Gov. Rick Perry's GAYOLA Style Sense

Steve Weinstein READ TIME: 7 MIN.

Now that it's apparent that Texas Gov. Rick Perry has thrown his 10-gallon hat into the circus that is the presidential pre-pre-primary season among GOP hopefuls, everyone is taking a closer look at his record.

Record, schmecord. Sure, he's a Bible-quoting, scripture-quoting, right-wing governor of Texas. But girlfriend's sense of personal style is gay, gay, GAY.

Don't believe me? Take a Texas-sized gander at these photos:

Thaddeus Wallingford IV

This is Perry as a young man channeling his inner preppy. Seriously, what's the first thing that comes to your mind when you see this? It has to be either Peter Lawford in the movie "Good News"; or the head of the uptight fraternity in the film "Animal House."

S&M at A&M

This one suggests that Perry may have had just a touch of the mean, sexy streak in him during his college years. I'll bet he knows how to handle that sword. And I'm sure it took plenty of cadets to lick those boots that clean.

Aw Shucks

This is all-grow'ed-up Rick in his immigrant-hunting drag. Olive drab is OK, Rick but we have one word of advice for you: camouflage.

Day Drag

This is Rick in his gubernatorial day drag. Admittedly, this an off-the-rack suit, complete with Joan Crawford shoulders, but Rick proves once again that black is the black.

Shoes

Tout ensemble! The suit may say "State Capital," but the shoes scream "J.R Ewing." Or are those Doc Martins?

Quel Chapeau!

In Sarah Palin's words: "How's that hopey-changey thing workin' for you?" We say, move over, Barak. There's a new logo riding into town, and it's even cleaner and slicker than yours.

While his policies and personal beliefs scare the bejeebers out of us, we're hopeful that anyone who dresses like this must be doing a wide stance in the airport men's room.


by Steve Weinstein

Steve Weinstein has been a regular correspondent for the International Herald Tribune, the Advocate, the Village Voice and Out. He has been covering the AIDS crisis since the early '80s, when he began his career. He is the author of "The Q Guide to Fire Island" (Alyson, 2007).

Read These Next