equal rights
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demonstrators outside the Taiwanese Legislature during the first reading of a proposed marriage equality bill (Dec 26, 2016)
Daily Archives: December 26, 2016
George Michael’s 1998 Coming Out Interview: ‘I Don’t Feel Any Shame and Neither Do I Think I Should’ – WATCH
George Michael’s 1998 Coming Out Interview: ‘I Don’t Feel Any Shame and Neither Do I Think I Should’ – WATCH
The 1998 CNN interview in which George Michael came out of the closet following his Beverly Hills ‘lewd conduct’ arrest has been posted online. He was never ashamed.
Michael offered up reasons for his sexual ambiguity up until that time:
“It works very successfully in pop culture because it means, especially if you’re trying to communicate something emotional, or sexual, that you’re communicating with both men and women…My sexuality was not cut and dried.”
RELATED: George Michael Dead at 53
He added:
“I spent the first half of my career being accused of being gay when I hadn’t had anything like a gay relationship…So I spent my years growing up being told what my sexuality was … which was kind of confusing.
“I want to say that I have no problem with people knowing that I’m in a relationship with a man right now. I have not been in a relationship with a woman for almost 10 years…I write about my life and I want people to know…”
ALSO: Gay Iconography: Keeping The ‘Faith’ in George Michael
Michael said that what prompted him to come out is because he’d done that “in a way that I hadn’t intended to.”
“I think having done something as stupid as that…I’m a very proud man. I want people to know that I have not been exposed as a gay man in any way that…I don’t feel any shame. I feel stupid and I feel reckless and weak for having allowed my sexuality to be exposed this way. But I don’t feel any shame whatsoever and neither do I think I should.”
Watch:
The Guardian’s Owen Jones praises Michael’s shamelessness:
Yes, it’s true that the manner in which he was outed became a standard playground homophobic trope, a means for bigots to express their revulsion at how sordid and morally corrupt they deemed gay men to be. But haters gonna hate, as the expression goes – homophobes will latch on to anything to confirm their bigoted narrative. For LGBT people consumed with terror at the realisation of who they were, to see the man who sang Last Christmas telling his tormentors where to stick it was liberating….
…We live in an age where bigots are newly emboldened. They treat supporters of anti-racism, feminism and LGBT rights like this: “You’ve had your party, now it’s over, and it’s our turn.” It is tempting to turn and retreat. But, as a closeted teenager back in 1998, it is impossible not to recall the courage and defiance of George Michael. A talented and much adored musician, yes. But also a gay man, and a gay icon, who made the lives of so many LGBT people that little bit easier.
The post George Michael’s 1998 Coming Out Interview: ‘I Don’t Feel Any Shame and Neither Do I Think I Should’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
The Year in Review: The Ten Best Comedians of the Resistance to Trump
The Year in Review: The Ten Best Comedians of the Resistance to Trump
Celebrating the comedians who fought their hardest (and funniest) against a Trump presidency.
www.advocate.com/comedy/2016/12/26/year-review-ten-best-comedians-resistance-trump
Why Drag Race's Producers Made a Doc About Depression
Why Drag Race's Producers Made a Doc About Depression
Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey discuss how LGBT viewers will relate to their HBO documentary, Every Brilliant Thing, as well as drag’s new relevance in Trumpland.
www.advocate.com/film/2016/12/26/why-drag-races-producers-made-doc-about-depression
David Sparkes (2016)
In memorium: George Michael
In memorium: George Michael
Photo Credit: GeorgeMichael.com
George Michael, who died Sunday at age 53 at his home in Oxfordshire, England was without a doubt the UK’s biggest pop star of the 1980s selling more than 100 million albums worldwide with Wham! and as a solo artist. His publicist issued a statement saying that:
“It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period. The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage.”
After enjoying early success in the duo Wham! alongside friend Andrew Ridgeley, he built a solo career which catapulted him to further stardom and musical success. Among the countless people who posted their shock and loss on social media, Ridgeley was one of the first to express his emotion on Twitter: “Heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend Yog. Me, his loved ones, his friends, the world of music, the world at large. 4ever loved.” (Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou.)
Sir Elton John posted a photograph of himself with Michael on Instagram, writing:
“I am in deep shock. I have lost a beloved friend – the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family and all of his fans.”
Ellen DeGeneres:
“I just heard about my friend @GeorgeMichael‘s death. He was such a brilliant talent. I’m so sad.”
And Boy George added:
“He was so loved and I hope he knew it because the sadness today is beyond words. What a beautiful voice he had and his music will live on as a testament to his talent. I can’t believe he is gone. I hope the Buddha will hold him in his arms.”
His family issued a statement asking “that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage.”
In an interview, Michael said: “I had my very first relationship at 27 because I really had not actually come to terms with my sexuality until I was 24. I lost my partner to HIV then it took about three years to grieve; then after that I lost my mother. I felt almost like I was cursed.”
Channeling his passion and energy to make a difference, he fronted a documentary about HIV to coincide with World Aids Day in 1998, the year he publicly came out on CNN. The film, MTV Staying Alive, focused on the experiences of six young people from different countries who were either infected with or affected by the HIV virus. MTV Staying Alive Foundation is now one of the most important organizations working to fight this worldwide epidemic which many believe is under control. He was also a passionate supporter of the HIV charity the Terrence Higgins Trust.
After Wham! made their initial chart breakthrough with the single Young Guns (Go for It) in 1982, he continued writing hits like Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and Careless Whisper. Michael topped the charts in early 1987 with a classic duet with Aretha Franklin, I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).
In 1991, Michael and Elton John enjoyed a mutual triumph with their duet version of John’s Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, a song they had performed together at the 1985 Live Aid concert and which they now recorded live at a George Michael concert at Wembley Arena. This version topped both the US and British charts.
His first solo album, Faith (1987), topped the charts by selling 25 million copies. In March 2014 he released Symphonica, which became his seventh solo album to top the UK chart. This month, it was announced that he was working on a new album with producer and songwriter Naughty Boy.
He was also planning a film, tentatively titled Freedom: George Michael, due to accompany the reissue of his 1990 album Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1. Pulling together friends and artists from throughout his career, the film, narrated by Michael, would feature Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Mary J Blige, as well as other musical artists, and supermodels who appeared in his Freedom! ’90 video.
George Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in Finchley, North London. It was at Radlett in Hertfordshire where George attended Bushey Meads school and became close friends with Andrew Ridgeley. The pair formed a ska-influenced quintet, the Executive, in 1979, then in 1981 re-emerged as the iconic duo, Wham!. GLAAD joins the rest of the world in mourning this loss and celebrating his contributions to music and to the LGBTQ community.
December 26, 2016
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The Hebro Jewbilee 2016
The Hebro Jewbilee 2016
www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2016/12/26/hebro-jewbilee-2016
This Carrie Bradshaw “masc4masc” meme has everyone taking
This Carrie Bradshaw “masc4masc” meme has everyone taking
Masc4masc? We think not. With fewer and fewer gay men feeling comfortable identifying as either “masc” or “fem,” the general consensus these days seems to be that the whole “masc4masc” thing is an outdated expression from the gay hookup culture of yesterday. Yet you still see plenty of guys writing it on their Grindr profiles. Why is that?
Related: ‘Sex and the City 3’ is happening and this Carrie Bradshaw drag queen is very excited about it
Now, a new meme has begun circulating online and it seems to have sparked quite a debate. The image features none other than our old friend who we can’t stand anymore Carrie Bradshaw dressed in a fluffy grey sweater and plucking away at her MacBook while pondering whether or not “masculinity” is really all that it pretends to be.
Check out the meme and share your thoughts on it in the comments section below…
Well? Is it? #masc4masc #masculinity #genderroles #gay #carriebradshaw #satc
A photo posted by Queerty (@queerty) on
12/26 Marriage Equality, Guarding The Congress
Tony-winning actor BD Wong invents best way to eat chicken wings
Tony-winning actor BD Wong invents best way to eat chicken wings
While GQ describes gay actor BD Wong as the “handsome perennial guest star” Queerty readers will also recall that he won the Tony for his portrayal of Song Liling in M. Butterfly back in the late 1980s.
After you watch the video check out the full interview, BD Wong Will Never Die where he talks about his many roles — including Whiterose on “Mr. Robot” and his experiences in the Jurassic Park movies.