Texas has been called a “land of steers and queers.” Sometimes, “beers” is added to that.
The “steers and queers” chant has long been a popular Southern Methodist University putdown of the University of Texas Longhorns. “Steers and queers” was spoken by characters in the movies An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) and Full Metal Jacket (1987).
Script-o-Rama
Officer And A Gentleman Script - Dialogue Transcript
Where you from, boy?
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, sir.
Only two things come out of Oklahoma.
Steers and queers.
Which one are you, boy?
I don’t see no horns.
You must be a queer.
No, sir.
7 August 1983, New York (NY) Times, “A 2nd AIDS Epidemic” by William Beauchamp, pg. E21:
When the Senate voted 17-11 to deny recognition, cheers erupted from the gallery, and a familiar SMU chant was heard: “Steers and Queers—Only in Austin.”
Internet Movie Database
Memorable Quotes from
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Holy dog shit. Texas? Only steers and queers come from Texas, Private Cowboy. And you don’t look much like a steer to me so that kinda narrows it down. Do you suck dicks?
26 July 1990, The Daily Texan (Austin, TX), Images magazine supplement, pg. 17, col. 1:
SOUNDBITES
The Revolting Cocks
Beers, Steers & Queers
Wax Trax!
Urban Dictionary
1. land of steers and queers
just about any Western state
“only steers and queers come from Texas private cowboy, and you don’t much look like a steer to me so that kinda narrows it down” Full Metal Jacket 1987
by another Masshole Oct 15, 2003
2. land of steers and queers
Oklahoma
The only two things from Oklahoma are steers and queers, and I don’t see any horns on you boy. (Officer and a Gentleman, An - 1982)
by Rick Jul 9, 2003
3. land of steers and queers
Aka Texas
Only steers and queers come from texas
by Pete May 4, 2003
Wikipedia
Beers, Steers + Queers is an LP released by the Revolting Cocks in 1990. It includes the song “Beers, Steers, and Queers” which is one of the best known Revolting Cocks tracks. It was a minor club hit for a few years and still gets occasional club play.
Google Books
Freedom Pagoda
by John W. Sammon
greatunpublished.com
2003
Pg. 50:
“Texas is the land of steers and queers,” Vince said.
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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•“I study old buildings because I would rather learn from those who built civilization than those who tore it down” (4/18)
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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