#wycotp

"One thing is certain - the Double Fantasy [character in John's books] is vibrantly, undeniably queer[...] S/he comfortably, confidently inhabits this “hybrid” state between male and female, gay and straight, present and past, beauty and ugliness, and her/his very ease and confidence in her/his queerness seem to both captivate and frighten her/his hapless lover[...] S/he is beautiful and grotesque, sentimental and aggressive, domineering and submissive, maternal and authoritarian, devoted and promiscuous - all at the same time, without caveat or apology."

In this week's article, @bodhbdearg discusses John's prose writings, and analyzes the character of Double Fantasy: an interestingly queer character that appears in some of John's books. Follow the link below to read!

I wanted to point out that tutti frutti is also a derogatory term for a gay man (the little richard song originally talked about gay sex), so "laying some tutti frutti" could mean having sex with gay men...

"Queer joy takes shape in the rebellion of claiming this subversive pleasure collectively. It is "a joyous conspiracy to feel more alive, together," and any definitive claim about personal identity is almost beside the point. "We're just good friends," Paul says, and sure, maybe -- but friendship is already the film's most disruptive relation. The charge lies in the liveliness that emerges when the boys slip out from under the roles projected onto them and into something better. Apart from the norm but aligned with one another."

In this week's article, @faultlessspills discusses the film A Hard Day's Night and the significance of how performance, social disruption, friendship, and queer joy effect the film and the characters within it. Check out the article in the link below!!

In the new documentary Man on the Run, Paul McCartney goes on a quest of self-discovery in the wake of the breakup of the Beatles. He was one of the most famous men in the world, but in 1970, his identity was wrapped up in that of three other men, and in the Lennon-McCartney partnership in particular. As we watch him throughout the 70’s, we see him find his voice again as he goes from depressed farmer to glam rocker, and a pattern emerges that can be mapped onto his entire life–he’s strikingly masculine in his lowest moments, and wildly femme at his peaks. Paul’s gender expression, it seems, reflects his emotional state, with masculinity acting as a comforting cage of conformity and femininity representing ultimate creative and personal freedom.

In today's article, @the-boney-rolls examines Paul's gender expression through Man on the Run and beyond. Read more on the WYCOTP substack!

"Beyond the question's [How queer are Beatles' songs?] initial fear of blatantly obvious lyrical evidence of queerness, is it possible to interpret some of the lyrics, songs, and characters through the queer lens? The answer is yes, it is! Interpretation is often left to the reader, or in this case the listener, and being able to give context to some songs could bring forth a new perspective. One that may introduce some to hidden queer characters that are beloved in Beatles songs."

A positive in Brian’s life [in the play] is his friendships with Peter, Geoffrey and Cilla [...] Peter and Geoffrey stand in for themselves and for other loyal friends of Brian’s who had his back even when he exasperated them. The friendship between the three is life-affirming and a great example of queer solidarity. They talk about the challenges and joys of gay life and their different approaches to it, console each other in troubles, and most importantly, laugh and joke together in a shared language.

Another bonus article, by @bodhbdearg! This article is a review of the play Please Please Me, about the life of Brian Epstein, and looks at playwright Tom Wright's intention to explore Brian's life and experiences as a gay man in mid-20th century English show business. Brian's relationship with John is foregrounded, as are his friendships with other gay men, which provide a beacon of queer solidarity in a hostile world. Read at the link below!

Hello Beatle People!!

Starting today, we are accepting submissions for our upcoming Pride Month event!

Throughout the month of June, we want to showcase stories for "Your Story Your Pride". We are looking for submissions that detail people's personal experiences relating to The Beatles and queer identity. These can be personal essays, anecdotes, anything that represents how The Beatles have shaped your experiences being LGBTQ+.

If you're interested in submitting us a story, please either email us at [email protected], send us a message here, or fill out this Google Form. We'd love to hear from you!!

Deadline to submit is May 31!!!