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News, Reviews & Commentary on Gay and Bisexual Men in Entertainment and the Media

2008 AfterElton Visibility Awards: Final Voting Now Open!

Last month we asked you to help us choose the nominees for our 3rd Annual AfterElton.com Visibility Awards which recognize the year's outstanding people, shows, moments and more in gay pop culture.

After tallying up the thousands of nominations you submitted, we've narrowed each of our sixteen categories down to the five final nominees. Voting is open now through midnight Monday December 8th so you can cast your vote for Man of the Year, Favorite Same-Sex Kiss, Favorite Straight Ally and many more! As always, one vote per person please! (No ballot stuffing — we check ISP addresses!)

We'll tally up the votes and announce the winners on December 18th! So don't delay — vote now and make your voice heard!

 

Voting has closed. Check back on the 18th for results!

 


 
1. Man of the Year
  Matthew Mitcham
  John Barrowman
  All those who joined in public protests after Prop 8 passed
  Van Hansis
  Neil Patrick Harris
 
2. Favorite TV Drama
  Hollyoaks
  Torchwood
  Brothers & Sisters
  True Blood
  As the World Turns
 
3. Favorite TV Comedy
  How I Met Your Mother
  30 Rock
  Desperate Housewives
  Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in all the World
  Ugly Betty
 
4. Favorite Reality Show
  Top Chef
  The Amazing Race
  Project Runway
  Survivor
  Make Me a Supermodel
 
5. Favorite Reality Show Personality
  Christian Siriano
  Tim Gunn
  Kathy Griffin
  Charlie (from Survivor)
  Marcus (from Survivor)
 
6. Favorite TV Character
  Luke Snyder (As the World Turns)
  Kevin Walker (Brothers & Sisters)
  Captain Jack Harkness (Torchwood)
  John Paul McQueen (Hollyoaks)
  Scotty Wandell (Brothers & Sisters)
 
7. Favorite TV Couple
  Luke & Noah (As the World Turns)
  Kevin & Scotty (Brothers & Sisters)
  Captain Jack & Ianto (Torchwood)
  John Paul & Craig (Hollyoaks)
  Christian & Olli (Verbotene Liebe, a.k.a. Forbidden Love)
 
8. Favorite TV Episode
  Verbotene Liebe Episode 8/01/2008 (Christian comes out in the boxing ring)
  Hollyoaks Episode 9/19/2008 (JP and Craig's sunset ending)
  Grey's Anatomy Episode 4.14 "The Becoming" (the gay soldier episode)
  As the World Turns 7/03/2008 (Cyndi Lauper's guest appearance)
  Brothers & Sisters Episode 2.16 "Prior Commitments" (Kevin & Scotty marry)
 
9. Favorite Kiss
  John Paul McQueen and Craig Dean on Hollyoaks, 9/19/08 (the sunset ending),
  Luke and Noah on As the World Turns, 4/23/08 (first kiss after the long drought)
  Scotty and Kevin on Brothers & Sisters Episode 308 "Going Once...Going Twice" (the kiss on the street in front of the bank)
  Two gay soldiers, Grey's Anatomy Episode 414 "The Becoming."
  Christian and Olli on Verbotene Liebe (Forbidden Love) Episode 8/01/2008 (the boxing ring kiss)
 
10. Favorite Straight Ally
  Gavin Newsom
  Kathy Griffin
  Judith Light
  Brad Pitt
  Keith Olbermann
 
11. Favorite Lesbian
  Wanda Sykes
  Rachel Maddow
  Ellen DeGeneres
  Rosie O'Donnell
  Jodie Foster
 
12. Best Gay Moment
  Matthew Mitcham wins Olympic gold
  Keith Olbermann 's Special Comment on Prop 8
  National protests over passage of Prop 8
  Barack Obama's election (and inclusion of gays and lesbians in acceptance speech)
  CA (and CT) Supreme Courts legalize gay marriage
 
13. Worst Gay Moment
  As the World Turns camera pans to mistletoe during Luke and Noah kiss
  Heath Ledger dies
  Matthew Mitcham's story ignored by NBC Sports
  Proposition 8 passes
  Arkansas bans gay adoption
 
14. Favorite Movie
  Love Songs (a.k.a. Chansons d'Amour)
  Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
  Milk
  Shelter
  Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom
 
15. Best Website (other than AfterElton.com)
  Towleroad
  Gays of Daytime
  LogoOnline
  Queerty
  GayWired
 
16. Best Book
  Band Fags by Frank Polito
  The Distance Between Us by Bart Yates
  Anything Goes by John Barrowman & Carole E. Barrowman
  When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
  A Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs

 

Dennis Ayers's picture

Care to leave a comment?

So who did you vote for and why?
Christie Keith's picture

RACHEL MADDOW

Over the last couple of years I have tirelessly researched hot gay male sex scenes, kisses, and juicy gay boy gossip for the readers of AfterElton.com. I want only one thing in return: please vote for my future girlfriend Rachel Maddow as the AfterElton.com favorite lesbian.

I mean, I watched Dante's Cove for you guys. You owe me.

Love,

Christie

Average (2 votes):
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Lee's picture

Happy to oblige

Rachel gets my vote, Christie.  As Dennis says, she's so good it's scary.  I'm completely addicted to her show now.  The few days she was off last week I felt lost.

Average (2 votes):
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Cat's picture

She got my vote too

In all caps with three exclamation points. !!! Who even comes close?
Average (1 vote):
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IAmATVJunkie's picture

I'm sorry, that's not gonna work for me.

 

Rachel!!!

 

I'm actually having a sex change so that Rachel can be MY future girlfriend.

So you can understand how this will be an issue going forward.

Every single one of my posts on Rachel Maddow, all 73 of them, are at the link below.

http://iamatvjunkie.typepad.com/i_am_a_tv_junkie_a_blog_f/rachel_maddow/

I never said I would be an attractive woman. Rachel will learn to love me for my quick wit and HTML coding skills.

I'm the guy who blogs at IAmATVJunkie.com, and I would love for you to visit.

Average (1 vote):
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Christie Keith's picture

Oh please, Rachel Maddow...

TOTALLY loves me best.
Guillermo Serritiello's picture

Best TV episode and kiss - Grey's Anatomy episode 414

What a difference a season makes as this show can't seem to be able to put together decent back to back shows; however last season's episode with the two gay soldiers was one its its best showings bar none. The characters for once were more than gay for labeling purposes as their inability to be together openly was not only front and center, but served to mirror other ongoing story lines on the show. And then let's talk about that kiss. So passionate and honest, rather than the pecks that pass for kisses on even the most progressive of shows. Even Brothers and Sisters tends to do some weird angles on the Scotty and Kevin kisses.

Guillermo's Media Guillotine: Entertainment, journalism, politics, and popular culture.

http://springintoaction.typepad.com

Average (2 votes):
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HenryZ's picture

That was an amazing episode,

That was an amazing episode, or at least that story was... I don't really remember the rest of the episode. Both the actors were great, and the one who played the more open of the two (argh I forget the names now) was especially phenomenal. I feel a little punched in the gut now just thinking back on that one reaction shot in particular.
Guillermo Serritiello's picture

Here's a little bitter-sweet image and a montage as a reminder

The Kiss

The Kiss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESwaSvCbKZU&feature=related

I found this on YouTube. While, the poster played a little with the music and seeing all the scenes back to back takes away some of the impact, it might serve as a nice reminder to those who saw it that the show has not always sucked or mishandled sexuality that way it did this season with its insta-lesbians.

Guillermo's Media Guillotine: Entertainment, journalism, politics, and popular culture.

http://springintoaction.typepad.com

Gabrielle's picture

Verbotene Liebe gets my

Verbotene Liebe gets my vote - hands down! The storyline is a bit cold right now with Olli gone for a while but gets face it, Christian's coming out storyline and his falling in love with Olli was one of the best gay storylines I've ever seen on TV.

And how terrible that AE made me choose between Charlie & Marcus from Survivor. ;P

 

Average (2 votes):
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Maxine's picture

Fingers crossed for Verbotene Liebe

I'm am so with you Gabrielle regarding Verbotene Liebe. I voted where ever they were nominated. The Olli and Christian storyline is one of the most well acted, authentic coming out love stories i've ever seen on TV. Beautifully acted by both Jo and Thore.

I'm so hoping they win at least best couple which I think they well deserve. 

Average (3 votes):
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dkellergrl2001's picture

Verbotene Liebe - For The Win

I've put all my votes towards Ollian. I'm hoping that at least ONE of their storylines takes the category. 

Love me less, but love me a long time - Les Chansons D'Amour

Average (2 votes):
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justme's picture

John Paul and Craig

I voted almost entirely for JP and C wherever it was possible.

Because out of all of it, their story touched me the most.

Thanks for all the great articles, AfterElton. :-)

Budi's picture

Matthew Mitcham all the way!!

I heart Matthew Mitcham.

I watched the live broadcast on TV since I currently live in Beijing. I can't believe how proud I felt when he won. Lots of Chinese watched his win too since it was supposed to be China's 50th gold medal. Plus Matthew went and kissed hs partner afterwards. That is the best gay moment of 2008 for me.

Average (1 vote):
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BSGnut's picture

Breathe Me Episode?

I can't believe the Christian-Ollie "Breath Me" episode didn't make the finals.  This was the best of the year in my opinion.  While I also loved the boxing ring episode, that "Breathe Me" scene is one of the hottest, most romantic gay images ever put on film.  I voted for the Hollyoaks Sunset Ending, but that was clearly #2 in my book.

Average (1 vote):
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Maxine's picture

BSGmut...I couldn't believe

BSGmut...I couldn't believe it either...the 4/04/08 episode didn't make the cut. That scene will go down has one of the most gorgeous and romantic images of love ever recorded. It was bad enough when Afterelton excluded that scene last year from best kiss, but to see it not make the final tally for these awards is truely mind boggling. I mean, when it comes to kissing with passion, Jo and Thore know how to kiss.  If that Luke and Noah's episode could make it, who I happen to think their kisses are the worst out of all the couples, all closed mouth with slapping sound effects or something coming from Van, then surely the 4/04/08 should have been included. Then again, it's all about rallying the fans and getting them to vote. And if there is one thing the Nuke fans have going for them...it's rounding up the troops when needed. 

Although we didn't get the 4/04/08, I still voted for the boxing scene which I think was extremely beautiful and touching.

Loving Every Minute's picture

I can't believe none of the

I can't believe none of the kisses from Torchwood made it for best kiss... shocking...
Average (3 votes):
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sarah's picture

The Jack/Ianto kiss in To the Last Man

is the hottest kiss I've ever seen on TV. Just a matter of opinion, of course.

 

Anyway, Milk and Matthew Mitcham FTW! :)

 

lenny's picture

awww, man!

no lafayette from true blood!?!  no omar from the wire!?!
Insideguy's picture

Harvey Milk Lives on

I am disappointed to find that the Man of the Year finalist list did not include the name of Harvey Milk.  Why a man who died 30 years ago?  Not because there is great new film about his life, likely to garner numerous Oscar nominations, but because his life and legacy live on and are extremely relevant to what is going on today.  He stood for social change, equality , and justice. Not just for gays, but for all those who have ever been marginalized.  In his lifetime Harvey Milk was a lightening rod for action; he changed lives, saved lives, and made lives better.

The night Harvey Milk died I happened to be in San Francisco for my first Thanksgiving with my newly developing extended gay family.  I was barely more than a step or two out of the closet reeling with the confusions of: was I going to never find love, and would always be unhappy and alone, as some people suggested.  Like my friends I was crying.  At some point I turned around and saw the thousands of people holding candles flowing in from Market street and on to the plaza.  At that moment it didn't matter that I hadn't known Harvey Milk personally.  His legacy to me, and so many others, was you are not alone and you don't ever have to be alone, ever.

Personally, I am not for marriage of any kind, because it is not based on love but on ownership and slavery.  It even has a signed contract.  In the bible women are often refereed to as "chattel",  or, as a man's personal property.  Where is the love in that.  Many men still consider that they have entitlement and own women.  Given the rise in spousal and child abuse, the divorce rate, and multiple marriages, you have to question the viability of marriage and the true definition of what traditional marriage really is all about.  That, is purely my reasoning. For others, however, marriage is a sense of love and commitment that provides stability and safety.  How can people even question that.  In Harvey's lifetime they wanted to cast out teachers from schools,  now teacher no longer have to fear the loss of their jobs.  Now we have a new job to do and Harvey stands there a symbol for what can be done and a symbol for hope.  This towering man's greatest quote is, "You've got to give them Hope." peals out to us all once more.

Even in death, he can inspire us to action. so  "Out of the bars and into the streets." Let them know we are here and we aren't going anywhere.

INSIDEGUY

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Dave Doty's picture

Matthew Mitcham

Aw, I like Matthew Mitcham so much, but he only pops up in categories where I feel there's someone clearly more deserving of the particular award. If only the Olympics were listed as a reality show, or Matthew was up for "best TV character." :)

Or there were a "best hug" category along with best kiss. MM would have won that one, hands down.

GayTVluver's picture

Difficult voting...

There's so many serious moments and people mixed with exciting moments and people...it's a little hard to cast my vote. Do I wanna be honest and go with my head or vote with my heart. Matthew winning, State courts legalizing gay marriage and the community actually getting off it's ass to protest after Prop 8. Wow, tough one.
Beth's picture

I think Jon Stewart should

I think Jon Stewart should be included for the list of Straight Allies. How many times has he verbally kicked pundits asses on his show defending us and our rights? That deserves to be awarded or at least nominated!

I want to be a hero like Captain Jack Harkness, kicking butt and snogging anything with a pulse! Besides, then I get a sexy receptionist of my very own. And no one would mess with me because I can kill them creatively.