True Colors Interview: Margaret Cho's Gay Agenda

Margaret Cho may be the most queer-friendly comedian on the planet. Sure, she’s married, but she self-identifies as queer, and has been one of the gay community’s biggest cheerleaders for more than a decade. And yes, she’s got her own bisexual past, which she’s made no shortage of jokes and told stories about. One my favorite of Cho’s old nuggets? “I’m not gay. I’m not a lesbian. I’m just slutty. Where’s my parade?”

Face it: Margaret Cho is basically every color of the rainbow, and she always sticks up for the gays. No big surprise then that the always festive comic/author/ blogger/activist/designer/actor is on the line-up for Cyndi Lauper’s super-gay True Colors tour. Ms. Cho is gonna act as emcee, but she may also do a bit of rocking out on her own... Have you seen her video for “My Puss”? Ready for the live version?

To get prepped for this Friday’s True Colors tour kick-off in Las Vegas, I emailed the Notorious C.H.O. a barrage of questions about the big show. She fired back and the sassy results are as follows:

So why did you choose to sign on for the True Colors tour?
Cyndi asked me! And I am a huge fan and couldn't possibly say no to her...

And obviously, you’re loved by gays and you’re a fan of killer music...
Yes, I love all the people on the bill. In fact, I’ll be sharing a tour bus with the Dresden Dolls!

What else prompted you to participate?
It is a wonderful cause—a huge tour dedicated to ending discrimination of all kinds. I just love that!

People are truly excited about the line-up for this tour? Why do you think that is?
Because it is amazing! All these great people who I would go see separately, but they are all together. It’s like my own personalized Ozzfest!

This may be obvious but... Why do you think a tour like this, supporting these gay-rights organizations, is important right now?
Because even though we have some representation in the mainstream media, and some awareness of gay issues out there, we still don't have equality. We can't get married, we are not fully accepted by the world at large, and so being political and having a voice is vitally important right now.

Will you be rocking out some songs onstage? Any surprises? Fun covers? Gay anthems?
I will be doing my song "My Puss" with Diana Yanez, and then—who knows?!

And what will you be wearing? Or not wearing?
Probably lots of Levi's, Diesel and plenty of Nieves Lavi, my very favorite designers...

Will your mother attend?
Yes! I hope for multiple shows. The tour bus might be a bit too much for her, though. She doesn't party like she used to anymore.

What’s the greatest compliment you’ve ever gotten about your work?
I think the greatest thing is that people come see me time and time again, and they still come back! I love that I can still continue to make people laugh after all these years.

There are some amazing queer artists on this tour: Erasure, Beth Ditto, the Indigo Girls, Rufus Wainwright... Is it less of a big deal these days for an artist to be gay and out and make rock and roll? Or are there still stigmas?
I think there are still lots of stigmas, and that being queer in this business brings with it a tremendous amount of pressure to be a positive role model. You’re looked at as being a kind of diplomat to the rest of the world, which is weird and difficult, but also rewarding. It is an odd kind of celebrity, with lots of obligations and a million strings attached, but it’s wonderful too!

There are going to be some fierce ladies on this tour: You, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Beth Ditto, Rosie O’Donnell, Amanda Lepore... What’s your strategy for holding your own alongside those superwomen?
I am just about worshipping them!

What kind of advice or expertise to you expect to glean from icons like Cyndi Lauper and Debbie Harry? What’s one question you wanna ask each of them?
I wouldn't even know where to start. I think I wouldn't be asking much. I’ll be spending my time just listening!

Finally, let’s get basic about True Colors: What’s your favorite color and why????
I like purple, because it is hard to wear, very aristocratic, and very gay. And I look good in it.