Lance Bass: The Book Tour

October 30, 2007

The Lance Bass book tour continues to spiral a lot of totally boring stories from all corners of the United States.

Here are the things we've learned so far from the Lance Bass book tour -- when he was younger, he thought TImberlake and Chris Kirkpatrick also might have been gay. (We're going to guess it's because they were all in a boy band together...we thought they were gay, too.)

In the November issue of "GQ", Bass is quoted as saying: "We thought Justin was gay because he told us he wanted to do a gay part in a movie…We thought Chris was gay because he used to hang out with a choreographer."

Perez Hilton (what does he have against Lance?) reports that the book-signing in Dallas went okay, and that Lance was apparently flirting with a tall blond dude. Also, Perez is saying that the folks at iVillage are mad at him for missing his interview...but then listening to Perez is like listening to things your little sister comes home and tells you about the popular kids at school. Every boring little detail...

This is all just a quick little update on Lance so we buy ourselves a little more time while we dispatch our intern downstairs to go buy the book. That's right. We're gonna read the sucker. Stay tuned...

No Pageants for the Lesbians?

October 29, 2007

Over the weekend, the US Mr. Gay Pageant was held in Hollywood. The pageant is not to be confused with “Mr. Gay US,” “MISS Gay USA” or “Miss Gay USofA” or “Mister-Gay-but-doesn’t-want-to-be-associated-with-any-other-gay-pageants-USA.”

Seriously, it’s a little insane. There are countless numbers of pageants for gay men. Or men dressed as women, or women dressed as men (though, surprisingly, (sorta) not a whole lot of pageants for lesbians).

Each pageant website we went to had its own particular “we’re the best one” feel to it. Which made us briefly consider doing an expose on the counterculture of gay pageantry. And then the more we thought about it -- wow, that sounds so exhausting.

“J.T.” Taylor of San Francisco took home the sash and the crown, while runners-up were won by Josh Roberts of Chicago and Derek Moates of Birmingham, Alabama.

The best comment we’ve heard about it was queerty's take on the event: that three muscle boys from San Francisco take home the top honors, proving that gay men are not a stereotype. The part we loved best, actually came directly from the press release:

With the tagline, “Because Gay Is Not a Stereotype,” the U.S. Mr. Gay Competition searches beyond looks to identify one man with the individual charisma to serve as a successful role model in challenging gay stereotypes.”

Yeah. Shirtless white dudes. That’s not what you expect out of a gay pageant. Not at all.

Tolerance: The New Intolerance

October 26, 2007

Has anyone else been noticing that certain words are being thrown around again in the weirdest of ways? We keep hearing Ann Coulter talk about the “intolerant left” and now this:

Bill O’Reilly had a conversation with Dennis Miller, you know, in front of actual people, that kind of made our collective mouths drop open.

Of course he’s upset that J.K. Rowling outed an old gay wizard during an event at Carnegie Hall. We're all upset by it. We were really happy with our delusions that fictional characters don't think about other dudes that way. Here, now we present to you -- (via Dlisted) the actual transcript. Wow.

O’REILLY: Here’s — you can talk about this on your radio show tomorrow. There are millions of Americans who feel that the media and the educational system is trying to indoctrinate their children to a certain way of life, and that includes parity for homosexuals with heterosexuals. And that’s what this Rowling thing is all about, because she sells so many books. So many kids read it, that she comes out and says, “Oh, Dumbledore is gay, and that’s great.” And this — it’s another in the indoctrination thing. That’s what the belief system is among some Americans.

MILLER: I’ll be honest with you. I don’t think you can indoctrinate a kid into being gay. You might indoctrinate him into trying it once and him going, “I guess I’m not gay.”

O’REILLY: No, but tolerance. It’s — you know, he’s not going to be gay, but it’s tolerance of it.

When did tolerance become something we weren’t supposed to do anymore? Once we all stop at least tolerating each other, isn’t that pretty much the end of it all?

The bright spot? People are talking about this. We particularly recommend Mark Harris' fierce column for EW this week.

David Phillips: Larry Craig almost gave me Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

October 25, 2007

That Larry Craig. The guy is blogger gold. He just can't help it.

The problem with having anonymous sex when you're in the public eye, see, is that it's not really anonymous...and that must really bother the good Senator. Who's totally not gay, by the way. He keeps saying it.

And so, this afternoon, a guy named David Phillips (tell-all book forthcoming...) gave an impossibly graphic description of a sexual tryst with Senator "Scooty-Overy" on Wonkette. Wasn't everyone kinda waiting for this one? The "I totally did it with that guy on the news" run of bad luck about to take over Idaho's news cycle?

We are certain, absolutely certain, that this will now spawn a rash of "me too" blog postings over the next few days. And we can only hope they look like David Phillips, who -- interestingly enough -- was first runner up in DC Metro Weekly's 2006 Coverboy of the Year contest.

Seriously, though. If you're going to read the "Wonkette" article -- take a deep breath first. The description is impossibly...well, it's not necessarily well-written, but it is graphic, and weirdly titillating if you're into old closeted dudes, and the phrase "you don't know me, this never happened."

Also -- apparently we're not the only ones traumatized by Larry Craig's voice on television.

Ladies and Gents Who are Gorgeous

October 23, 2007

The gang down the hall has released a statement about the upcoming "Make Me A Supermodel" series. Turns out that supermodels Niki Taylor and Tyson Beckford will host the competition reality series, based on the successful UK series. Set to premiere in early 2008, the contestants will compete for a chance to launch their modeling career and win $100,000.

We love us some reality competition, but this show is even more amazing because there's a twist -- Bravo viewers will vote each week to determine who stays to walk the "Supermodel" catwalk again and who goes home. Yes, kids, your prayers have been answered -- you have a say! The cameras will also show the hopefuls' "home life" as they live together in a New York City apartment.

We love this idea so much we might implode, and we now have a legitimate reason to plaster our cubicle walls with photos of Tyson Beckford. Sigh.

Harry Potter and the Pink Triangle of Hogwarts

October 22, 2007

If you read the last book of the “Harry Potter” series – you probably remember this whole story about Professor Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of the school – in his youth. There he was, studying alongside some handsome dude who later turned out to be the most evil guy in the world. They spoke pretty, well, fondly of each other.

And you know, we kinda suspected, but thought we were reading too much into it. Like “A Separate Peace” or “Fight Club.” We found ourselves wondering, “is this gay?”

Turns out –uh, yeah.

Last week, at a Carnegie Hall reading hosted by Scholastic books, J.K. Rowling took a question about whether or not Dumbledore ever had a love interest. And her response, “I always thought of him as gay.”

She went on to say that she once had to correct one of the series screenwriters over a line where Dumbledore referred to a woman as a possible love interest.

Cheers to J.K! Talking about magical geriatrics in front of a group of schoolchildren takes guts, and we think it’s about time someone leveled with children that there are gay role- models to look up to in books they’re reading.

Maybe one day – it will even be mentioned IN the books.

Simon Doonan: Beautiful Person

October 18, 2007

Simon Doonan. He’s kind of a staff pick, kind of a Bravo favorite, and all around, a swinging cat. We have him on our wall at OUTzone HQ. We’re way into him.

Mainly, it’s this line from his latest column in the New York Observer:

“There I was, sitting on my deck out in Shelter Island enjoying a bit of global warming and cruising my new favorite website: menwholooklikeoldlesbians.blogspot.com. Yes, I was chuckling, but I was also looking for answers.”

The men who look like lesbians blog is a genuine find (turns out Wayne Newton looks like a staffer’s Aunt Joyce) -- but upon further poking, we also learned that Mr. Doonan launched his very own website last week. We went for the timeline. We stayed for the photo gallery.

READ MORE > >

Madge Makes the Announcement

October 16, 2007

So, we all kinda knew this was happening over the last week or so, but today, Madonna and concert promoter Live Nation Inc. announced a deal that will give Live Nation a stake in her albums, tours, merchandising, films and other music-related projects.

Financial terms were not disclosed in the joint statement released by Madonna and Live Nation. A person familiar with the agreement previously told the Associated Press it was worth about $120 million over 10 years.

And that’ll buy you a whole slew of…you get the joke. It’s too tired to make.

Madonna said in a statement that she was drawn to the all-encompassing deal with Live Nation because of the changes the music business has undergone in recent years.

''The paradigm in the music business has shifted and as an artist and a business woman, I have to move with that shift. For the first time in my career, the way that my music can reach my fans is unlimited. I've never wanted to think in a limited way and with this new partnership, the possibilities are endless.''

Also. Lucrative.

READ MORE > >

Clay Aiken: Spam

October 16, 2007

We want to be clear – we are in no way speculating about Clay Aiken. Because WOW, who cares? But we thought we’d drop in a little note about the kid’s future plans.

Clay Aiken will join the Broadway cast of ''Monty Python's Spamalot'' on Jan. 18, playing one of the leads, Sir Robin, in the Tony Award-winning musical directed by Mike Nichols.

''I really couldn't have asked for a more wonderful group of people to work with,'' said Aiken, “Let's not lie, the chance to work with legendary creative minds like Mike Nichols and Eric Idle is, on its own, a reason to jump at this opportunity.''

Aiken will appear in the show, which is based on the film ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail,'' through May 4, 2008.

'Clay Aiken is amazing beyond that glorious voice,'' Nichols said. ''Turns out he is an excellent comic actor and a master of character.''

So…you know…get your tickets. We guess.

Matthew Rhys: Straight bashed?

October 15, 2007

Now, don't get hysterical. It's not totally the case. And everyone is, you know, okay.

But there is a great anecdote in "The Advocate" this month about a burly dude who tried to buddy-up with the "Brothers and Sisters" star by shouting "Gay Power!" at him, and then got a little testy when it was revealed that Mr. Rhys was straight.

Don't get us wrong. We love us some Matthew Rhys, almost as much as we hate Kevin Walker. (Hate is a strong word...we're really just jealous of the office. Also the making out with Luke McFarlane.)

But it's time we posed the question, while we're on the topic. When are gay roles going to be played by gay actors?

The Obsession with Drains

October 15, 2007

"It is my right to do what I'm doing."

So says Senator Larry Craig, the once relatively obscure, now-famous Idaho Senator who was arrested for trying to have sex on the potty in Minneapolis, and more recently declaring he will NOT step down from his Senate seat.

"I've already provided for Idaho certainty that Idaho needed -- I'm not running for re-election. I'm no longer in the way. I am pursuing my constitutional rights."

What the hell is he talking about?

It’s anyone’s guess, but there’s something sad about a guy who really just won’t quit with the whole I’m-not-gay-I-just-pled-guilty-to-trying-to-sleep-with-a-man spin campaign.

READ MORE > >

Meet the Missionaries

October 10, 2007

Gawker was running an item this morning about the “men on a mission” calendar, in which hunky Mormon missionaries take off their shirts and pose for someone who clearly also shoots for other, shall we say, men’s magazines.

The site wants to be clear that it is in no way affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. But, it does give a portion of the proceeds from the calendars to organizations that the missionaries hold dear to their hearts.

You know the guys we mean -- you’ve likely seen them wandering around town with sweet little name tags on, the white shirts, the ties. And the good news about them is that what they’re doing is stuff like feeding the poor, and building schools and all sorts of wonderful things.

The dark side is that they’re not allowed to drink, smoke, have sex, or have impure thoughts of any kind. And let’s be clear, that makes them pretty hot.

When it comes down to the mormon stance on gay people, it’s pretty much like every other organization. You’re going to get your crazy places that’ll try to reverse it, and you’re also going to get your gay Mormon’s marching in parades.

Either way, OUTzone HQ now has their 2008 calendar.

Our Whirlwind "Top Chef" Weekend

October 08, 2007

Let us begin by saying that all of us around OUTzone HQ were fairly divided about what who would win Season Three of "Top Chef." While we were desperate to see Dale take home the gayest "Top Chef" title ever, we also thought Hung has some pretty fierce chops. (We even thought of inventing a drinking game, to take a drink every time someone says, "Well, Hung..."

In the end, we all thought the time had come for the first female "Top Chef" and so we were pulling for Casey. Which made the whole thing a little devastating for us.

However, Bravo saw fit to dispatch some of us to the finale, where we got some awesome footage with Rocco DiSpirito (interviewing him is a constant battle between keeping the camera focused and wanting to make out with him), and we also got some amazing footage of "Top Chef" contestants Sandee and Dale, who told us their coming out stories for the upcoming "National Coming Out Day" feature we're launching.

For the most part though, we have to say that Chicago is an awesome town. We ate the Giordano's pizza, we saw (hands down) the best production of "Suddenly Last Summer" ever, and even had a debauched night of dancing on tables with Bravo talent. All of which we're obligated not to write about because it happened in front of our bosses and we're hoping they will forget.

We also got to attend the taping of the Season Three reunion. No kidding folks, tune in. It's fairly incredible stuff.

The Plight of Gay Foster Kids

October 03, 2007

We thought we’d bring your attention to a story today that we hadn’t really thought of. The “Southern Voice” is running an impressive story on “the other side of gay adoption.”

It details the plight of gay kids within the foster care system and the search to find families who are accepting of them.

Gay political groups are already in massive motivated efforts against multiple attempts to ban gays from adopting in Georgia (and let’s be clear – everywhere else…anyone get a good look at the Supreme Court lately?) – but the idea of banning gay couples from adoption causes real fear among child advocates.

"There’s at least 10 percent of our kids who are either out or questioning,” said Sandy Corbin, who is the clinical director for the Multi-Agency Alliance for Children, “The number of out kids has risen."

Ms. Corbin has been speaking to various groups for the last month, hoping to find a way to locate more gay and gay-friendly foster families.

“Coming out is a difficult process on its own. And you need people you can trust and you need people who you feel safe around,” Corbin said.

We thought we’d provide a resource below. If you know of a family who might be able to help, let them know about the following links:

Multi-Agency Alliance for Children

MEGA Family Project 


IRS to Trannies: Pay Up.

October 02, 2007

A Massachusetts man, after years of deliberation, decided last year to take the plunge and get sexual reassignment surgery. Besides all the expected social, familial, and occupational strains that such a change can bring, it also brings with it some serious bills. Now calling herself Rhiannon, she accumulated $25,000 in medical bills, of which she wrote off $5,000 as medical expenses.

The IRS refunded her money, but then changed their mind, audited Rhiannon, and demanded she return her rebate. They said they couldn't give her a break on "cosmetic surgery." As though sexual reassignment surgery involves a little botox and a visit to out-patient. Maybe they're not clear on what "sex change" actually means, or what that procedure entails.

We can't quite imagine how dramatic such a surgery like that would be, and the idea of being told it wasn't such a big deal by the IRS is almost unbelievable. Don't they, you know, collect taxes? When did they get into the medical business? They're not insurance adjusters, after all.

And Rhiannon thought the same thing. Currently, a legal battle is raging between the IRS and the doctors that say they should stick with what they know: forms with lots of numbers and letters, and making people unhappy every April.

So what do we think? Uncle Sam just needs his money? Or trannies can't catch a break?

“All About the Boys”

October 01, 2007

We saw this interview with “The Outsiders” author S.E. Hinton and wound our way down memory lane about reading the novel for the first time. Oh, the uncomfortable tension. It’s not necessarily a gay novel, but boy, if we didn’t feel a certain eye-opening. The film is an entirely different story: Ralph Maccio, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze? Give us a break. It’s gay-teen-boy gold.

A 40th anniversary edition of ''The Outsiders'' has just been published and the Associated Press published a pretty great intereview with Hinton, now 59, in the library of Will Rogers High School, the very room where she worked on parts of her novel.

READ MORE > >

The Boys from SNL

October 01, 2007

Working on the same floor as Saturday Night Live at 30 Rock, we sometimes get to bump into those adorable SNL boys in the hall. (And occasionally, in the NBC Gym locker-room...)

We could sorta feel a buzz in the air over the last week, when the gang came back and got ready for their season premiere this past Saturday night. The highlight, as so often is the case, was one of Andy Samberg's digital shorts (more and more he plays a guy who wants to do another dude...)

But, you definitely have to check this one out. It's brilliant. SNL Digital Short: "Iran So Far."