Dallas Billboard Implies Link Between Sagging Pants and Homosexuality

[rodeodance]

http://alternet.org/blogs/peek/#66320

Dallas Billboard Implies Link Between Sagging Pants and Homosexuality
Posted by Pam Spaulding on October 28, 2007 at 8:16 AM.

This post, written by Pam Spaulding, originally appeared on Pam's House Blend

Dan L. has a diary up about a dress code in some Dekalb, IL bars that bans "baggy clothing" -- referring to the still-popular style (god knows why) of wearing saggy pants, ostensibly to reduce the number of young urban men (i.e. of color) coming in. Dan asks whether this policy is racist or not.

This "style dragnet," which at one bar also includes "hoodies, do-rags, hats and caps, all baggy clothes, jerseys, large chains, basketball shorts, sleeveless shirts, "bling" and warm-up pants," is going to sweep up white suburban hip-hop star wannabes as well, so I think that while this is partially about race, it's also about class and culture as well. These bars are looking to filter out a certain kind of clientele -- and members of hip hop culture are on that list.

I guess you can add homos to that list as well, at least if you are in the city of Dallas, which is running a campaign to shame young men into pulling their pants up lest they be tagged as gay. (NPR):

The campaign has a signature song, "Pull Your Pants Up," by Dooney Da' Priest, that links so-called saggin' with being gay. After the BPP blogged NPR's original report on the public service announcement, listeners objected to lyrics they consider homophobic.

...An accompanying billboard says it's rude to be "walking around showin' your behind to other dudes." The song's refrain is "Be a real man -- pull your pants up."

In an interview with a local television station, Dooney explained that saggin' comes from jail, where he argued that showing your boxers has a very particular meaning. "You're letting another man know that you're available," Dooney said.

[Bitwit1234]

1. HE HE HE HE HE HA HA HA HA

Am still laughing.

[ccpup]

2. not too far off the mark

as the trend started in prison when those who were looking for sex (and therefore protection) would wear their pants down way, way low as an obvious signal they were available. I wonder how many teens would continue the trend if they knew it's origins.

[Yael]

3. You learn something new every day.

[arrested_president]

8. Perhaps, They Sag In Prison

but, the trend comes from old skool rappers - back before there was an industry so, they were all broke NYC project dwellers on welfare

Being poor, you have to wear alot of older sibling's clothes that don't fit - but, these kids have a strong sense of style and they make it work

now, with everyone trying to emulate rappers, they takeit as a fashion statement. the original rappers don't dress that way anymore, they couldn't wait to have money and clothes that looked nice and FIT

[dickbearton]

13. ccpup, when did they let you out.

[sadiesworld]

17. I thought the saggy pants trend came from

no belts being allowed in jail/prison. :shrug:

[Bolo Boffin]

4. If only the authority figures in the sixties had thought of this and long hair

"Long hair says you're willing to be the woman in jail."

The guys should just reply, "If you think it's available, you should try to come get it."

[ben_meyers]

6. You don't think that they didn't?

You should have heard the names that the long hairs were called. I can remember the Rev. Carl McIntyre on the radio preaching about long haired queers. He even went on to claim that Jesus Himself was clean shaven and had short hair!

[Hangingon]

5. One reason the baggy pants stay in style is that it is

easy to conceal a weapon in them.

[Democrats_win]

7. Wonder if they realize how hilariously absurd this contention is?

A few years ago, gay columnists actually discussed how baggy clothes were a reaction to the short-shorts of the gay 70s. Baggy clothes especially baggy shorts in basketball were actually being worn so they didn't look too gay. If you look at shorts from the 60s and 70s, those were really short shorts. If you see someone wearing them today, you immediately think they're gay. It's a little stereotypical, but many of today's young men are scared to death of gay.

Meanwhile, young girls are wearing very skimpy clothing ostensibly to compete with gay men...for boyfriends(?). The tops they wear don't cover their bellybutton which means that no one notices what they wear on their legs. Gone were the days when men dreamed of higher hem lines. These young girls leave little to the imagination. Maybe that's why this country lacks creative ideas.

[Andy Canuck]

9. from the clip I could read before clicking the link

I thought it was going to say Link Between Sagging ECONOMY and Bush's War or something to that affect. WTF is wrong with people!! To effing hilarious.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

10. i NEED this on a bumper sticker

I love what Bill Cosby has to say about these retards,

[dickbearton]

12. No, you need to pull your head out of your ass...

Bill Cosby is a corporate stooge and you sound like one too,
or maybe you are the "retard".

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

14. no Bill Cobsy is a

man concerned about a contrived culture created by white trend gurus that is having a disasterous impact on his community.

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

11. The saggy pants fad will soon run out---all fads do.

Can't wait to see what's next.

[tomreedtoon]

15. Here's what's next:

Duct-taping live weiner dogs to your legs and running around the subway, indignantly yelling "What?" to anyone who stares.

[BridgeTheGap]

16. Wasn't this fad adopted from prison?

Sagging pants were intended to send the signal of "I'm ready for action."

[HamdenRice]

18. Saggy pants just meant jail, period, not sex

The origin of saggy pants (as well as the untied laceless sneakers) look was that in jail, inmates' belts and shoe laces were confiscated to prevent them from hanging themselves or using them as weapons.

Although the gay thing is silly, the saggy pants trend was a way of glorifying the outlaw experience. It means, I've been to jail and I'm proud of it (or want to look like I have).

I agree with overall idea that it's a bad look to proliferate in any community.

[TrogL]

19. No self-respecting gay person I know wears baggy pants

We're still doing the tight jeans thing.