Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Tequila, Perry Lead Bisexual Chic




When it comes to popular culture, sex is the commodity. Random questions form about famous people and how they identify themselves sexually. Speculation over who is gay in Hollywood often boils over into lawsuit territory. What happens when it is fashionable to gay?

Consider this formula for an MTV performance. Place three beautiful pop singers on stage in harmony. The music stops and you witness a grand publicity stunt. It is the perfect show at the perfect timeslot to get the most shocking response. The kids are watching and will get thrilled by the bold move.

“Steamy kiss at MTV Music Video Awards” reads the next day’s headline. In what was seen as the passing of the torch, Madonna kisses pop princesses Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

This lightning bolt of sexually charged women sold a moment in time that is hard to forget. The press did not let the story die for months. This moment ushered in the bisexual chic element of popular culture.

Bisexual chic is faddish attention towards bisexuality, or increased social acceptance of same sex attraction. It is cool to claim to be a bisexual even if you are not. It is often shown to get a rise out of others, according to the UrbanDictionary.com. The trend is creeping up in all media to gain your extra buck with shock value.

The bisexual guessing game of “is she or isn’t she” in Hollywood is more the same formula as the straight girls who make out at frat parties to get guys’ attention. Hollywood is cashing in by using bisexual chic to attract curious parties. The Center for Disease Control found that more female college and high school students are experimenting with other women than ever before. In a surprising twist, they report being encouraged by pop culture for the first time.

The public’s bisexual revolution is stemming from three elements. One is the high-profile celebrity confession where a celebrity comes out. Second is the shot at love with Tila Tequila. Lastly, the songbird that kissed a girl and apparently liked it.

Coming out of the closet is the public revealing of a person’s sexual orientation, states UrbanDictionary.com. The A-list stars who come out as bisexual, lesbians and gays describes their experience of self-discovery, self-acceptance, openness and honesty about their sexual orientation and their decision to share this with others when and how they choose.

“Of course. If I fell in love with a woman tomorrow, would I feel that it’s okay to want to kiss and touch her? If I fell in love with her? Absolutely! Yes,” said Angelina Jolie to the New York Daily News. Jolie made it public news about her having an attraction to both sexes. This marked a lifting of secrets and taboos.

The talented Tila Nguyen, also known as Tila Tequila started her career in modeling. She morphed into a pop icon by having more friends than anyone on MySpace. She is working on a music career while juggling designing a clothing line. Nothing else made hers a household name than when Tila Tequila took over MTV. A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila followed a format similar to The Bachelor.

A twist in the plot reveals that Tila is a bisexual woman with an attraction to men and women. The 16 straight males and 16 lesbian females compete for Tila’s attention and affection.

Playful and imp-like, Tila frolics around the mansion. There are many scenes where the women end up kissing in Jacuzzis where soft R&B music lofts in the background. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the finale ended with 6.2 million viewers, making it MTV’s most watched series telecast.

“I kissed a girl and I liked it. The taste of her Cherry Chapstick sings Katy Perry. The catchy lyrics of this number one single left Perry a teen idol. StarPulse.com quotes the overnight pop star who says her song is “about the magical beauty of a woman.”

All that ‘beauty’ is bringing in “bank”. Her single peaked at number one for seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. She was nominated for a 2009 Grammy Award, and even nominated for best song for the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Award.

Her lyrics tell the story that her boyfriend will not like. “It’s not what good girls do.” Perry herself has never kissed a girl before. According to the New Gay, Perry admits that she is holding out for Megan Fox. “It’s a fantasy. It’s a song about curiosity.”