ALEX VAUGHN
In today’s world, anyone can be a celebrity. It seems, you really don’t have to even achieve anything to become one. Thanks to reality TV, you simply have to go on a dating show, or perhaps venture into a jungle somewhere far away, or, better yet, stay in a house with complete strangers and if you are odious, good looking or stupid enough, you will grace the cover of US Weekly or the Enquirer.
Celebrity culture is prevalent in our society, particularly as a result of this television phenomenon. They sell us everything from water to fiber supplements, oftentimes stuff we really don’t need. However above the vapid existence of some reality socialites, there are celebrities who are using their fame and popularity in fantastic ways for the gay community.
Being gay or a gay-friendly celebrity in 2011 is extremely fashionable. Now, it seems, is the time. We have gay celebrities and their partners kissing on the red carpet. We can read about celebrity weddings, adoptions and much more. In a way, they have become poster children for the “normality” of gay lifestyles. Superstar Elton John and film producer David Furnish married and now have a child. They live a lovely jet-set lifestyle without bullying. Certainly, there’s the odd snarky remark, but on the whole … perfect.
Then there are actors John Barrowman and his civil partner, Scott Gill; actor Neil Patrick Harris and his husband, chef David Bertka and their twins, Gideon and Harper; Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, among others. Without counting any of their actual contributions to charities, or to political initiatives, their simple presence “out” is bringing gay life to the A-list forefront of our celebrity-obsessed culture.
I have often said Middle America is where the decisions are made – not in Miami, NYC or other major cities on the peripheral. As these people see more and more of the celebrities they watch on “Glee,” or daytime talk shows, they will cut them more slack than they might otherwise afford the gay guy in the small town.
More than just swanning around being “gay housewives” or over-stereotyped gays who sell products and unrealistic lifestyle ambitions, the instant reality show celeb also occasionally makes a positive impact as well.
Carson Kressley comes to mind. Not only has he kept his staying power (despite being the most “outrageous” of the bunch of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” crew), he is now headlining his own national TV show, “Carson Nation” and is topping the rating charts on “Dancing with Stars”– right beisde Chaz Bono, who is also flying the flag for the LGBT community.
Without excuse or muting their instinctive behaviour, this pair shows that gays really can do anything they want. If the bigotry and hate that is putting a stop to legalizing marriage was actually as far reaching as the news would have us believe, then the voting majority would never have allowed a gay man and a post-op transsexual to be on a nationally televised reality TV show.
Reality TV is part of our lives, and many people around the world will change their social schedules to stay in and watch a show.
Thanks to Carson and Chaz, they are being taught that there is no need to fight, bully or judge. These are just normal celebrities, competing on a show watched by “everyone.”
Add to the mix those celebrities who aren’t gay but who weigh in with their support of the “gay cause.” Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie who wont marry until marriage is allowed for everyone, for example. The late Liz Taylor, Madonna, Cher, Bette Midler, Sharon Stone, Donatella Versace, Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway and many, many more ensure their support of gay causes is loud and clear. Some have questioned why? Is it because they genuinely do care? Is it because it is a popular cause? Or could it just be the power of the gay community?
Does it actually matter? Probably not. It’s worth understanding that the people listed above all have a strong gay following. They have been kept in their careers in no small part because of the support of this community. Many have clearly acknowledged this – and often. So too, comedienne Kathy Griffin who openly courts gay men and women as her fans. She is extremely vocal for “her gays” including threatening Sarah Palin’s daughter for using the “F” word on her Facebook.
Lady Gaga has taken support of the gay community to an entirely different level. To call it the stratosphere would be an understatement. Ironically, her support has been knocked more often than not by the community itself. While I was reading news reports thinking about this editorial, I stumbled across a list of celebrities who support gay causes. It was compiled by the “viewers” of the website. One guy said in response to the question: “FFS. Don’t say Lady Gaga. WE ALL KNOW!”
Wow – and yet I have felt the same way he did – particularly around the time that “Born this Way” came out. I mean honestly, “We know, we know.” And all this before the backlash when she was dubbed the “Gay Icon,” replacing Madonna in the role.
If you take a step back, however, Lady Gaga realized early on that it wasn’t straight middle America who made her. They didn’t appreciate how “different” she is. She isn’t attractive; boys don’t fancy her; and she’s no Taylor Swift, though she has a great voice. It’s her individuality that struck the chord with the community.
Not content with posturing on gay rights, or making a mint on sales of her “Gay Anthem.” Rather, she has used her voice, loudly and wisely. In fact, just last week, fresh from paying tribute to 14-year-old Jamie Rodemeyer. He was the fan who said goodbye to her on his Facebook page before he tragically took his own life, the victim of bullying. She even addressed the issue directly with the President of the United States.
Like it or not, this is what a celebrity should be doing. While selling the gay lifestyle is nice and entertaining, it won’t help a 14 year old on the receiving end of taunts, it just may help turn the tables on bullies who will be made to look like the bigots they are.
We encourage more celebrities to lend their voices to the growing outcry over the immediate need for gay rights and a stop to tolerance for any bullying in schools and the workplace. The need is great and the groundswell long overdue!
We may not all be famous, but we all have a voice to join the outcry. Like celebrities, we need to speak out against bullying, for the protection of our rights, and for anything for which you feel passion. We can no longer be content to coast through a vacuous existence of bars and sex and assume someone else will do the work for us.
If we can make a celebrity, why can’t we make a change?
Alex Vaughn is the Editor-in-Chief of the Florida Agenda. He can be reached at editor@FloridaAgenda.com
