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Home » Blogs » Brian Juergens's blog » "Access Hollywood", "ET", and more cover the Pride Month kickoff and symbolic commitment ceremony

"Access Hollywood", "ET", and more cover the Pride Month kickoff and symbolic commitment ceremony

by
Brian Juergens

Anyone who says that gay men coming out in Hollywood doesn't make a difference should take a look at the coverage that this week's symbolic commitment ceremony in Los Angeles got in the mainstream entertainment press. T.R. Knight's star wattage (and, subsequently, Jay Leno's) attracted a great deal of attention to the event, which was co-hosted by Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew and tireless supporter of gay rights.

This pic of T.R. and boyfriend Mark Cornelsen holding hands and looking all sincere is really, really sweet. Although that guy behind them looks like he's doing a Jerry Lewis impression! 

Here's Access Hollywood's coverage, here's Entertainment Tonight's, and here's Extra's. Keep it comin'!

Thanks to Lee for the tips!

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    • Submitted by
    Brian Juergens
    on Fri, 2008-06-06 09:52.
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    Liz T's picture

    ummm....

    Submitted by
    Liz T (8361 points) (1743 posts)
    on Fri, 2008-06-06 10:04.
    i don't know if it's the angle or lighting.....but is mark wearing a WHITE ring or is that a reflection thing going on??? what are those round candies that people suck on? anyway, it reminded me of that.
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    Brian Juergens's picture

    It would be a clever use of a peppermint Life Saver...

    Submitted by
    Brian Juergens (1215 points) (6472 posts)
    on Fri, 2008-06-06 10:07.
    But I think it's the flash.
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    dgchgo's picture

    T.R. Knight and Mark Cornelson, spokespersons

    Submitted by
    dgchgo (1472 points) (280 posts)
    on Fri, 2008-06-06 11:04.
    I am so pleased with the way T.R. has handled his coming-out process and his taking up the mantle (however reluctantly) of spokesperson for the LGBT community. Not unlike the way Judy Shepard was thrust into the role of spokesmother for LGBTs, T.R. is not naturally comfortable speaking in public. But he is being called upon to do so and, by golly, he's doing it and getting better at it. I wish only the best for his relationship with Mark. As a Point Scholar, Mark has already proven himself to be a mature, poised young man with a great future. I hope the two of them continue to fulfill their dreams and support each other in reaching their potential.
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    afhickman's picture

    That's not Jerry Lewis--it's Jeremy Piven!

    Submitted by
    afhickman (3568 points) (739 posts)
    on Sat, 2008-06-07 03:48.

    afhickman

    "It takes a village (to make Village People)"

    Are those commitment rings around their necks?  If we all looked as good as these two, we'd have been given the right to marry years ago!

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    Jeff's picture

    Rings TR and Mark are wearing

    Submitted by
    Jeff (10 points) (2 posts)
    on Sun, 2008-06-08 09:00.
    Those white things are medallions from the Matthew Shepard foundation. On one side it says "Erase Hate" and on the other it says "Understanding, Compassion, Acceptance."  They are available from LoveandPride.com  They are silver and therefore they reflect the flash.
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    dgchgo's picture

    Thanks for the explanation re: the medallions

    Submitted by
    dgchgo (1472 points) (280 posts)
    on Sun, 2008-06-08 09:32.

    I was looking at the picture of T.R. and Mark again this morning, and I flashed back to the first time I heard about Mark Cornelson (which I'm pretty sure was BTR -- before he and Mr. Knight were dating -- maybe not, though). His story is all too familiar to those of us who were raised in fundamentalist families: ostracized by his family and kicked out of his home. So he's been on his own since he was 16. Had to grow up fast. Thanks to the Matthew Shepard Point Scholarship fund, he was able to go to college. (You may remember that the daughter of Alan Keyes -- Barack Obama's opponent in Obama's senatorial campaign -- was also a recipient of a Point scholarship.)

    So Mark's attendance at the Pride Month ceremony, where Matthew's mother Judy was also an honored guest, is particularly significant.

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    groovyad's picture

    Such a cute couple!

    Submitted by
    groovyad (45 points) (9 posts)
    on Mon, 2008-06-09 04:00.
    I think TR and Mark make such a cute couple! And its great there getting the same exposure as straight couples! Power to the gays!
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