Gene Simmons thinks Adam Lambert should keep his sexuality to himself. Of course, considering how open he is about being a filthy man-whore, it seems to be a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Kyle Maclachlan says now that he has a new baby, he may be quitting Desperate Housewives.  Considering his character hasn’t been interesting since season four, I can’t say I’m torn up about it.

A lesbian couple with foster children was denied family discount to an Idaho pool because they’re not a “real family”. Now the pool is considering doing away with the family discount altogether to keep from getting in trouble.

Is Conan O’Brien losing viewers to David Letterman? It seems he’s not fitting in so well in his new time slot, and Jay Leno’s older viewers care more to switch over to Letterman.

The New York Times profiles the partner of a gay soldier who must keep his face hidden or face his significant other being discharged from the service.  It’s heartbreaking.

Are the leaders of gay rights organizations like HRC responsible for Obama dragging his feet on DADT? The Daily Beast’s Jason Bellini claims they are.

A Sacramento morning talk show lost nearly all of its sponsors last week after two of its three hosts went on the air and bashed transgendered people, including encouraging violence against transgendered children. They took to the airwaves today and apologized.

Reverend Jeremiah Wright says “them Jews” are to blame for Obama not speaking to him since the controversy from the election.  Wow.  Because even more anti-semitism is going to get him to give you a call.

“You can be bi but not gay. Well, you can be gay and funny, like Ellen [DeGeneres] and Rosie [O'Donnell]. It’s really hard to be straight-up gay and serious. We’re still not over that.”

(via Jezebel)

It’s an interesting point, actually, and when I thought about it, it’s something that can be applied to all minorities who were often cast out from the mainstream media. Going as far back as blackface, when actual black performers would take part in the minstrel shows–of course not looking like themselves but dressed up as an exaggerated version of “blackness”. Then look at our most successful black actors. Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, they’re actors that white people feel comfortable enough going to see because they make them laugh. But it’s usually a brand of humor that white audiences would expect of black performers based on common stereotypes.

I’m also reminded of Knocked Up, where, while the female characters are funny, they’re funny because we’re laughing at them, not with them. We’re laughing at them being overly emotional, irrational, killjoy harpies. Whereas when Seth Rogen or Paul Rudd make a joke, we’re laughing with them–we’re rooting for them, we identify with them (or so the filmmakers seem to think).

Gay people are no exception. Pop in Revenge of the Nerds, or My Best Friend’s Wedding, Too Wong Foo and more recently I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, or turn on the TV and see Will & Grace, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Sex and the City, and Desperate Housewives. All shows where they gay men are meant to be light, funny, and of course, fabulous. Oh wait, but there is that guy Andrew on Desperate Housewives that had some dramatic storylines earlier on in the show. Of course, he was a raging sociopath.

(more…)