GLAAD Gives Texas Newspaper a Lesson on Language

The Dallas Morning News amended a story about Out's parent company last week, after GLAAD  called the reporter out on some problematic (and unstylish, even by the AP's standards) language usage. The original story called The Advocate and Out "alternative lifestyle magazines," but, as GLAAD's Rashad Robinson wrote in a letter to the editor the paper published Monday, "Out is a lifestyle magazine as are other lifestyle magazines like GQ or Marie Clare that mix news, features, fashion and celebrities. The Advocate is a news magazine."

GLAAD also used the opportunity to point out that the article "referenced the myth that gay people are a largely affluent, well-educated minority group. A 2009 study reviewing census data on poverty revealed that gay men, for example, experience poverty at rates that are as high as or higher than rates for straight adults." The article was later amended "to include advertising and consumer purchasing statistics about the gay community."

Previously > Bigotry on the New York Post Comment Boards Lively As Ever

Bigotry on the New York Post Comment Boards Lively As Ever

Blah. This already crappy day was made worse by a disheartening New York Post story about a local gay couple that was booted out of a cab for hugging last night, and then still more worse by the quality of the comments the story generated -- which range from hateful and illiterate to just plain hateful. Spending any time with the Post's peanut gallery -- never known for its progressive outlook or command of grammar -- will make you go hit the leftover Halloween candy way too hard. We suggest watching what the rest of the world was up to yesterday instead -- it may restore your faith in humanity.

Previously > Tony Kushner Responds To The Repeal Of Gay Marriage In Maine

Neil Patrick Harris: 'New York' Coverboy, Big Success

Neil Patrick Harris graces the cover of New York magazine this week, lipstick and all. The accompanying profile examines how Harris has managed to escape the curse of the actor who dares to come out. As Out's own cover story explored last year, Harris has managed to avoid being typecast into gay roles or otherwise marginalized from A-list opportunities. Case in point: he's hosting -- and producing -- the Emmy's next week.

"The psychological effects of being closeted are well documented," writes Emily Nussbaum. "But living in a 'glass closet' has its own risks, since any sexual references a celebrity makes -- toward either sex -- risk coming off as coy, even hypocritical. Some actors (Jodie Foster comes to mind) respond by developing an oddly asexual vibe. But perversely, Harris’s wholesome statement to People about being 'a very content gay man,' paired with his marital stability, seems to have freed him up to be a polymorphously flirtatious celebrity, catalyzing crushes from all corners."

Harris recalls being inspired by Real World: New Orleans cast member Danny Roberts's approach to his homosexuality: "I personally responded to his lack of overt grandstanding. Again, tricky waters, because if I say something like ‘He didn’t wave flags,’ it sounds like I’m disrespecting people that do, who I think are tremendously important, but there’s more than one way to get into people’s psyches."

Previously > A Man's Man

New Clips From The September Issue

The new Vogue documentary, The September Issue, hits theaters next Friday.  Last night, while the gays of the world sat waiting in breathless anticipation, Anna Wintour and the gang got together for a big, fabulous premiere. We weren't invited, so instead, we'll have to settle for these two new clips from the film.

The first is of the Sienna Miller's cover shoot, which widely reported on.  Apparently Anna Wintour remarked that she looked too "toothy." The two were photographed arm in arm last night, however, so I suppose Sienna sucked it up and applied some aloe to that burn. This clip and reports by New York magazine's fashion blog The Cut reveal that there was even more tough love for Ms. Miller. Apparently she showed up with Courtney Love hair, and the editors were forced to consider using a wig. Um, awkward!  Watch the aftermath in the first clip above.

The second clip features the fabulous Vogue creative director Grace Coddington doing what she does best. It's not funny or even witty, but it is a glimpse into a world most of us will never see.  And for more Grace glory, check out our interview with her in Out's own September issue, on stands now.  

--GREGORY MILLER

Previously > Be Still Our Hearts! The September Issue Trailer Finally Leaks!

Chelsea Handler's Shout Out to GLAAD

Last week GLAAD released its annual "GLAAD Network Responsibility Index," essentially ranking how gay TV stations are. ABC got the best network station ranking for the third year in a row -- 24% of their programming features LGBT characters.

While GLAAD ranked such cable channels as A&E, Sci Fi...er...SyFy, and TBS (all of which, not surprisingly received "FAIL!"), E! was left out.

And Chelsea Handler, comedienne extraordinaire and host of E!'s late night show Chelsea Lately is not happy about it. Check out her hilarious statement to GLAAD above.

--GREGORY MILLER

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Sherlock Holmes Goes Gay

Reports surfaced earlier this year that the new Guy Ritchie film Sherlock Holmes will feature the classic characters Holmes and Watson wrapped in some kind of gay intrigue. If that's not awesome enough for you, keep in mind that Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law will be playing the two. Yum.

According to The New York Post, Downey told Britain's News of the World, "We're two men who happen to be roommates, wrestle a lot and share a bed. It's bad-ass." 

However, with this good news of course comes more bad. The Post's angle for the piece is that the movie will basically fail now that it's potentially got a hint of gay. Michael Medved, a former Post movie critic says, "I think they're just trying to generate controversy . . . They know that making Holmes and Watson homosexual will take away two-thirds of their box office. Who is going to want to see Downey Jr. and Law make out? I don't think it would be appealing to women. Straight men don't want to see it."

First of all, Medved, you need to back up off it. Second, I would love to see them make out. Third, I can think of tons of successful gay movies: Brokeback Mountain, Milk, and Bruno to name a few. Take that!

Sherlock Holmes hits theatres December 25. 

--GREGORY MILLER

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The 2009 Emmy Nominations Are In!

Photo: Getty Images

The Emmy's are coming, the Emmy's are coming! Yay! Nominations for the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced this morning, and, surprise, surprise, they look eerily familiar to last year's list.  

Last year's big winners 30 Rock and Mad Men garnered 22 and 16 nominations, respectively. The two shows won for Best Comedy and Best Drama, and judging by the similarities to 2008's picks, it seems they'll do it again.  

More notable, however, comes the news that the number of nominees per category has increased from five to six. Interesting, yes, but not surprising given that the Academy Awards recently announced it will increase the number of nominees for its Best Picture from five to a whopping ten. Just another ploy to make money...

Also newsworthy to the gay world: Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List has once again been nominated for Outstanding Reality Program. Only time will tell if she can beat out those jerks at Antiques Roadshow.

For a list of nominees in the major categories, click here. And if you care about all the unimportant stuff, click here for a complete list of all nominees in all categories.

--GREGORY MILLER

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Track of the Moment: Basement Jaxx's "Raindrops"

 

Previously > Track of the Moment: Sexy Boots