Sexuality and the Birdcage

Brittany Sulentic

White Weddings Paper

November 15, 2006

After watching the movie The Birdcage, starring Robin Williams, there was a direct correlation and contradiction between the book White Weddings,, by Chrys Ingraham and the movie. Although every system of inequality (racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism and ageism), are all present in the movie, as well as the book, the movie agrees and disagrees with many aspects of Chrys Ingraham’s belief system about the “ideal” wedding and its components.

Due to all of the mass media tools, such as movies, TV, magazines, books, etc., Americans are obsessed with the concept of a white wedding. Because of this fascination Chrys Ingraham, the author of the book White Weddings, actually investigates to observe the implication of weddings in American pop culture. Additionally, Ingraham examines how the media, such as bridal magazines and media publicity, controls gender, sexuality, race and class. She demonstrates that these white weddings rely on the so-called “normal” belief of heterosexuality.

In the movie The Birdcage, Armand, and his lover Albert live a life that most people would only dream of. They live in a beautiful house and are in a very committed relationship. Together, they have raised a son named Val, who has revealed that although he is twenty, he is going to marry another young woman named Barbara. Barbara is the Senator’s daughter, and her mother is an upper-class, under spoken woman. When Barbara reveals that she is going to marry Val, her parents insist on meeting Val’s parents. Senator Keelie and his wife have no idea that Val was brought up in a gay home, so immediately Armand and Val make the house look as “straight” as possible. After the Keelie’s arrive everything goes wrong and Albert dresses up as a woman and plays Val’s mom. However, after everything goes wrong, Val reveals to his future in-laws that Albert is in fact his mom and just takes Albert’s wig off. Finally, at the end of the movie, there is a white wedding where Val and Barbara are being married by a Rabbi and by a Priest.

Obviously, in the book it romanticizes heterosexuality; whereas, in the movie, it tends to romanticize homosexuality. The movie goes to prove that although same-sex couples cannot get married, it is realistic that homosexual couples can, in fact be happy. In the movie, Armand and Albert are in a gay, committed relationship while their son is about to wed a young woman. Before Senator Keelie finds out that the Goldmans are gay, he makes a very sexist statement by saying, “I have found out that homosexuality is weakening our government.” Albert (Mrs. Goldman), responded by saying, “I thought so too until I found out Caesar was a fag. Talk about faggots in the military.” Thereafter, when Barbara’s parents first find out that Val’s parents are gay, they are extremely unhappy, and Senator Keelie is more concerned with his reputation as senator than the happiness and well-being of his daughter. After he finds out that Mrs. Goldman (Val’s “mom”), is indeed a man, he says, “This is going to ruin my reputation.” Although Barbara’s parents are upset, Val’s parents are happy for him, and do everything in their power to make sure that the meeting with Barbara’s parents is comfortable. Obviously, sexism is present in the movie when the Keelie’s weren’t going to allow their daughter to marry Val since his parents were gay.

Next, the book strives to confirm that most “white weddings” are performed with middle to upper class people. Although the typical white wedding may be such, it is not imperative that these are the only people who can enjoy this ideal wedding. In the movie, the Keelie’s are upper class, ultra-conservative parents who want their daughter to date the perfect man, have the perfect wedding and live happily ever after. Before the Keelies go to meet the Goldmans, Mrs. Keelie says, “We should have a wedding, a big white wedding.” When she is talking about this, she has a huge smile on her face. Upon their arrival at the Goldman house, they wait some time before Mrs. Goldman (Armand) shows