One thing I want to comment on, his comparison between "straight acting" and "banana":
This is analogous to referring to an Asian person as a "banana" (which doesn't seem to carry the same negative connotations).
This isn't quite accurate. The term "banana" is not as neutral as my friend makes it out to be. Personally, I don't take offense at being called a banana, but the whole concept of an Asian person acting white can be the cause of some friction. My banana status is ambiguous enough that sometimes I've been able to listen in at conversations between parents of more full-fledged bananas, and I can tell, it's really something that they have strong feelings about. They sincerely wish that their kids were "more Chinese." In my own family, there's never been outright unhappiness about the issue, but I can occasionally sense an air of passive disapproval. (We don't call it "banana" in Cantonese, there's another term for it that I won't even attempt a translation of... it's some shit about bamboo or something.)
And I can only guess what FOBs think about bananas. I wouldn't know, because I stay away from those people as much as I can...
I love labeling people. And then labeling those people. Kind of like sub-brands! So not only are you gay, you're a straight-acting gay. Not only are you Asian, you are a white-acting Asian. How about a straight/white acting gay Asian? What is that called? Silly goose, those don't exist. :)
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I have to say about all this talk about bananas and fags is... me so horny!
You guys rock! Keep up the GREAT work.
Francis Unger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jook-sing
ReplyDelete"bamboo stick"...????