'I believe [ same-sex marriage ] became a political issue because Karl Rove, the ultimate evil in the universe, figured out this would be a way to incite the right-wing base. Karl has been quoted as saying gay marriage is the gift that keeps on giving.' — Rosie O'Donnell to the Denver gay magazine Exp, March 31.
'I think he [ George W. Bush ] will go down in history as the worst president ever. The most divisive, corrupt, unjust, and by far the least intelligent.' — Rosie O'Donnell to the Denver gay magazine Exp, March 31.
'We are thrilled to announce that Tammy [ Michaels ] is pregnant, and expecting our twins sometime around this fall. To answer the obvious question: we used an anonymous donor from a [ sperm ] bank.' — Announcement on singer Melissa Etheridge's Web site, April 18.
'If you don't have one [ a big dick ] , you're going to have a fuck off a lot to make up for. The bigger your dick, the lazier you can be.' — Porn actor and novelist Aiden Shaw to Out magazine, May issue.
'Heterosexuals also discuss their sexual nature, but when they do it, it's called talking.' — Gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., speaking at a Utah Stonewall Democrats fund-raiser, April 21.
'Rosie O'Donnell's new mega contract with ABC has one absolute proviso: the former talk show queen cannot cut her hair.' — Fox News, April 29.
'I don't think coming out had a big effect on my career other than maybe to humanize me in a way that was good. People tend to think of celebrities, especially at the height of my TV show, not as human beings. And when you show your vulnerability or the parts you're afraid won't be accepted, it reminds everyone of your humanity.' — Rosie O'Donnell to the Denver gay magazine Exp, March 31.
'I didn't want to be there. No one banned me from being there. But I didn't want to stand up and cheer.' — Mary Cheney, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter, on George W. Bush's 2004 State of the Union address, in which he called for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, to ABC News, May 4. Mary refused to attend the address.
'There's not a moment I can ever point to and say that's when I knew I was different, that's when I knew I was gay. It just was sort of this thing that dawned on me over time. This is the early to mid-'80s. There wasn't a lot about gay people, and the stories you heard about gay women were basically Martina Navratilova's amazing forehand.' — Mary Cheney, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter, to ABC News, May 4.
'I told him and his reaction was, 'You know, look, you're my daughter and I love you and I just want you to be happy.' And that was it. ... It never even crossed my mind as a possibility that my parents wouldn't just love me. And I am incredibly lucky for that.' — Mary Cheney, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter, on coming out to her dad when she was a junior in high school, to ABC News, May 4.
'I don't know why people are gay, I don't think anybody does. I know that from my perspective it was not a conscious decision. I don't know why I'm gay any more than I know why my sister is straight.' — Mary Cheney.
'Um, I don't tend to like hypothetical questions.' — Mary Cheney when asked May 4 by ABC News, 'If your dad were not vice president, would you be in this party?'
Deep Inside Hollywood
by Romeo San Vicente
Gershon Prowls Lipstick Jungle
Are the days of the nude musical back? They will be if Gina Gershon gets her way. The star with the huge queer following from her roles in Bound and Showgirls is itching to bring the latter to the stage. The NC-17 Showgirls was a critical and financial flop when it was released in 1995, but has grown into a bona fide cult sensation in the past decade. Now Gershon is working on a musical stage version as writer and possibly director. As a back-up plan, Gershon is also starring in a pilot for NBC called Lipstick Jungle, from Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell. The show is about career-obsessed ( rather than Sex's man-hungry ) women in New York City. Romeo believes that the only thing better than a full-season pickup for Lipstick would be if Gershon revives her Cristal Conners persona on stage.
Doing It For the Love of Dolly
Do you love Dolly Parton? Lots of gay and lesbian folks do. But are you the kind of super-fan who decorates your home as a shrine to the veteran country/bluegrass singer-songwriter? If not, then you're probably not one of the subjects profiled in For the Love of Dolly, a new documentary from filmmaker Tai Uhlmann. From backyard scale models of Parton's Tennessee childhood home to dolls created in her likeness, the fans on display here are fervent in their love for Dolly. The film also details how Parton has even proven therapeutic for one mentally challenged man who makes regular trips to the singer's theme park, Dollywood. The hour-long tribute—and rest assured, it's loving, not mocking—is currently screening at festivals with an eye toward cable TV in the near future.
Elton On the Verge of a New Musical
The Lion King and Aida? Big home runs. Billy Elliot? It's the London stage's reigning champ. So maybe Lestat wasn't so well-received upon its recent Broadway debut, but that doesn't mean Elton John plans to slow down his sideline career in composing for musical theater. The queer pop star is already planning his next stage move, and it's even gayer than Elliot or Lestat. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, the stylish 1988 movie from Spanish queer director Pedro Almodovar, is in John's musical sights. No word on any progress yet—he's still got his hands full with Lestat—but as John moves forward with this project, Romeo will report back with more details.
Queer Nerds Get Their Revenge—Again
Back in the early '80s, queer characters in mainstream movies were hard to come by. So in the film Revenge of the Nerds, when a flamboyant sissy named Lamar Latrell ( played by Larry B. Scott ) became an instant comedy hero to millions of people, it was something of a surprise. To some, Latrell was an offensive stereotype, but to a generation of gay men who grew up watching the film, the character was weirdly inspirational. And now a remake of Nerds is in the works from director Kyle Newman. Will a swishing, queenly frat brother/jock still hold the same comic appeal in a cinematic era when being queer doesn't seem to be such a big deal? The answer will be revealed when the latest round of Revenge hits theaters sometime in 2007.
Romeo San Vicente isn't a nerd, but he doesn't discriminate. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com .
MEDIA WATCH
The New Yorker ( 4/17 ) has an article outlining the possible schism in the Anglican Church ( we say Episcopalian ) over homosexuality. The irony of the situation is that this most 'veddy, veddy proper' of the Protestant Christian denominations has been historically structured to avoid such a problem: believe practically anything you want, just don't fight and don't leave the Anglican communion. But the election of openly gay American Bishop Gene Robinson ran smack up against African Anglicans' homophobia. With the help of some conservative American Episcopalian congregations, this may finally break up the world-wide communion. Bishop Peter Akinola, the archbishop of Nigeria, has said he cannot fathom the sexual union of two men and that 'even in the world of animals, dogs, cows, lions, we don't hear of such things.' ( But, ahem, many, many scientists have heard such. ) Robinson counters that Akinola 'says homosexuals are lower than dogs' and that Akinola and other people '... don't realize ... that homosexuality is something that I am, it's not something that I do.' By the way, Robinson's real given name, Vicky Gene, is not from any parental camp sensibility but from the fact that when he was born badly mangled and thought to be dying, his parents left him with the name of the girl they expected.
— Jim Edminster
Michael's Vows
Love is in the air for George Michael, who recently revealed on a British talk show that he plans to marry his partner of 10 years, Kenny Goss, in a small ceremony. 'I think from a legal point of view it's essential to have the same safeguards that straight couples have,' the pop star said on the show. Same-sex couples in Britain can legally marry. Michael will also kick off a long-awaited European tour in the fall—his first since 1991.
