Steve 'The Magnificent' Retchless - Male Pole'fessional
Well of course I had to check this out. Not because I’d never seen a male pole dancer before. My ex-boyfriend got on the pole we had at our theme camp at Burning Man years ago. Actually lots of guys did.
The reason I had to check it out is because America’s Got Talent is so widely watched. And more than dancing on a pole, a guy wearing stilettos is something I just have to support.
Seriously.
Steve Retchless, whom Sharon Osbourne dubbed “Steve The Magnificent”, represents a lot of things by getting up there and showing us his pole dance. He’s on mainstream television challenging gender stereotypes and the continuing issues that America has with sexuality in general.
This possibly gay man, (and I actually don’t assume or care what his sexual orientation is), is wearing stilettos and glittery makeup. America is barely able to accept a man being gay, preferring those who at least try to pass for straight.
But Steve’s not really in drag, so imagine the befuddlement of middle America? How is it possible that a man wear stilettos and glittery makeup but NOT really be doing drag?
What can that mean?!
To me, his performance challenges us to get beyond the distraction, (and essentially meaningless attachment), of rigid ideas of ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’.
I was pleased that Sharon Osbourne gave him a standing ovation and commented that his androgyny was a welcome thing. She predicted that he was somebody that everybody could “fall in love with”.
I agree. I can definitely fall in love with a guy who’s fabulous and fearless.
All hail Steve ‘The Magnificent’!
