# Michelle Shocked SHOCKED to find that GAYmbling is going on in here! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327 "2013-03-19T03:17:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/41 "2013-03-19T20:38:07Z")
This is sad, and I’m thinking craziness is to blame. She put out two excellent albums in the late 80s, early 90s: _Short, Sharp Shocked_ and _Arkansas Traveler_. SSShocked is anecdotal and loosely autobiographical. Traveler is historical. I saw her put on a helluva show at Mississippi Nights in St. Louis in the mid 90s. The last albums I bought by her had some stuff about Jesus, but seemed like it was an intelligent, non-trite Jesus… sort of Laura Nyro Jesus. Apparently that shit is like heroin, and can over your life real easy. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/42 "2013-03-19T20:55:08Z")
> [@Furious\_Marmot](#): > > Symptom of mental illness/substance abuse or coldly calculated pitch to a whole new audience? Barring an apologetic press release that mentions “exhaustion”, my money’s on the latter. > > How many slightly butch folk-pop musicians market themselves to the Christian right? There’s got to be more money in convincing a bunch of people who’ve never heard of you to buy your entire catalog based on what amounts to a blatant identity politcs publicity stunt, rather than try to get your established fanbase to pay for yet another album. The now-alienated people have been more or less milked out; time to find a new cow. > > Either way, I’m thrilled, because my wife likes Ms. Shocked’s older music as much as I detest it. It is now unlikely that I will have to sit through another spin of this insomnia-curing stuff when it’s her turn to work the stereo on future road trips. She is a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, or at least was hospitalized for schizophrenia in her youth. Her stage name is a reference to the shock treatment she recieved. I can’t see how this can be a career move. Outside the Phelps family most anti gay marriage people like to phrase their arguments in nicer tones than “God hates fags.” They usually have a love the sinner, hate the sin thing going on, or will even say they have nothing against gays, they just want to “preserve marriage.” Further, while I know little about the subject, it seems to me that most Christian pop music is bland pop country or watered down hard rock. Generally Christian pop musicians present a wholesome all-American image. Fans are likely to stay away from an unstable formerly homeless butch woman who joined the occupy protests when they were going on. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/43 "2013-03-19T21:05:50Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > She’s a folk-rock singer who was widely thought to be gay back in the 90’s. So its kinda amusing to find her being a homophobe (especially since I imagine most of her fanbase is going to be pretty passionate about gay rights). Yeah, I remember her from the 90’s - did a double-take on this because I could’ve sworn she was a lesbian. What’s next… K.D. Lang and the Indigo Girls start ranting about Adam and Steve? ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/44 "2013-03-19T21:17:57Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > …that’s an awful way to fuck your remaining career over. That explains it! She’s not gay, she’s a career-o-sexual. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/45 "2013-03-19T21:19:40Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > The swift cancellations make me think that A) the shows weren’t selling very many tickets to begin with . . . > [@stpauler](#): > > Actually, one of them was sold-out prior to the cancellation. So that was cool to see that they put principle over profit. Well, putting “principle over profit” would mean cancelling the shows with the expectation that the ticket holders _would have still come to the show_ and spent money in the venue that night rather than cancelling the ticket purchases and demanding a refund. The San Francisco venue ended up refunding the angry patrons who walked out. If refunding tickets is the expectation, it’s much easier to get on top of it ahead of time. Cancelling the bookings gives the venues an opportunity to book a non-trainwreck to fill the spot. It’s easy to stand on principle when it matches up with the best business decision. Cancelling the gigs in this case is a very clear business decision. Nobody’s going to cancel a Chris Brown concert on principle. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/46 "2013-03-19T22:23:22Z")
Well, I too would have bet the farm on her being gay. Gay has to be worlds better than being that stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/47 "2013-03-19T23:37:11Z")
[Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Shocked#Sexuality) quotes a 1990 interview with Shocked where she said “I resent like hell that I was maybe 18 years old before I even heard the ‘L’ word. I mean, that’s understood, growing up sheltered in a Mormon environment. But it would have made all the difference for me had I grown up knowing that the reason I didn’t fit in, was because they hadn’t told me there were more categories to fit into.” So she has in the past dropped some pretty big hints that she’s gay or bi. I don’t know enough about her to guess as to whether she’s a self-loathing closet case now or was confused/just trying to get attention then. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/48 "2013-03-19T23:54:25Z")
I dunno. This seems awfully calculated. By the looks of it, she’s done a lot of performing over the past few years, yet she makes these statements when she arrives in San Francisco? And it immediately makes national headlines? Who called the press? Maybe I’m over thinking it, but it stinks to high heaven. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/49 "2013-03-19T23:57:48Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I dunno. This seems awfully calculated. By the looks of it, she’s done a lot of performing over the past few years, yet she makes these statements when she arrives in San Francisco? And it immediately makes national headlines? Who called the press? > > Maybe I’m over thinking it, but it stinks to high heaven. It’s not her first time: > [@](#): > > Then in 2011, she became incensed when a member of the audience asked her position on gay rights at the Christian-oriented Wild Goose Festival in North Carolina, Religion Dispatches magazine reported. > > “Who drafted me as a gay icon?” she said. “You are looking at the world’s greatest homophobe. Ask God what he thinks. [(SOURCE)](http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/19/michelle-shocked-draws-fire-for-anti-gay-remarks/) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/50 "2013-03-20T00:40:39Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I dunno. This seems awfully calculated. Calculated to accomplish what, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/51 "2013-03-20T00:48:37Z")
I don’t know much about this woman, but maybe it’s just called “getting older”. It’s common as dirt for the same people who reflexively rage against authority figures in their youth, to turn into sneering authoritarians later in life. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/52 "2013-03-20T00:51:36Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Calculated to accomplish what, exactly? A new audience. It’s worked out pretty well for Kirk Cameron. I’m not certain that’s what she’s doing, but it wouldn’t surprise me. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/53 "2013-03-20T01:20:06Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > A new audience. It’s worked out pretty well for Kirk Cameron. > > I’m not certain that’s what she’s doing, but it wouldn’t surprise me. First I think both Kirk Cameron and Michelle Shocked are sincere in their beliefs. Second I don’t think Michelle Shocked’s bizarre tirade is going to get her any fans among even gay hating Christians. (maybe the Phelps clan.) Kirk Cameron was young when he converted (again, I think sincerely.) Michelle Shocked is 51 years old. Kirk Cameron is a squeaky clean conservative American boy. Michelle Shokced is a butch looking woman, deeply disturbed, who has recently railed against wall street. If this is a plan, it’s an awful one. I don’t think this is anything other than what it appears to be, the sincere ravings of a disturbed woman. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/54 "2013-03-20T01:34:46Z")
Oh, I don’t think she’s insincere, but I will admit that my first thought was something along the lines of your last sentence. I just thought it was odd that this story was everywhere, considering her lack of celebrity status. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/55 "2013-03-20T01:43:07Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Oh, I don’t think she’s insincere, but I will admit that my first thought was something along the lines of your last sentence. I just thought it was odd that this story was everywhere, considering her lack of celebrity status. It kind of reminded me of that time Michael Richards freaked out and yelled racial epithets at some black hecklers. Sometimes people melt down, it happens on this message board from time to time. If they are even remotely famous it makes the news. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/56 "2013-03-20T01:46:50Z")
Maybe her girlfriend dumped her? ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/57 "2013-03-20T01:51:46Z")
Just so weird. Why say anything at all, and to such a captive audience, knowing there were bound to be a significant number of LGBT people in the audience? That was low and frankly evil. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/58 "2013-03-20T02:04:29Z")
I would wager that more people know her name now than did yesterday morning. Kind of an odd career choice at 51, but people have taken bigger gambles. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/59 "2013-03-20T02:14:57Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I would wager that more people know her name now than did yesterday morning. She had a tour and some sold out shows. It’s not a huge deal but it’s better than 99% of musicians. Now she has nothing. There’s no way this was a calculated career move. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327/60 "2013-03-20T02:44:07Z")
I’m also betting that Shocked’s outburst was more of a symptom of illness rather than any actual intolerance, and that she needs compassion more than condemnation. > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Seeing the mention of her album and hashtag (do I have that right?) that refers to “short sharp shocked”, I wonder how many people, including her, know where that comes from? There was an album called “Short Sharp Shock” by the punk band Chaos UK that was released in 1984, four years before Michelle Shocked’s “Short Sharp Shocked”. I’m betting that her album is a play off of the Chaos UK one. Firstly, both album covers show a protesting young person being arrested by the police. Secondly, the pink handwriting on the cover of Shocked’s “Short Sharp Shocked” is very similar to the pink handwriting on the cover of the hardcore band Dead Kennedy’s 1982 release “Plastic Surgery Disasters”. So I’m guessing that Shocked had some knowledge of punk and hardcore bands, and used both covers as the inspiration for her own. > **[Chaos UK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Sharp_Shock_(Chaos_UK_album))** > > Chaos UK is an English punk rock band formed in 1979 in Portishead, near Bristol. They emerged as part of the anarcho-punk scene, developing a fast and aggressive hardcore punk style. The band recorded two EPs and a full LP for Riot City Records. In the process, they, along with fellow Bristolians Disorder and Stoke's Discharge, revolutionized the hardcore punk scene. In particular, the Japanese '80s hardcore punk bands were heavily influenced by Chaos UK and Disorder's brutal take on punk. Th... > **[Plastic Surgery Disasters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_Surgery_Disasters)** > > Plastic Surgery Disasters is the second full-length album released by punk rock band Dead Kennedys. Recorded in San Francisco during June 1982, it was produced by the band and punk record producer Thom Wilson, with Geza X getting a "special thanks" underneath the DK's/Wilson credit for additional production. (DK's guitarist East Bay Ray redundantly added his own name to the production credits on Manifesto reissues of the album.) The album is darker and more hardcore-influenced than their debut a... > **[Short Sharp Shocked](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Sharp_Shocked)** > > Short Sharp Shocked is the second album by Michelle Shocked. Originally released in 1988, it was remastered and reissued in 2003 as a two-CD set by Shocked's own label, Mighty Sound. The title is a play on the phrase short, sharp shock. The record title and cover image is similar to that of the 1984 Chaos U.K. album Short Sharp Shock. > The photograph of Shocked that appears on the cover was taken by Chris Hardy of the San Francisco Examiner at a protest in San Francisco during the 1984 Democratic... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-shocked-shocked-to-find-that-gaymbling-is-going-on-in-here/653327.md?page=4)