SBG 158: Burlesque with Erin Brown

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Welcome back to Lez Hang Out, the podcast that hates gay Halloween– what do you mean you’re Chaguilera?

This week, Leigh (@lshfoster) and Ellie (@elliebrigida) hang out with self-described “professional lesbian”, writer, podcaster and public sociologist, Erin Brown (@iamerinbrown), to talk about why the 2010 “musical” Burlesque, Should’ve Been Gay. If you’ve been a listener for a while, you know that we’ve had this movie on our SBG list for a very long time. And who better to talk about Burlesque, but an actual burlesque performer? 

As a burlesque performer, Erin is quick to point out that for a movie titled “Burlesque” there is quite literally no actual burlesque to be seen. The performers don’t even take off so much as a glove during their dances, let alone channel the politically charged, feminist, queer energy that is so essential to the art form (And there is absolutely no excuse for the laughable quality of the wigs). While we do find the movie enjoyable, mostly due to the star-studded cast and our undying love for Chaguilera (Cher and Christina Aguilera), it is not an accurate representation of burlesque and feels unnaturally sanitized. Where the movie does get things right is in its RuPaul level campiness, the lesbian-coded male love interest, and the familiar queer storyline (banding together to save a lesbian bar from getting bought out by a terrible straight man– The Flame anyone?). 

Don’t forget to subscribe to Erin’s podcast, The Lesbian Peepshow, a living archive of what queer women are doing right now.

Give us your own answers to our Q & Gay on Instagram and follow along on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and BlueSky @lezhangoutpod. Email us @lezhangoutpod@gmail.com. Connect with us individually: Ellie Brigida (@elliebrigida). Leigh Holmes Foster (@lshfoster).

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