Queering American Exceptionalism and Exposing Truth

Growing up with the right-wing conservative father that I had I soon was taught, good-heartedly but misguidedly, that America was the best country on earth and the only one to apparently have freedom. Many different writers and political scholars argue for American exceptionalism even though it is also one of our greatest downfalls. Positive views on the necessity of American exceptionalism can be seen in many facets of cultures and identities, such as in Herman Cain, columnist, republican, and radio host and his article In Defense of American Exceptionalism. This article commentates and exemplifies the mindset of a large group of the American populous that argues why exceptionalism is necessary to our life and identity. However, this notion has received push-back from many different personas voicing against the American group-think that has been ingrained in the minds of many citizens since birth. 

The idea of exceptionalism is well known by all citizens and is even widely accepted in the United States but that does not mean that commentary against these ideals have not been put forth in popular culture. Through art and pop-culture there is an opportunity for truths about society to be revealed through experience and story-telling. One specific example that I would like to focus on comes from the play, Angels in America. In this piece of artistic work playwright Tony Kushner provides commentary on American perceptions of exceptionalism and society ultimately arguing its dangers and its perpetuation of victims. 

Through Kushner’s characters he is able to symbolize and criticize the widely spread and accepted vision of the U.S. nation state providing his own personal truth revolving around the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. Through his talent of portrayal he is able to seamlessly prove to audiences the reality of American society that too often is shrouded in the facade of perfection. In this manner, Kushner is able to essentially queer America more than just through focusing on homosexuality, but through his actual depiction of relationships and human beings. 

In Kushner’s play there are two characters in particular that demonstrate his ability to paint Americanism with something other than the colors red, white, and blue. These characters are none other than Roy Cohn and Belize. Both of these men are queer in the way that their sexual preferences are not heteronormative but they serve a wider purpose in adding to the conversation aside from their sexualities serving as Kushner’s image of truth through the scenes of the play.

Roy Cohn is a deeply closeted homosexual who promotes homosexual hatred through his legal profession; he is also dying of AIDS. Known as a right-wing conservative, Cohn is a ruthless lawyer who is openly discriminatory about others. This is true both in the play serving as the antagonist but also as a real-life historical figure who soon became known as a hated man in society for his cruel and fierce litigation during the Red Scare. In the play however, he is increasingly connected to the character of Belize who is an ex-drag queen, black, homosexual, male nurse. Although the characters are complete opposites they are bound together through AIDS and Roy’s illness taking over his body. Their combination is essential in understanding what Kushner’s queering of America truly is.

One vital scene that I would like to point to occurs in Act 4 Scene 5 in which Belize is speaking to another homosexual character Louis. Although Roy is not in the scene directly he is called upon as a symbol of America. Here Belize, an extremely queer character that is different in his own citizenship and identity, explains his hatred for America. He explains how the whole idea of freedom and prosperity is just a facade that leads others to turmoil and tragedy. He finally represents his final perhaps most strong point on this hatred. He tells Louis, “You come with me to room 1013 over at the hospital, I’ll show you America. Terminal, crazy, and mean.” Here, a dying closeted Roy Cohn full of hatred and illness is the symbolic image of America that Kushner chooses to demonstrate. By drawing upon this image Kushner is able to make the argument of just how harmful American society and exceptionalism can be in terms of the AIDS epidemic and the incredible loss of life. He shows that through the facade of power harmful destruction can be abused to diminish human dignity in many facets.

Not only is Kushner able to provide a new spin on Roy Cohn but he equally depicts him as both villain and victim. Belize is able to pull out this tension and demonstrate to Louis that this is the reality that Roy is facing. During the time where the historical Roy Cohn was deeply closeted, he was facing an America that despised queerness and homosexuality. CBS news published in 1967 a documentary titled “The Homosexuals” which talked about increasing visibility of queer ideals and actions and that Americans considered gay people as disgusting, harmful, and deserved to be punished for homosexual acts. This caused non-heteronormative people to literally retreat and closet themselves deeply. Kushner draws on this and shows through Cohn’s character and the commentary of Belize the costs that came from his sexual shame and death grip on American power and exceptionalism. No matter what, Cohn suffers and dies a horrible death calling on sympathy and forgiveness for his character.

Ultimately, by marginalizing and oppressing so many individuals American exceptionalism destroys what it is meant to do in perpetuating freedom. Tony Kushner proves this through the death of Roy Cohn and many others like him during the AIDS epidemic who because they were queer, were not valued by society. By living in a country that criminalizes and hates queer sexualities America essentially exacerbated the AIDS crisis and caused people to be imprisoned by their own bodies and sexual attractions. Kushner’s truth is revealed through his commentary that American justice perceptions are unjust in all aspects, dehumanizes and damaging all individuals, not just homosexuals.