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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Swayze: Gorgeous, Graceful.

Posted by Patrick Alan Coleman on Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 10:39 AM

So many of these Patrick Swayze remembrances focus on what a complete badass the man was. It’s true. He was. Clearly. But Swayze was also incredibly graceful and completely gorgeous.

I remember as theater-geek kid in BF Nowhere Colorado, I convinced my parents to sign me up for just about every dance class I could find. Being a boy, in dance classes, in the farm country of the Western slope, led to no end of teasing and merciless bullying. I admit, I brought it on myself, but I found some solace in knowing that a guy like Patrick Swayze was also a dancer. He loved to move like I loved to move, and he was strong and handsome, and took no shit from no man. Plus, I liked that we shared a first name.

Graceful? Absolutely. But Swayze also proved he could be downright beautiful, playing a gorgeous matronly drag queen in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.

When this film came out, I was just beginning what would turn out to be a long term relationship with another man. I can’t remember how the film played in the gay community, but I know at that point in my life, I was tickled to see Swayze taking on a somewhat taboo role.

So yeah, Patrick Swayze could kick some ass, and make damn sure that no-one would ever put Baby in a corner. But he could also be beautiful, graceful, and soft without losing a trace of his masculinity. He’ll be missed.

 

Comments (3) RSS

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1
This post explains so much about you PAC, you should just introduce yourself with this story and then one about your naked Christmas Card photo.
Posted by Graham on September 15, 2009 at 11:43 AM · Report
2
I'm...I had no idea...but... I...

*sniff* I love my straight/gay Patrick Alan Coleman.
Posted by kiala on September 15, 2009 at 1:52 PM · Report
3
That's a good way of putting his work in perspective. He punched dudes, yeah, but he also did about every other thing you can do in a movie, and he always looked good doing it.
Posted by atomic on September 15, 2009 at 3:26 PM · Report

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