What Am I Missing Here?

In all honesty, it didn’t surprise me that much when I heard the story on the nightly news – basketball player Tim Hardaway doesn’t like gay people:

Well, you know — you know, I hate gay people. So, you know, I let it be known. I don’t like gay people. I don’t like to be around gay people. I don’t — you know, I’m homophobic.

What surprises me is how much talk there is about Hardaway. He’s been on the news and in the newspapers … so many blog posts, I don’t know where to begin … it’s starting to seem like every time I turn around – whoops – there’s Tim Hardaway again.

You can see Tim Hardaway naked on YouTube, with not one, not two, not three, but four separate videos (and probably more than that, too)…

The openly gay mayor of North Miami, Kevin Burns, has openly reached out to Hardaway, inviting him to spend some time with his family…

Charles Berkley has said some public words to Hardaway…

There are people who think that Hardaway is up for the Asshole-Of-The-Year Award – and there are those too who are proud of Hardaway’s homophobia.

But, I get the feeling we’re missing something here. Let’s see … how did all this start? Oh, yeah – some basketball player said he was gay, and Hardaway said he hates gay people. And then … Oh. Wait. That’s it! Someone came out of the closet. Who was that? Why can’t we hear half as much about him as we have from Hardaway? (Oh, yeah…)

John Amaechi is that gay basketball player. He’s been blogged about and had a few news reports about him. (Just not all that many.) And, it seems that most of what I’ve seen (so far) has been more about Amaechi’s response to Hardaway than his original comment. Amaechi was reported to have said:

”His words pollute the atmosphere,” Amaechi said. ”It creates an atmosphere that allows young gays and lesbians to be harassed in school, creates an atmosphere where in 33 states you can lose your job, and where anti-gay and lesbian issues are used for political gain. It’s an atmosphere that hurts all of us, not just gay people.”

Please don’t get me wrong here. I think his response was great and well-said.

I just think we need to support John Amaechi a little more!

Neil Patrick Harris Comes Out…

Actor Neil Patrick Harris told People Magazine this week that he is “proud” to be a gay man.

The actor, who is currently playing Barney on NBC’s How I Met Your Mother, might be better known as the infamous Doogie Houser, MD.

Harris says that there has been some recent speculation about his sexual orientation and chose to dispel any rumors publicly.

Kind of makes you wonder was exactly was going on in that Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle movie, hunh?

Anyhow…

It seems like … as more and more celebrities come out of the closet … it’s starting to lose its impact. Sure … there was a time, not all that long ago, that coming out as a gay man in hollywood reduced your chances of ever getting a job again.

After all … look what happened a few years ago when Ellen DeGeneres’ character came out in prime time…

So, yeah, we’ve come a long way.

In July, when Lance Bass came out - I posted some thoughts about the serious lack of role models for gays and lesbians. I still think that’s just as true today as it was back then. Especially in light of things like the Mark Foley scandal or the Reverend Haggard thing. And it’s times like these that I start to realize we haven’t come nearly as far as we thought we had.

Lance Takes His Bass Out Of The Closet… And???

Yeppers … I read it on CNN so it must be true- according to People Magazine, Lance Bass comes out.

In case you’re one of those people who really doesn’t know who Lance Bass is, he used to be one of the boys from that boy-band N’Sync. To be honest, I haven’t really seen much of him (or any of the other N’Sync guys either for that matter) except for that brief appearance recently on that Celebrity Game$how Marathon.

Now, there is a part of me that thinks its great whenever a celebrity comes out of the closet. We don’t have nearly enough role models (still) who are openly gay - so when another one comes out, I think it’s kinda cool.

Usually, though … I’m kind of disappointed. Usually, when a celebrity comes out of the closet, there’s all the talk on the evening news, or on the tabloid shows … Jay Leno or John Stewart make some joke about it … and that’s pretty much it.

Every once in awhile, someone like Rosie or Ellen comes along - they come out of the closet and actually do something! Anything. I mean … after Ellen’s show got canceled by the network after she (and her character) came out, she kept her cool, and before long she’s hosting the first post Sept. 11 Academy Awards and joking about “What would bug a guy from the Taliban more than seeing a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews?“

I have been getting increasingly tired of seeing the Gay Hollywood Game. I see it more and more lately … and let’s face it - it’s getting quite ridiculous. Paris Hilton says she wants a gay boyfriend. Or, how about all the talk about this celebrity (Tom Cruise?) or that celebrity (Colin Ferrell) should be gay … OK! ENOUGH ALREADY!

Sorry, Paris … I’m not impressed by your ability to accessorize a gay boyfriend into your wardrobe. Why the heck would you want a gay boyfriend in the first place? Because you want to date a guy who only wants to get into your pants so he can wear them? I don’t care if Tom Cruise is gay (I don’t think he is) … and I can’t see why anybody would want to think he is. Sure, he was cute, once. (I think it was on a Tuesday.)

And, I hate to say this, but Lance Bass coming out is starting to sound like just another round of The Gay Hollywood Game. Why do I think this? Well … lots of reasons.

First of all is because it’s Lance Bass. Ok, that’s not enough all by itself, but … had it been a celebrity who has done more than appear on a game show within the past few years…

Second was his statement that he didn’t come out before now because he felt it would hurt his band, N’Sync. (Which, I think they should have thought about before doing that movie, On The Line…) Sorry, Lance … I think not coming out with an album in over five years would hurt your band more than coming out.

Finally - Lance says he, and fellow N’Sync band member Joey Fatone are currently pitching a new sitcom, kinda like the Odd Couple, but his character’s going to be gay. (Please, just don’t call it “Will and Gracon”!)

I am sure Lance Bass is never going to read my blog … but if he does, I wish I could offer some advise. When a celebrity comes out, a bunch of people are going to look up to them because … well, it’s easy. So, don’t let us down. Do something. Anything. You don’t have to be another Ellen … but, please! Don’t let us down.