Chaz Bono danced with the stars, Lady Gaga spoke out after a “Little Monster” committed suicide, a gay teen’s video went viral when he defended his two moms to the Iowa legislature, and gay characters went all the way on “Glee.”
LGBT individuals and issues were everywhere in the media this year. Here are some of the biggest moments from social media, television, music, movies and theater.
“A lot of gay kids are very promiscuous and non-exclusive with each other when they have relationships, which is really sad. But I think with Kurt and Blaine, I would hope would set an example of what something should be and could be. You know, two people finding each other and really loving each other and wanting to give the world to each other.”
— “Glee” actor Chris Colfer (Kurt) on his love scene this week with Darren Criss (Blaine), in which the two gay teens lose their virginity to each other. (E! Online, Nov. 7)
“Justin Bieber looks just like a lesbian, so I’m gonna say hot as shit.”
— Lesbian singer k.d. lang, asked on an Australian talk show to answer the random question, “Justin Bieber: hot or not?” (SheWired.com, Nov. 7)
Atlanta’s “Big Daddy” of design is bursting out of the local scene and returning to television as part of a new design show on HGTV.
Kerry “Big Daddy” Howard first came to the attention of the design world in 2008 as part of the second season of Bravo’s short-lived “Top Design” competition reality show. At the time he was living in Cumming, Ga., and struggling to establish his company. He survived in part by doing small budget jobs, often acting as the “gay best friend” for women redecorating their homes. But things have changed.
“We have come a long way,” Howard says with a smile.
I hear this question often since many lesbians hope the crime-fighting duo on TNT is a blossoming lesbian couple. But no, I do not watch the show. Granted both Rizzoli and Isles are hot...in a 1995 kind of way.
Why 1995? Because that was the year Xena and Gabrielle first appeared on air. Back then no one was brave enough to show a lesbian main character on television and the simple insinuation was enough for “Xena Warrior Princess” to obtain a loyal lesbian following.
While gay and lesbian characters are increasingly visible on TV, the biggest news of upcoming fall fare is the rare addition of a transgender person — a household name, to boot — on one of the most mainstream programs of them all.
Chaz Bono competes in the new season of “Dancing With the Stars,” airing Mondays and Tuesdays starting Sept. 19 on ABC. Bono was known to millions as Chastity before undergoing surgery to become a man.
Matt Kane, associate director of entertainment media for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, says the inclusion of Bono is a tremendous step forward, especially since there tend to be few transgender characters on the tube.
DJ M is a prominent nightlife promoter in Atlanta’s lesbian scene. Her Traxx Girls parties typically attract hundreds if not thousands of women who love women to see the likes of Fantasia, Amber Rose, the Real Housewives of Atlanta and, at the 2010 Atlanta Black Gay Pride celebration, Nicki Minaj, who rocked the house and happily autographed many women’s breasts.
It’s at these parties where friends Deborah, who once dated R&B star Omarion; Suga, one of Atlanta’s top exotic dancers at Kamal’s 21 Adult Emporium; Lisa Cunningham, a video producer who does work for Traxx Girls as well as her own projects including music videos; Jaimee Balenciaga of the renowned Balenciaga ball family; and the renowned Glenn Twins, models and aspiring actresses, come together for socializing — and perhaps some intense exchanges that make for great TV.
At least that’s what the women hope. For about five years, they have been filming their exploits and shopping the show — named “My Secret Society” — to networks.
Critics claim that viewing pornography on a regular basis will eventually distort perceptions of realistic human behavior. The theory is that the first time you see that GayTube video of the UPS guy delivering a surprise package, you’ll recognize it as fantasy. But after you’ve seen 30 or 40 of those scenarios play out to delightful results, it seems a lot more credible.
Advocates argue that watching porn is more like an instructional video: We have much to learn from Matthew Rush. Instead of touching yourself, you’re supposed to be taking notes. I’ve begun to suspect the critics may be right. Porn may have caused me to completely lose touch with reality. But my porn does not feature the UPS guy. It features John Gidding on HGTV’s “Curb Appeal.”