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
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—JohnnyG
community who pushes these types of stories to
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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
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“Who are you people that think [Perez] has done any
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“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.