BY ROB SALERNO – Straight people: lately they’re everywhere and we’re fascinated by them — the way they run all our governments, star in all our movies and comically mismatch their belts and shoes. Sometimes it seems like straight people exist solely to entertain us and propagate the species.
Case in point: actor Paul Rudd has upset many of his gay fans (who were inexplicably reading Playboy) by telling the softcore straight rag that he “shouldn’t be allowed” to do nude scenes in movies. Don’t worry, gay people. Despite a somewhat misleading headline on Towleroad, the sexy star of such films as Clueless, Role Models and I Love You, Man doesn’t say he has any plans to strip down on screen. As he puts it: “There’s something inherently funny about the naked male body, particularly mine,” and “I also have a desperate and deep-seated need to be accepted and liked to make up for my massive insecurities.”
One group of straight dudes unafraid to take off their clothes for a cheap joke is the Foo Fighters, who released an internet video spoofing (?) gay porn to promote their fall tour. The video has the Foos in gaudy hillbilly/trucker wigs and beards visiting a truck-stop diner, where they all duck in to the shower to “wash off the road.” Wacky hijinks ensue, set to the tune of Queen’s “Body Language.” There’s slo-mo lathering, butt slapping, soap dropping, line dancing, suggestive hand gestures, peeing and even butt shots.
It’s all done in the Foos’ familiar clown-acting style, and while it’s not really hilarious, it seems to have done its job of grabbing attention for the big tour.
Unfortunately, some of that attention comes from the Westboro Baptist Church, the little group of bigots best known for picketing the funerals of US soldiers and creating the website godhatesfags.com. They’re planning to picket the band’s Kansas City show on Friday, and the Foos couldn’t be more thrilled.
Rounding out today’s Meanwhile, in Straight… we have this wacky story from China, where costume-themed weddings are suddenly all the rage among the moneyed classes. And while it’s one thing to theme your wedding ceremony around giant manga robots and Hello Kitty, one couple decided on a weird compound theme of manga robot girl and Hitler’s stormtroopers. The bride posted the photos on the internet and was roundly criticized for her ignorance and insensitivity.
Speaking of ignorance, this student at York University must surely deserve a prize for levelling the most specious accusation of anti-Semitism and for the most steadfast refusal to admit she’s wrong in the face of mounting evidence.
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