To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar

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Above: Still from To Wong Foo 1995


I watched To Wong Foo over the summer, and all this time it didn’t occur to me that the town the film is set in, Snydersville, could actually be a real town. The details of the location and set design were written off in my head as some sort of Hollywood magic that ceased to exist outside the frame. Despite the campy, high performance, cliche nature of the film, many details actually transgress into reality. The people of Loma do in many ways fit into stereotypes of what rural people look and act like, Benes uses his father as a prime example. Yet, the people of Loma aren’t ashamed to be associated with the drag and queerness of To Wong Foo. Benes’ father criticizes Swayze and Snipes’ performances, not out of hate for drag, but simply because he didn’t think they were good at being women. He also praises Legguizamo’s drag performance. These opinions align with the reactions of queer fans of the film, as well.

The queens of To Wong Foo did actually leave a positive impact on the townspeople of Loma. Although, not exactly the picture perfect Hollywood happy ending of To Wong Foo, this still proves the reversal of rural stereotypes isn’t just a film trope.

As Ohio state parks and surrounding towns develop their real estate, rural life can be pushed more and more to the fringes of society. Benes’ personal anecdotes show us that despite the imposed isolation of rural communities, rural people can still have conversations on contemporary topics that at first glance don’t align with what we expect their values and beliefs to be.