"Who Is Stereotyping Who?" Wendy Ho's Controversial Cinch Show

They done much worse (or better) at the Cinch. If you go there expecting FABULOUS Frank Chu nods, odes to bacon, and feather boas, you're in the wrong place.

Good for you, Wendy.

Well, having run Trannyshack for over twelve years, I have definitely been on the receiving end of this kind of controversy....it's funny how the people who would perform the controversial numbers would then go on with their lives and I (and in this case Anna Conda) would be left behind to clean up the mess.

Let's face it, this (San Francisco) is a town that loves to be up in arms about one issue or another, I really feel sometimes as though people will go out of their way to be offended by something. The political correctness can be insufferable at times, and I am always wanting to challenge this notion of "You can't say that" or "You can't do that". I've said it before, and I will say it again, people have to look at the intent behind a performance and not just look at something in purely black & white terms.

Having said that, I did not see the performance in question, but I wondering if the people offended are also offended by South Park? The countless stand up comedians whose entire repertoire is made up of racial stereotypes? If you really want to be, you can be offended by countless things being thrown at you in pop culture (just today I had an exchange with someone on Facebook who considered the new Ben & Jerry's slogan "San Francisco Deserves a Better Treat Than Rice" to be racist). I would tell people to lighten up, but I am sure someone out there would tell me that is racist.

Ultimately, I think it is important, if San Francisco wants any kind of cabaret culture, that we not censor people. While I do not often see eye to eye with Anna Conda, I absolutely abhor the idea of censorship...allowing performers a free reign is what creates sparks of brilliance, and if you try to dictate what people should and should not be doing on stage then you only have the kind of drag show that Trannyshack and Chrlie Horse rebel against. That would really be offensive!

Hi Heklina - I'm Mark. Thanks for TrannyShack - love it. I love south park. I love Sarah Silverman. I love Margaret Cho. I love raunchy, loud, challenging, in your face politics and performance.

I love when people can poke fun at culture, stereotypes, even race - in a smart way.

Wendy's response to her criticism is great, I agree with the sentiments, and I applaud it. Even over at QueerToday we have people discussing if I was right to condemn her. I think this discussion about humor is valuable if we can do it in a respectful way.

Unfortunately, Wendy's performance failed miserably at portraying what she is saying she is attempting to do. It really did come across dumb and racist. Her intent may be good, but she should think about how her performances look.

The authors of this article failed to mention that Wendy Ho performed with Shirly Q. Liquor - a blackface drag queen - recently at Riverspace during a night themed "Hurricane, level 5."

I don't think I'm not being overly politically correct in condemning a performance that came across to many as being racist, and in condemning anyone who would perform with blackface performer Shirly Q. Liquor. If you disagree from a queer anti-racist point of view, that's cool glad to have started the debate.

Sarah SIlverman, who is funny and enjoyable, is racist. There's zero satire in her comedy.

Also, I feel the need to point out that the writers didn't fail to mention Shirly Q; it's just not a relevant point. The piece is not "can wendy ho be tagged as a racist because of with whom she has been known to perform?" That doesn't make sense. And is frightening. Slamming anybody (especially a tranny) over their performance partner is treading on dangerous territory.

It's not only about who she performs with it's about the nature of that event, the theme. It provides important context. Also I would not assume Wendy is trans.

It's not only about who she performs with it's about the nature of that event, the theme. It provides important context. Also I would not assume Wendy is trans.

Speaking as the "fail"ing reporter, I believe Brock has hit it on the head. This article was about the event at the Cinch, not about the "known associates" of that or any other performer.

We recognize that Ms. Liquor is a controversial figure, but we're also aware (as we're sure you are) that there are many, many other local and nationally-based performers who have partnered with or otherwise advocated Ms. Liquor. It is difficult to journalistically demonstrate that associating with Ms. Liquor "provides important context" for this story.

If you can do otherwise, I encourage you to do so on your blog.

interesting. as a black woman, i find wendy ho's act a mash-up satire of race and womanhood. anti-racist it's not. offensive- absolutely; it's bound to offend or anger many. what i found intriguing about her act is how she has taken on these exhausting, tired, male-controlled spaces- 1) the narrow lane in which straight, attractive (by mainstream standards) black women of child bearing age are allowed to occupy in popular culture imagery (ho: either video ho or ghetto ho); and 2) the narrow space for seemingly straight, sensual, voluptuous white women who don't fit the "nice skinny white girl" lane: they get cast as trash or "wiggers"--those "big booty white girls who get with brothas". she takes this on, dismantles it, and reconstructs it as drag--which is exactly what it is in the first place, AND creates a satirical musical narrative sound track, which is a big middle finger and a laugh to it all. There is no way a white person is going to tread into this territory without offending. Her appearing with Shirley Q. is actually relevant context. It's a statement about her sensibility and sensitivity. If a performer finds out an anti-gay performer is on the bill with them, and they agree to perform that night or in that venue, it's info that gives you context.

A white minstrel in black-face female drag performer who does an anti-black woman act is certainly a racist, hostile performer. It's interesting how acts like Shirley Q. are based on and perpetuate the dehumanization of poor women, in specific, poor black women. Whiteness is never put under the lens for ridicule in this way.