Who is Jo Calderone?

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by Alisha

I'm sure you've heard of Lady Gaga, you know, that crazy lady who's always wearing a poker face and calling people on the telephone? The real question is, have you heard of Jo Calderone? My guess is probably not... 


At the 2011 Video Music Awards (VMA's), Lady Gaga put on more than just her poker face, she performed a different gender. It's not uncommon these days for celebs to have alter egos, Beyonce is also known as Sasha Fierce, and you might refer to Katy Perry as Kathy Beth Terry. They're widely accepted because these women are still playing by the social norms of femininity, but Gaga's no longer doing that. 


Lady Gaga is known for breaking boundaries, she's previously dressed in raw meat, as well as an outfit inspired by condoms. What's different about this one, is that it is NOT obscure. This time, she's a Drag King (here's a link to a great book about Drag Kings if you want more info on the subject).

People perform gender differently all the time. By giving her approval to things outside the norm that people will actually do, (because lets be honest, no one will show up to school in an egg-like-coffin contraption) it gives power to minorities, and the American culture is afraid of that. In a society upheld by patriarchal values, anything attainable and outside norm is "degrading" (just ask Fox News!). So let's hear it for Jo Calderone for stepping up for something he believes in, because while he may be "performing" for just one night, there are thousands in the LGBT community who do it for a lifetime...