Friday, November 17, 2006

IT'S BEEN A YEAR? SERIOUSLY? NO WAY!
This marks the one year anniversary since I took over as editor of AfterElton, and it's truly amazing to me how much can happen in just a year. Brokeback Mountain hit US screens in December and shocked even its most ardent fans by going on to earn over $170 million worldwide at the box office. Then there is the matter of being the most honored film of all time (with one minor exception I won't dwell on today).

Summer action movies featured gay characters prominently and not as evil villains or comic relief. Lance Bass, T.R. Knight, and Neil Patrick Harris have all come out with seemingly no damage to their careers. Broadcast television has continued to under-represent us, but at least Brothers and Sisters has given us a fully realized gay character we can cheer for. Cable TV has mostly been better, with The Sopranos, The Wire, and Noah's Arc giving us more rounded characters.

In the past year I've had the privilege of interviewing Sir Ian McKellen, Brokeback Mountain producer James Schamus, and film critic Roger Ebert. I've worked with a fantastic group of writers and heard from readers around the world. Best of all? I get to work in my pajamas! Every day!

BILL MAHER WIMPS OUT?
If I announced in this column one week that I was going to name names of gay celebrities and then the following week completely pretended I'd never said any such thing, you'd think I was just a little bit full of hot air, wouldn't you? (Not to mention being no better than Perez Hilton.) Well, as I mentioned last week, Bill Maher promised CNN viewers last Friday night that during his next show he would name which Republican leaders were gay. If you then tuned in to Friday's show, you saw for yourself that wasn't the case. In fact, not only did Maher not name any more names, he failed to even mention his promise to do so during his appearance on Larry King Live, or the fact that CNN edited out his comments on the subject.

Speculation is that pressure from above was brought to bear on Maher to keep his trap shut. So much for speaking truth to power. I don't have a problem with Maher having a change of heart. We've all said things off the cuff that upon further consideration we regret. But Maher owed his viewers an explanation of some sort. Otherwise he's left looking foolish at best.

HOMOSEXUAL LOVE IS LESS THAN HETEROSEXUAL LOVE
This week's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip picked up its gay storyline right where it left off. And it was great! What I most appreciated was the show's stance that just because you're anti-gay bias is Bible-based, it doesn't mean you're not a homophobe. (I can already hear Jerry Falwell, Pat Roberston, etc. hyperventilating.)

In the show's opening scene, Matt (Matthew Perry) is confronted by Harriett (played by out actress Sarah Paulson) who demands to know if he really thinks she is a homophobe because she believes the Bible condemns gays. He says “Yep” and when she asks what's wrong with civil unions instead of marriage he interrupts her by saying, “There is no way to get to the end of that sentence without saying homosexual love is less than heterosexual love…” And it's not some half-hearted defense either. Matt is ticked about this issue, even taking the Democrats to task for what he perceives as their pandering. You go, Chandler !

ISAIAH WASHINGTON DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST? OUTRAGEOUS!
Oh, wait. I was thinking of the list of the 100 Biggest Jerks when I meant to tell you about Out Magazine's big soiree honoring the 100 biggest gay movers and shakers. Web folk did well with honorees including Andy Towle of Towleroad blogger/activist Keith Boykin, and our friends over at Queerty. In fact, Queerty has footage of the event of including brief chats with Anne Hathaway, Claire Danes, and Kelis. Who knew the gays were so crazy for Anne?

Page 1 / 2 - Next