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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2007)
46 juStOUt JANUARY b. ¿007 ' ' ....... ..... ........ ....... ............. GINA GIBNEY white bird dance series A Célébration Of International Women Chorcoçrapheri - Out Rage Column fuels strong reactions from across the nation hen I named gossip queen (and frequent celebrity outer) Perez Hilton as one of my “Top Heroes of 2006,” little did I know that he DANCE would post the news on his mega- popular blog, unleashing the fury of his outspoken followers [“Queer View Mirror," Dec. 15[. Here is a sampling of their online comments. “Do you even read his site? He has proclaimed over and over again that it is his mission to drag people Exquisite, sensitive choreography kicking and screaming out of the closet and has Jim s Closet asked readers of his site to send in damaging stories BY JIM RADOSTA and photos of celebs he feels need to come out. -THE VILLAGE VOICE THURS-SAT out someone. In the world of gossip, of course, there closet? Coming out is a personal decision that are different standards. Why can we only gossip should be done on the individual’s terms and time about the love lives of heterosexuals? 1 think peo line. Just because someone is a celebrity does not ple like Perez Hilton are a part of the equalizing of mean they need to come out and be the poster child that.’ I don’t think anyone thinks you out entirely for the gays. Did it do anything for gay rights and for altruistic reasons, but it’s OK with me if you get causes by finding out that Lance Bass is gay? No. rich while advancing gay rights.” Perez is a self-promoting disgrace to the gay JAN 11-15, 8PM generate traffic (and revenue) for his site. Now that “Again, the gay community is acting like Nazis in he has linked this story on his site, Portland has 1939. The Nazis would routinely send out lists of been disgraced by being seen as a place that cele people who they claimed were Nazis. They would brates these types of desperate cries for attention.” just go by word of mouth. Why do gay people feel —Kevin the need to be validated by gossip and innuendo.7 No one cares if you’re gay, nor does anyone care if SPONSORED BY WILLAMETTE WEEK www.whitebird.org —JohnnyG community who pushes these types of stories to LINCOLN HALL, SCHOOL OF FINE & PERFORMING ARTS PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY TICKETS: $14 Students and Seniors. $25 Adult. Service fee .»dditonal PSU Box Office (inside Smith Center, 1825 SW Broadway), 503-725-3307 and ticketmaster Group Discounts/lnfo: 503.245.1600 ext. 201 How is that not ‘shaming’ someone out of the “OK, I agree that forcing people to come out isn’t I like orgies. Just doesn’t matter...but if your life is right, but we seem to have no issue when straight so shallow and you cling to a sexual identity, then celebs’ relationships are on the front cover of every I guess you’re just pathetic and need attention.” tabloid when they’d much rather keep it to them —Madge Staley selves. It’s kind of a double standard, don’t you think?” You are cordially invited to attend a wedding —Maribella “In my opinion, nobody, especially not some greedy- ass son of a bitch, has the right to reveal someone’s of gay politics, music, comedy and romance... “Jodie Foster is one very talented actress, and what personal information, and that includes celebrities, to she does or doesn’t do in her bedroom is none of the any public or private interests. Hearing that you have public’s business.... Perez, your job is to let the public been congratulated on this pathetic attempt to know when Britney Spears goes out without her extend your 15 minutes of fame makes me feel that panties—in public. And when Lindsay Lohan does or the gay community is turning into exactly what we says something incredibly stupid—in public. And hate the most: ‘evil,’ as we have been described as Paris Hilton—well, I still don’t understand why vir ever since Day One. So Perez, to this I say: Better start tual ink is wasted on anything she does or says.” fucking atoning, because if there is a God, you’re -Liz taking a one-way trip to hell.” —Closeted Guy “1 understand Perez’s point that homosexual people They say L Marriage isn't for everyone p T! ... and it's true! should not be ashamed of their sexuality. But you “It’s their business, Perez, and you may be risking the know what—1 never had to ‘come out’ as a hetero end or the shortening of their careers. Times have sexual. Labels suck.” changed, but they haven’t changed all that much. —Beajai " V I Prejudice and jealousy and ignorance are still alive and well. Go read this week’s Time magazine with the Opens January 5th 1 1 ft X. a L Ai® I * 9 editorial about ‘Two Mommies Is One Too Many’ by thing? He is a fat loser who talks shit about people on Dr. (James) Dobson, notorious homophobe. Prejudice the Internet. He’s not a journalist. In fact, judging never really goes away; it just changes form.” from his spelling, he’s retarded. If this Mongoloid is —Perez, It’s Not Cool to Out People! your hero, you are absolutely pathetic." —Turkey “I’m a 44-year-old straight woman from a Southern Baptist family.... If someone like me—raised in the World Trade Center Theater buy online @ Tickets $20 ~ Benefit Tickets $25 For Information Call 503-781-3464 Presented by “Who are you people that think [Perez] has done any Key Productions Music & Lyrics by Peter Alexander ~ Books & Lyrics by Kevin Yell Directed by Troy Lakey * Musical Direction by Chrisse Roccaro “Making it on a lame list in a lame magazine doesn't stifling air of racism, hypocrisy, anti-everything make up for the fact his outing tactics are largely con except white-bread WASPs—can enjoy and laugh sidered derogatory and humiliating as well as naked and just be so fucking OK with this, damn ly self-serving. Outing itself isn’t even the real issue dude/dudettes, find your funny bone and realize here—it’s the way he does it, with taunts that would Perez is making a living just like the idiots who are fit well in the mouth of a high school homophobe.” suing him. And, last but not least, in the immortal —Convulsions words of my father, ‘If you don’t want to get dirty, “Perez... you’re the new Michelangelo Signorile, as stay out of the fucking mud puddles.’ 'Nuff said.” —Pam © even Signorile agrees: ‘For me, it’s about equalizing journalism,’ Signorile says, adding, ‘When it’s rele Arts and Culture Editor J im RADOSTA needs your vant, and only when it’s relevant, it’s appropriate to feedback. Write to¡im@justout.com.
