" [ REM singer Michael Stipe, 41, tells Time ] he's a 'queer artist' who has been 'in a relationship with an amazing man' for the past three years. He adds that his lover is not a celebrity, but doesn't identify him. ... Stipe tells Time he's now ready to go on the record about his sexuality because he finally feels more comfortable about it. 'I was being made to be a coward about it, rather than someone who felt like it really was a very private thing,' he says." ... New York Post coverage. Stipe had previously come out as having had sex with both men and women.
" [ New ACLU head Anthony ] Romero lives in Chelsea, in Manhattan, with his [ same-sex ] partner, whose name he does not want released, to protect his partner's professional privacy." ... From a May 1 New York Times news article. Hmmmm ... maybe Romero and Michael Stipe are partners?
"I went and tried to have a trendy haircut and now I look like a lesbian on the female tennis circuit." ... Actor Hugh Grant to Talk magazine, May issue.
" [ My friend ] Whorenando took me to my first Young Men's Rap Group at the [ L.A. ] Gay and Lesbian Center to introduce me to others like me. These sessions were meant to facilitate my coming out process. I was taken aback by the mean, catty, evil, vicious, drama queens I would encounter. That was my first impression and initiation into homosexuality. For a 'we're-here-we're-queer,' rainbow loving 'family,' we fags learn to be hateful assholes toward one another very early on." ... Columnist Paulo Murillo writing in Los Angeles' Fab, April 13.
"When I came out to my stepmother, she said, 'Ooh, do be careful if you're going to tell your aunt.' When I told my aunt, she said, 'Ooh, are you going to tell your sister? Do be careful.' When I told my sister, she said, 'Ooh, I don't know what your nephew is going to think about it.' When I told my nephew, he said, 'Ooh, I'm glad you didn't tell me years ago because I don't know what my school friends would have thought about it.'" ... British actor Sir Ian McKellen to the Philadelphia Daily News, April 30.
"It may seem that gay characters are extremely mainstream, but they're not as fully developed as their straight counterparts. Overwhelmingly, gay characters are present in sitcoms. Generally, networks think the American public can take homosexuality when it's tempered with humor. They don't show them experiencing a large emotional range." ... GLAAD's Scott Seomin to the Philadelphia Daily News, April 30.
"Sometimes it's [ the gay sex scenes ] real comfortable and sometimes it's not. It depends on the day. With Randy [ Harrison, who plays love interest Justin ] , it's really easy because we work well together and we're good friends. But sometimes, when it's with a stranger, like a day player, you get guys who aren't very comfortable with the subject matter, regardless of whether we have our clothes on or not. And then it becomes tough." ... Actor Gale Harold, Brian on Showtime's Queer As Folk, to the New York Blade News, April 27.
"I think I've done my bit for heterosexuality. If other actresses can play lesbians, then so can I. Women are so much more considerate than men. They're a lot more sensual and better lovers all round." ... Joan Collins to Britain's Daily Record, May 2.
"I kind of like [ Eminem's song ] Stan. I liked it that Elton [ John ] did it with him at that Grammys thing, because he was suspected to be homophobic. So I guess that put that down. Which is good because it is only showbiz. It's good to remember that, otherwise you start thinking, 'What the fuck's happening in the world, man?'" ... Paul McCartney to the music magazine Mojo Collections, as reported by Gay.com UK May 2.
"While [ Tom ] Cruise thoroughly respects others' rights to follow their own sexual preference, he is not a homosexual and had no relationship of any kind with Kyle Bradford and does not even know him. ... Because Cruise is a motion picture actor, he is dependent upon worldwide public acceptance of his films. Losing the respect and enthusiasm of a substantial segment of the movie-going public would cost Cruise very substantial sums. While plaintiff believes in the right of others to follow their own sexual preference, vast numbers of the public throughout the world do not share that view and, believing that he had a homosexual affair and did so during his marriage, they will be less inclined to patronize Cruise's films, particularly since he tends to play parts calling for heterosexual romance and action adventure." ... From a $100 million lawsuit filed May 2 by Tom Cruise against porn actor Chad Slater ( Kyle Bradford ) who, the suit alleges, told the French publication Acustar he's having a sexual affair with Cruise. Slater/Bradford denies speaking to the magazine.
"I love gays and am having a gay phase. I've always liked the company of gay men. Maybe it's because I'm a gay man trapped in a girl's body. I'm a tomboy who likes to dress as a Barbie and likes male company but without the penis threat. Maybe that's what it is." ... Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell to BBC Choice's That Gay Show, May 4.
"I also like the challenge of gay men. I think, 'I'll turn them'. It's true that all the best men are gay." ... Halliwell.
"Perhaps we shouldn't expect fairness, let alone admissions of intellectual growth and a change of heart, from someone so self-obsessed and seemingly insecure. But maybe we can appeal to Sullivan the avowed Catholic, who defends the Pope and has a shrine in his home. Andrew, from one Catholic schoolboy to another, these are not Christian things that you are doing. Get thee to a confessional, pronto!" ... Gay writer Michelangelo Signorile accusing gay writer Andrew Sullivan of being unfair to other journalists in his various writings related to outing, Gay.com, May 3.
"I think that's just so tired [ to criticize Showtime's Queer As Folk because only two of the actors are openly gay ] . Yes, we do get some flak about that. My thinking about that is the point of this is entertainment, the point of this is storytelling ...and, if we're lucky, a little bit of consciousness-raising. The point of this is not some sort of militaristic approach to making art. The people who got these jobs are the people who are best suited emotionally to carry these characters. And whether they have historically stuck their dicks in places that you or I might like to stick our dicks is of really very little importance to me. What matters to me is that they have the insight and capability to understand these people on a human level, not purely on a sexual level." ... Openly gay actor Peter Paige ( Emmet on Showtime's Queer As Folk ) to the Toronto TV program 10%-Qtv, March 6.