli remembers one passerby who yelled "You don't know what it's like to be a man." He then tried to pull of the Mafia's moustaches. Though some individuals seem to be threatened by the MM, any altercation "is taken in stride," according to Bertagnolli. She contends that there are all different types of responses but the MM are presenting themselves to Edmonton's public to get reactions as well as to enjoy themselves.
The group prides themselves on their photo collection of MM members with men they encounter who are also sporting moustaches. The group can be found on facebook, "Associates of the Moustache Mafia" is their fan page.