12 Unfortunate Assaults On Taste And Culture Made By LGBT People — And Cher

According to stereotype, gay people are the ultimate tastemakers and creative trendsetters. Our keen eyes for detail and ability to think outside the box provide us with an aptitude for identifying trends, uncovering talent, and coming up with creative ideas and designs, particularly when it comes to art, culture, and fashion.

While it’s true that in generate we dominate the creative world, we can be just as tacky as everyone else. In fact, our fails tend to be even more spectacular. Usually, we know the difference between good taste and intentionally bad taste, known in sociology as “camp.” For instance, the cult classic Pink Flamingos is so bad it’s good, which the great John Waters totally got. Unfortunately, we’re not always that lucky.

Scroll down for 12 of our worst contributions to American culture and style. Please add your own examples in the comments section below…

Mesh underwear

Whatever queen is responsible for this shockingly awful trend should have his gay card revoked immediately. ‘Nuff said.

Carson Kressley’s “Perfect” QVC clothing line

The year was 2006. Carson Kressley was at the top of his game as fashionista on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. So he did what every successful D-list celebrity does and launched a QVC fashion line. The line was called “Perfect” and featured “basics with a twist” geared, apparently, towards Midwestern suburban housewives. Items included pleaded khaki capri pants with a side buckle, T-shirts bedazzled with rhinestones, white denim jackets with polkadots, and stretch jeans to name just a few examples of the horror. We love you, Carson, but, please, you’re hurting our eyes!

David Bromstad’s “fine art” collection

Looking for a glossy mixed animal print canvas to hang over your sofa? Search no further! David Bromstad, host of HGTV’s Color Splash, has no shortage of affordable “fine art” for sale, in addition to a line of bathroom accessories sold exclusively at Bed Bath & Beyond, and a limited-edition collection of Coffee-Mate® creamer bottles (yes, we said Coffee-Mate® creamer bottles) that he designed for Target.

Darren Star’s Cashmere Mafia television series

Sex and the City producer Darren Star hoped to recycle the HBO phenomenon on network TV in 2008 when he signed on as executive producer of ABC’s Cashmere Mafia. The show followed four fashion-obsessed career women as they navigated through life in New York City. It was a familiar formula, and one not many viewers seemed interested in. The show, packed with outdated fashions, ugly sets, and bad one-liners, bombed both in the ratings and the reviews, surviving barely seven episodes before ABC pulled the plug.

The music of Colton Ford

The adult film star released his first album Tug of War in 2008, which featured 12 original electronic dance songs. A year later, Ford released his sophomore effort, Under the Covers, a collection of 18 cover songs, including Aailyah’s “Rock the Boat,” Britney Spears’ “Trouble,” and Mariah Carey’s “It’s Like That.” A third assault came in 2013, when Ford released yet another album of original dance tunes called The Way I Am.

Dante’s Cove

The gay-themed supernatural/gothic soap opera aired on the network here! for three seasons between 2005 and 2007 and centered around a young gay couple, Kevin and Toby, whose love was constantly being challenged by dark mystical forces conspiring to tear them apart. After the third season ended, here! announced plans to produce a fourth, but something happened (we’re not sure what exactly) and the new season mercifully never came to light, though the show’s official website still says it’s “coming soon.” Perhaps it’s being held captive in the evil House of Shadows.

Liberace’s mirrored piano

It’s not surprising that someone with an ego the size of Liberace’s would want a grand piano covered entirely with mirrors so he could admire himself, and be admired by others, from every angle at all times. The problem isn’t so much the piano itself, but what it led to, and we’re not just talking about the elevator music that’s about as pleasant as fingernails on a chalkboard. Thanks to the bejeweled one, some people now furnish their entire homes with mirrored decor. Mirrored tables. Mirrored dressers. Mirrored headboards. Mirrored armoires. Department stores now carry entire lines of mirrored furnishings.

 

Cher’s gay anthem “Pride” 

We love Cher. But her gay anthem “Pride” from the deluxe edition of her most recent album Closer to the Truth was bad even by EDM standards. “We got pride,” the diva belted over a synthetic dance beat, “We own the night! We are the light!” Had it been released in, say, 1996 it might have resonated more deeply with gay audiences. But by 2013, we didn’t need another shrieking club track telling us to be proud.

Lady Gaga’s ARTPOP

While we’re on the subject of bad music, to call Lady Gaga’s 2013 album ARTPOP a “misstep” would be an understatement. The album, along with its promotional campaign, was an utter disaster, plagued by poor single choices, infighting with her management, and disappointing sales figures, not to mention bizarre media appearances where Gaga claimed she was addicted to marijuana and made jabs at Madonna’s age. But the root of ARTPOP‘s problem was probably the songs themselves, many of which sounded like throwaway tracks from her previous effort Born This Way. Oh, and don’t even get us started on that whole collaboration with R. Kelly and the rapey music video. We still cringe every time we think about it.

The interior designs of Bobby Trendy

Self-proclaimed “top interior designer of Los Angeles” Bobby Trendy first gained notoriety after appearing on The Anna Nicole Show in the mid-2000s. Trendy designed a tufted Pepto-Bismol pink bed for Smith with matching feathered pillows and satan bedding. He later went on to call himself “the most famous designer in the world” before appearing on the short-lived Gimme My Reality Show!, in which D-listers compete for their own reality show. (He didn’t win, unfortunately.)

Madonna’s film The Next Best Thing

This 2000 calamity starring Madonna and Rupert Everett revolves around Abbie (played by Madge) and her gay best friend Robert (played by Everett) who decide to make a baby together. Things don’t work out and a nasty custody battle ensues. Critics called the film “astonishingly bad,” a “tone-deaf disaster,” and a “depressing, lugubrious film experience.” Roger Ebert described it as “a garage sale of gay issues, harnessed to a plot as exhausted as a junkman’s horse.” Perhaps the only good thing to come from the entire debacle was its soundtrack, which featured two new songs from Madge, “Time Stood Still,” and a cover of Don McLean’s “American Pie,” which became an international hit.

 

Rainbow flag & swag

We know Gilbert Baker had the best intentions when he designed the Gay Pride flag in 1978. And to be clear: We totally understand and appreciate what the flag represents. But we still hate it. The colors are, in a word, garish. They are too bright. Not to mention, there are too many of them. (Believe it or not, the original design had even more colors, but two of them had to be removed for production purposes.) On top of that, the whole rainbow thing has gotten way out of control. There are now entire online stores dedicated exclusively to selling personalized rainbow gear — T-shirts, jewelry, keychains, belt buckles, water bottles, bumper stickers. It’s become a real problem.

Graham Gremore

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Dr. Ben Carson: National Malpractice
By Rory Winston

Upon hearing Ben Carson, the touted archangel of the archconservatives, proclaim that being gay is a choice, a fact illustrated by all those straight men who turn gay in prison, I couldn’t help but envision SNL’s Kenan Thompson getting up as Carson and saying, “Being Ben Carson is a choice, a fact illustrated by all those smart men who turn into creationists shortly after joining the Republican Party.” A retired neurosurgeon, Carson abandoned his area of expertise to pursue a career that isn’t exactly brain surgery.

In an effort to stave off accusations of homophobia, he recently found it necessary to invent a pseudoscientific basis for his distorted perspective. Qualifying his antediluvian worldview with a syllogistic fallacy, he proposed that since straight men often supposedly turn gay while being in prison, one can conclude that being gay is something one chooses, and that it is further correct to infer that all gay men have consciously made a similar choice about their sexuality at one time or another. In the resounding words of big Ben, “[They] go into prison straight, and when they come out, they’re gay. So did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question.”

Personally, I don’t believe it’s necessary to ask myself anything of the sort. In fact, it makes about as much sense to ask Carson’s question as it would to ask if men with muscular physiques have criminal minds just because most men look very buffed up after a period of incarceration. Applying Carson’s winning formula to other areas of human behavior makes for wonderfully colorful and cost-efficient research. To find out whether or not celibacy is a lifestyle choice, one could, for example, simply examine the behavior of a person marooned on a desert island. If the person isn’t happy, then all celibates must be fooling themselves into thinking they are alone by design.

Although it may come as a shock to Carson, most people are in precisely the type of gender relationship they had been drawn to from early on — born to be wild, mild, straight, gay and often “getting bi with a little help from our friends.” The fact that these dynamics may alter in prison says more about the restrictive setting than about those who are forced to be there. No one disputes that besides genuinely gay prisoners and some who come out, there are also heterosexual prisoners who settle for gay companionship while incarcerated. Similarly, we should recognize that in repressive theocracies it is often the opposite that holds true: Under these circumstances, vast numbers of gay men and women are forced to turn to heterosexual relationships out of fear or simply for the sake of solace. Imposed constraints can alter natural desires. People make do, often settling for less. Whether love wrought under dire circumstances lasts once those constraints are removed is an entirely different matter.

As the reputed Republican Hopeless for the 2016 presidential election, Carson takes every opportunity to congratulate himself on his ability to speak his mind at any cost — the cost in this case being the reinforcement of an utterly nonsensical and dangerous notion, but the cost in all cases being rationality and someone else’s well-being. Although Ben plays the “bad boy” iconoclast card on a regular basis, he is very careful never to step outside party lines. His anti-politically correct posturing is not only overtly political in nature but is about as correct as most opportunism: right for himself and those who finance him.

As a rags-to-riches success story, Carson has been getting away with incendiary comments for quite some time. While many of us may have been taught that kids say the darndest things, we often forget that very accomplished adults are often capable of saying the dumbest things. Having compared Obamacare to 9/11, recent Democratic initiatives to slavery, and the president’s vision to Mein Kampf, the good doctor seems to be on a roll. It’s not hard to imagine just what kind of surgery Carson would recommend for our nation in order to save it from deadly cancers like same-sex marriage and equal opportunity.

In case the day should come when, in our fear, we do sign a consent form empowering someone like Dr. Run-Ben-Run Carson to lobotomize our democracy, well, not to worry, we’ll still have those other geniuses to run to. I think they used to call them rocket scientists.

www.huffingtonpost.com/lgbt-news/dr-ben-carson-national-ma_b_6811018.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Mark-Paul Gosselaar Poses Totally Nude, Adam Lambert Shows Off The Pecs, Pablo Finds A Twin & More

This week, Michael Urie addressed rumors of an Ugly Betty reunion, Russell Tovey offended the entire world then issued a half-apology and Grease 2 hunk Maxwell Caulfield remembered his early wild days in New York. Here’s what happened recently on Instagram:
Adam Lambert has a hot chest and wants you to see it.

Gym time back in Hollywood– @trainersethg pump!

A photo posted by ADAMLAMBERT (@adamlambert) on Mar 3, 2015 at 2:45pm PST

Sam Smith gets illustrated.   

  All-American Boy Steve Grand loves his All-American band.

  I LOVE my #GrandBand so much! I can’t wait to travel allll over with them and play the new record for all of you! #allamericanboy   A photo posted by Steve Grand (@stevegrandmusic) on Feb 28, 2015 at 6:29pm PST

Model Jon Kortajarena‘s beauty competes with the magnificent L.A. scenery.

Every effort has its rewards. Rayon Canyon. LA #letsstarttheday A photo posted by Jon Kortajarena (@kortajarenajon) on Mar 5, 2015 at 9:00am PST

E.J. Johnson has the perfect look for every occasion.

  Rock the boat #Bahamas #rkobh #teamthis   A photo posted by EJ Johnson (@ejjohnson_) on Feb 24, 2015 at 3:18pm PST

Hugh Jackman deserves a cheat day like everyone else.

Like that’s going to happen! A photo posted by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman) on Mar 5, 2015 at 3:46am PST

Blake Skjellerup and his fiance party hard on Friday nights.

  Friday nights, just one crazy after another, am I right? Amazing Race, DateLine, Insane Pools…. Off the chain in here.   A photo posted by Blake Skjellerup (@blakeskjellerup) on Feb 27, 2015 at 8:20pm PST

John Legend lives up to his last name.

Thank you Bahrain! I enjoyed performing for you. Full text of my remarks during “Glory” can be found here: showmecampaign.org/news/

A photo posted by John Legend (@johnlegend) on Mar 2, 2015 at 3:52pm PST

Colton Haynes got burned!

Well @ianbohen almost beat me this time…close but no cigar. #SunBurntBitch hahaha! A photo posted by Colton Haynes (@coltonlhaynes) on Mar 6, 2015 at 3:03pm PST

Model Pablo Hernandez seems to have found a boyfriend-twin.

He asks you to give it to him rough, what do you do? Photo by @briannieh87 @briannieh87 #pablohernandez #pablohernandezofficial #briannieh #model #photographer #photo #venice #beach #beauty #andrewchristian #trophyboy

A photo posted by Pablo Hernandez Official Page (@pablohernandezofficial) on Mar 6, 2015 at 4:45pm PST

OK, this is a cheat because it’s from Twitter, not Instagram…but OMG, Zach Morris Mark-Paul Gosselaar let someone take a totally nude photo of him while doing a handstand! 

Teaming up with @Piketoon for the @CACrossFit #pairpower competition. @CrossFit. Some would say we’ve already won. pic.twitter.com/3EI2uMNWoW — Mark-Paul Gosselaar (@MPG) February 21, 2015

Jeremy Kinser

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12 Beautiful Quotes From Women In Art Who Aren't Afraid To Call Out Injustice
Today is International Women’s Day, a day globally dedicated to acknowledging the economic, social and political achievements of women across the world. In honor of the occasion, we’re rounding up some of the best interviews we’ve had with women in the arts, all of whom aren’t afraid to tackle the tough issues women face in their daily lives. From education to beauty, success to authenticity, popular perceptions of body hair to the epidemic of catcalling, these female artists don’t veer away from injustice; instead, they face obstacles head on.

Behold, 12 beautiful quotes from women in the arts:

On the importance of education:

” It’s not enough to have a few women’s studies courses. Why is it more important to study Paul Revere’s midnight ride than it is Susan B. Anthony’s 50-year effort to transform the face of America for women? When you’re in school, most of the events you study are about men. Men’s activities lauded and repeated over and over. What about us? What about commemorating the decades-long struggle for suffrage? Why don’t we hear those stories over and over and over again. It’s almost inconceivable for men to understand what it would be like to live without that constant valorization.”

On catcalling:

“There are always those who want to tell women that their experiences are not valid or not important whenever they speak up. For me, as a black woman, this is particularly true. Wanting the basic right of feeling comfortable and safe and not sexualized as I walk out of my house is very much worth prioritizing.” -artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh (read more here)

On success in a contemporary world:

“Success is now lined up with the realm of glamour, money and accoutrement which in essence have nothing to do with an originating vision but they do have to do with establishing recognition in commercial culture. I think women artists have a chance to deflect that and break that grip apart.” -performance artist Carolee Schneemann (read more here)

On finding your authentic self:

“I came of age before women’s lib, and wanted to buck the stereotypes of a culture that branded me a pretty girl, thin enough to be a fashion model and not much more. Armed with my camera and tripod, I found a way to define myself on my own terms in the most authentic way I could.” -photographer Lucy Hilmer (read more here)

On our culture’s preoccupation with female body hair:

“I entered making this work with a sense of fascination that hair is both beautiful and repulsive in our culture. The fragile influence of context is its only distinction. We see long hair on a woman as a symbol of beauty and femininity, but as soon as the hair is cut or removed the body, we think of it as unsanitary and strange. Likewise, we seem to never have enough hair in the places we want it, and too much hair in the places that we don’t want it to be!” -photographer Rebecca Drolen (read more here)

On definitions of beauty:

“The power to show real women, honest, present, complex and complete. Individuals, radiant in their own right. Not stripped of their personhood, or manipulated for a fantasy or metaphor. I like to think the power of lifting the veil from individuals helps to challenge societies darker fetishes and beliefs, perhaps shatter notions of bigotry and stereotypes… One of my greatest joys is working with women who do not usually dwell in this side of their beauty and yet in the work recognize themselves completely, as they are and magnificent.” -painter Victoria Selbach (read more here)

On the realities of trans women:

“[My] series was inspired by my love for the trans women I have met online and my sympathy with the struggles they have being seen as women and people… Trans women are everywhere, but until recently have been marginalized by the invisibility enforced by the intensification of misogynist violence toward them. It is up to cisnormative society to stop questioning their femininity, embrace their beauty, and counter the disadvantages they have just by being themselves.” -artist Janet Bruesselbach (read more here)

On gun control laws:

“My hope is that the young men in the 8th Ward and the surrounding neighborhoods are inspired to trade killing for creativity. Through the relationships they’ve developed they decide they can move past the paradigm of gangsters and guns. Healing in the neighborhood, by the neighborhood.” -artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele (read more here)

On the radical nature of the selfie:

“Yes, of course they have the capability of being radical or feminist. Our generation knows the image of the self better then any other generation before, because of our access to cameras, media and sharing. And also, the language of the image is no longer in the hands of specialists. We are all experts in reading images and we know how to control and manipulate the viewer through images.” – artist Melanie Bonajo (read more here)

On feminism’s potential for future change:

“The Future Feminist point of view has increasingly leaned not towards striving for equal status within a male construct or a male society, but rather to invite a redesign of society based on the principles of a feminine archetype in order to create the hope of a sustainable future for us all.” -The Future Feminists (read more here)

On inclusion in the art world:

“I am aware of the fact that in the bigger scheme of things in the art and literary worlds there are still a lot of gaps as far as diversity and representation goes. That is part of my personal inspiration to make art and tell stories and have more representation for women and people of color.” -comic artist Yumi Sakugawa (read more here)

On hope

-Barbara Nessim (read more here)

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/06/quotes-by-women-artists_n_6819714.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices