When I ask Yolanda Mahoney how she met her fiancée, she asks if I want the long version or the short one. I tell her to give me the version she tells at parties. The story begins with her previous relationship of four years, which ended on her birthday.
“Which was really bad timing,” says Mahoney. “But it needed to happen, we both knew it. So I was just taking some time to myself after that, and I’m out at this WNBA game, and I meet this softball player who invites me to go to her championship game, but it’s on a Sunday at seven in the morning…”
“Wait,” I interrupt. “This story involves the WNBA and lesbian softball players?”
“Yes,” she replies. “Why?”
“No, go on. This may be the most lesbian story ever told.”
CNN anchor Don Lemon is accustomed to reporting headlines, not making them.
But as the author of the new book, “Transparent,” Lemon decided to make public to the world what many people close to him already knew —he is gay.
Lemon anchors CNN Newsroom during weekend prime time and also serves as a correspondent, including covering the deadly tornado that hit Joplin, Mo. He came out publicly May 16 in an article published in the New York Times, which discussed the risk he is taking with his memoir.
The announcement has been well received by most people and the book tour has kept him busy giving dozens of interviews to newspapers, radio shows and TV shows.
Our interview with recently out CNN anchor Don Lemon
“I want them to stay on the show, and you can’t have two amazing characters without throwing a little conflict in there. But right now they have reached a very happy place that I think we’ll hang onto for a while.”
—“Grey’s Anatomy” writer Stacy McKee, who wrote the recent episode where doctors Callie and Arizona tie the knot, on what the future holds for the female couple. (Eonline.com, May 4)
“Re-writing my fav Shania Twain song... Any man that tries Touching my behind He’s gonna be a beaten, bleedin’, heaving kind of guy.”
—Country star Blake Shelton on May 4 via Twitter, revising the Shania Twain lyrics, “Any man of mine better walk the line/ Better show me a teasin’ squeezin’ pleasin’ kinda time.” Shelton has apologized, saying “when it comes to gay/lesbian rights or just feelings… I love everybody.” (Detroit Free Press, May 6)
Attention Atlanta queens, you could be a part of Logo's smash hit competition show “RuPaul's Drag Race.” The show is holding open casting calls to fill its roster for its fourth season on the air.
Atlanta drag personalities Nicole Paige Brooks and Sonique contested the second season, and Phoenix and Mariah were selected for season three. Unfortunately, no Atlanta-based queen has made too far into the competition. But you can be the one to change that!
All you need to do is fill out a simple (albeit long) application, record a short video highlighting your drag skills and include two photos (one of you in drag and one out of drag).
Last night on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” host Jon Stewart highlighted several recent LGBT news issues, including the recent anti-gay remarks from Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell aimed at fans over Easter weekend in San Francisco. Stewart has been all over the gaydar this week.
McDowell was suspended for the incident but will return to the dugout this Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Braves were 7-4 during McDowell's suspension, in case you were wondering.
Stewart took the obvious route and poked fun at attorney Gloria Allred and her interesting press conference with John Quinn, the man who alleged McDowell made anti-gay remarks and threatening gestures directed toward him and another group of men. The segment was funny nonetheless.
Check out the video below:
During last night's Fleetwood Mac-themed episode of “Glee,” Google ran a moving commercial highlighting the “It Gets Better” project to promote its Chrome internet browser.
Advertising space during one of television's most watched shows is quite valuable, and Google spared no expense with its one and a half minute spot.
The commercial featured videos from Lady Gaga, Adam Lambert, Anne Hathaway and others while showing off how Google's browser integrates the modern social web (and Google's family of products).
The Mountain View, California-based company has been on the cutting edge of workplace equality and has consistently maintained a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign in its annual Corporate Equality Index.
Check it out below:
Last night's episode of “Relapse” on A&E told the story of a gay Atlanta man working with a sober coach in an effort to get off drugs and alcohol. If you've never seen it, “Relapse” follows the same vein as its sister program “Intervention.”
Johnny, a male prostitute, is an alcoholic with some deep personal issues. He brings in Doug Caine, a sober coach, for seven days in an effort to turn his life around. I don't want to spoil anything for you, but it's pretty powerful stuff.
Here's A&E's episode description:
Johnny, a handsome American-Indian, lives on a beautiful estate and parties at the best restaurants. But he's a raging alcoholic who hates himself for being gay and a male prostitute. Can a sober coach get him to do the work required to save his life?
As inane as reality shows can sometimes be, they seem to have created a new standard for LGBT visibility on TV. The tokenized “gay character” has extended beyond shows like “The Real World” and “Survivor,” so much that it’s almost unfathomable for a new show to not include a queer character.
While having an LGBT “slot” in programs risks being patronizing, reality-based and scripted shows have become more sympathetic and authentic in their portrayal of LGBT life.
“It doesn’t feel like we’re soldiers for anything anymore, we’re just here telling stories that incorporate gay people in organic ways, and that’s all I ever wanted,” Liz Brixius, the co-creator of “Nurse Jackie,” told TV Guide earlier this month.
“Well, obviously, I’m not allowed to speak about the legal battles, but I love lesbians.”
— Jennifer Nettles of Atlanta superstar country group Sugarland, responding to this question: “Let’s talk about the legal battles that you had with ex-member Kristen Hall [who is gay], who sued you last year for profits she said she was owed. Did it leave a bad taste in your mouth for lesbians?” (South Florida Gay News, April 11)
“I wish that the success of ‘Queer as Folk’ and ‘L Word’ had spawned dozens and dozens of shows all across the TV landscape that had all kinds of gay characters.”
— NBC Entertainment President Robert Greenblatt, who was honored by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation at its Media Awards on April 10 in Los Angeles (Hollywood Reporter, April 11)