For the full article on Queerty.com go to: http://www.queerty.com/margaret-cho-on-brojobs-fag-hags-and-donald-trumps-evil-ways-20150919
We asked San Francisco barman turned comic Yuri Kagan, author of Vodka & Limelight, to talk to Margaret Cho, one of his heros. Here is the conversation.
We asked San Francisco barman turned comic Yuri Kagan, author of Vodka & Limelight, to talk to Margaret Cho, one of his heros. Here is the conversation.
Like many budding homos, I adored Margaret Cho since All American Girl, the 1994 sitcom featuring the comic as the rebellious teenage daughter in a Korean-American family. My mother and I watched every episode together. As an American child of Russian immigrants I connected to her story as though it were my own. Growing up I was never American enough for many American kids because of my name, Yuri Kagan, bilingual upbringing and strange pickled lunch choices. I was too American for Russians to understand so I grew up in a kind of limbo. As a self-realized adult gay man and standup comic she became a kind of mentor and even friend.
I talked her as she prepared for a Sept 25 Showtime stand up appearance and the launch of her psyCho tour, which includes stops in San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Queerty: First things first. What’s a “brojob”?
Margaret Cho: Is it where a straight guy gives another straight guy a blowjob?
Margaret Cho: Is it where a straight guy gives another straight guy a blowjob?
Yes!
That’s so weird. It’s fine. I don’t know if people want to keep those sort of labels to keep their heterosexuality intact? It’s like homosexuality exists regardless of identity, outside of anything. Gay sex is awesome!
What do you think of shows like Fresh Off The Boat being compared to All American Girl?
I love it because that really is what I was trying to do. For me it’s a dream realized. Seeing shows out there like Fresh Off The Boat and it’s something I had a bit of a hand in at the very beginning. I am happy to say I will be on the next Asian-American show. I will be playing Ken Jeong’s sister on Dr. Ken. It’s really cool. I think it’s exciting for me to have done this 21 years ago and finally seeing this happen is really extraordinary.
I love it because that really is what I was trying to do. For me it’s a dream realized. Seeing shows out there like Fresh Off The Boat and it’s something I had a bit of a hand in at the very beginning. I am happy to say I will be on the next Asian-American show. I will be playing Ken Jeong’s sister on Dr. Ken. It’s really cool. I think it’s exciting for me to have done this 21 years ago and finally seeing this happen is really extraordinary.
Your show helped pave the way.
I think it’s taken television a long time to come around to Asian-Americans. It’s been a journey. I am grateful to have been a part of that. I am just excited it’s happening.
I think it’s taken television a long time to come around to Asian-Americans. It’s been a journey. I am grateful to have been a part of that. I am just excited it’s happening.
In your up coming “psyCho” comedy tour, you plan in marrying couples.
I wanted to do this because I have been working on marriage equality since 2004. During that time, Gavin Newsom deputized me to perform weddings at City Hall. That was inspiring even though we were between gay marriage becoming legal, then banned over and over. It was a great triumph to be able to do that so I wanted to bring that energy and that celebration to these shows. A lot of the people coming to these shows had a lot to do with the fight for marriage equality. It’s our reward and it’s important.
I wanted to do this because I have been working on marriage equality since 2004. During that time, Gavin Newsom deputized me to perform weddings at City Hall. That was inspiring even though we were between gay marriage becoming legal, then banned over and over. It was a great triumph to be able to do that so I wanted to bring that energy and that celebration to these shows. A lot of the people coming to these shows had a lot to do with the fight for marriage equality. It’s our reward and it’s important.
My mom read about it and now has been trying to get my boyfriend and I to get married by you. It’s not good for me. The pressure is on.
I’ll marry you any time. It doesn’t have to be this fall.
I’ll marry you any time. It doesn’t have to be this fall.
Now lets get to tough questions. On a hookup do you prefer guest or host privileges?
It depends. Guest is always good. Hosting, at least you’re home. If it goes wrong at least you can make somebody leave. You never know what you are getting into at someone’s house, their living situation. You don’t know how clean it’s going to be. It’s very complicated.
It depends. Guest is always good. Hosting, at least you’re home. If it goes wrong at least you can make somebody leave. You never know what you are getting into at someone’s house, their living situation. You don’t know how clean it’s going to be. It’s very complicated.
Do you use Tinder?
I don’t know how! I’m pretty hopeless with any app.
I don’t know how! I’m pretty hopeless with any app.
Who is your favorite GOP candidate and which would you want to see in drag?
Chris Christie. He would probably be fishy. Donald Trump is not my favorite. He is disgusting. He is so awful towards Latinos and you know pretty much everybody… women. He’s a nightmare.
Chris Christie. He would probably be fishy. Donald Trump is not my favorite. He is disgusting. He is so awful towards Latinos and you know pretty much everybody… women. He’s a nightmare.
Have you met him?
I’ve never met him. He tried to get me on Celebrity Apprentice for a number of years, which I’ve really resisted because everybody I know that has done it has had such a bad time. I don’t know if I would want to meet him. I didn’t realize how terrible he was until he was actually running for president. The fact that he is the front-runner is really depressing.
I’ve never met him. He tried to get me on Celebrity Apprentice for a number of years, which I’ve really resisted because everybody I know that has done it has had such a bad time. I don’t know if I would want to meet him. I didn’t realize how terrible he was until he was actually running for president. The fact that he is the front-runner is really depressing.
If you were interviewing him on behalf of the country what would you ask him?
Why is it so hard to answer a question from Univision? Why can’t you give a reporter from Univision the same respect you give everyone else? His treatment of Jorge Ramos and his fear of Latinos opinion of him, he should be afraid. His racism is terrible. I think he’s got to own up to it.He for example targets Rosie O’Donnell publicly all the time. Do you think he targets her specifically because it’s her or what she represents as a voice for lesbians, a lot of minorities he may not like? There are plenty of other comics who make fun of him without the same backlash.
Why is it so hard to answer a question from Univision? Why can’t you give a reporter from Univision the same respect you give everyone else? His treatment of Jorge Ramos and his fear of Latinos opinion of him, he should be afraid. His racism is terrible. I think he’s got to own up to it.He for example targets Rosie O’Donnell publicly all the time. Do you think he targets her specifically because it’s her or what she represents as a voice for lesbians, a lot of minorities he may not like? There are plenty of other comics who make fun of him without the same backlash.
He gets mad because she is an example of a kind of a faction he can’t control. He can’t control women who don’t need a man to define them. It’s the most terrifying thing for him. It’s like women who don’t need a man like him makes him irrelevant. That’s something he can’t have which is why he is always trashing Rosie O’Donnell, and by proxy any woman that doesn’t care what he thinks. His definition of a woman is somebody to service him sexually or service his games.
Uppers or downers?
Downers
Downers
So you’re a pothead?
And alcohol… You know, I have never been an uppers person. They make me too nervous. It makes me feel really mean and dehydrated.
And alcohol… You know, I have never been an uppers person. They make me too nervous. It makes me feel really mean and dehydrated.
What’s a public misconception about you?
I think because I am so autobiographical people actually have many misconceptions.
I think because I am so autobiographical people actually have many misconceptions.
Any advice for the fag hags of 2015?
We have to change our name which I address in the show. It’s outdated. Although, the new generation uses terms like fruit fly or fairy princess. I’ve never found anything as descriptive as fag hag but I do not like to use those terms even though it’s a part of our own history.
We have to change our name which I address in the show. It’s outdated. Although, the new generation uses terms like fruit fly or fairy princess. I’ve never found anything as descriptive as fag hag but I do not like to use those terms even though it’s a part of our own history.
What is the next step for the gay movement?
We are going to focus on equal rights across the board. Now that marriage equality is in place, we’ve got to find the equivalent for gay families in terms of adoption. That’s where conservatives will try to restrict our rights. Our energy needs to go towards legislation of what is a hate crime and who are the victims of them.
We are going to focus on equal rights across the board. Now that marriage equality is in place, we’ve got to find the equivalent for gay families in terms of adoption. That’s where conservatives will try to restrict our rights. Our energy needs to go towards legislation of what is a hate crime and who are the victims of them.
What is #BeRobin?
This in response to our own grief surrounding the death of Robin William. Also it’s to celebrate his life of activism, compassion and history of street performance. Everyone has revolving different shows they are doing. They all just benefit homeless. I want to do more. There is a documentary coming out. There will be more when I go back to living in San Francisco more permanently.
This in response to our own grief surrounding the death of Robin William. Also it’s to celebrate his life of activism, compassion and history of street performance. Everyone has revolving different shows they are doing. They all just benefit homeless. I want to do more. There is a documentary coming out. There will be more when I go back to living in San Francisco more permanently.
Ed Lee spoke about cleaning up the homeless problem in San Francisco for the Superbowl.
I don’t know what that means. They are a part of the city. How do you clean that? By denying their existence? I’m all for helping people get off the streets but when it’s for a specific event you’re denying them. It’s not a solution.
If you could give 18-year old Margaret Cho advice what would you say?
Don’t worry so much. I would encourage myself to have more fun.
Don’t worry so much. I would encourage myself to have more fun.
Yuri Kagan’s “Full-Frontal” is a comedy show produced by comedians Valerie Branch every third Thursday of the month at the Lookout bar in San Francisco. Half the proceeds go to #BeRobin.
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