12/13/2007
Lance Bass Fronts Advocate's 1000th Issue
Lance Bass is featured on The Advocate's landmark 1000th issue. In the cover story, Bass discusses what he perceives as the gay community's love/hate relationship with him (discerned mainly via the comments left on gay blogs) He also talks about his training for space and the various relationships he's had since coming out.
Bass attributes much of the vitriol directed at him to remarks he made in his People magazine "coming out" article, in which he called himself "a straight-acting gay" and chalks the comment up to naïveté.
Says Bass to the magazine: "You know, every community is hard to please. Our community is very fickle. It’s a touchy community because it’s the last civil rights movement we have left here in America. So when someone new like myself comes along and says off-the-mark things, yeah, I can see how people would get pissed...When most people come out, they deal with it out of the public eye, and they start getting educated about it. Me, I had 24 hours to say what I had to say on a subject that I had no clue about... It was a very normal phrase among my circle of friends—and they’d always say, 'You’re such a SAG'—a straight-acting gay. So I reveal that to People magazine, and it looks like I created this phrase and [that] I’m trying to start this movement that you should be straight-acting if you’re gay. It’s just dumb!...I knew last year that when I came out, if I said, 'OK, I’m going to lead every parade and I’m going to speak at every engagement,' half of the community would say, 'Screw you! Who are you to come out and start speaking for every-one?' That’s why I held back and was like, OK, I said my piece now; I’m just gonna lay back and get way more educated about myself, about the community, and not pretend I know what I’m talking about.'"
Bass says that although some may criticize him because he remained closeted for so long, he plans to look the other way and forge ahead with a project that addresses just that subject: "The music business says you can’t be openly gay and be successful, which I think is crap. I want to go out and search for a musical act, develop them, make their first album, everything—and all that time they’re openly gay."
The double-issue is on newsstands December 18.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 11:33 AM EST by Andy in Lance Bass, Magazines, News | Permalink
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I still just don't get it.
Aside from being gay, famous and rich, what is there to Lance Bass? I just don't understand all the hooplah over him. I never liked his music and still think that every photo of him looks like a deer caught in headlights.
OK... I know that there are lots of guys out there who think that he's great. Cool. But someone please explain to me why this guy merits so much attention...
Posted by: Jonathon | Dec 13, 2007 11:50:42 AM
"Me, I had 24 hours to say what I had to say on a subject that I had no clue about... It was a very normal phrase among my circle of friends—and they’d always say, 'You’re such a SAG'—a straight-acting gay."
What doesn't this idiot get? He had 24 hours? He'd known he was gay for how long yet he didn't know anything about the subject? He's surrounded by gay dancers and people in the industry yet he's clueless?
But then again, if his friends actually thought he was 'straight acting' then maybe he's surrounded by idiots.
Posted by: Mike | Dec 13, 2007 12:01:04 PM
He seems like a nice enough guy. I've seen him out. He probably seeks some of the press but good for him for coming out in the first place unlike all the other closet cases.
Posted by: Trip | Dec 13, 2007 12:01:40 PM
You know, I was wondering what The Advocate was going to do for the cover of their 1000th issue...I'm completely underwhelmed.
Posted by: Michael W. | Dec 13, 2007 12:01:55 PM
There's an old saying that "money attracts money" and I think it is also quite true that "attention attracts attention." If you look at his myspace page, you'll see all of these messages from young people (straight and gay) learning about what it means to be gay. They see his trials, his life and understand a little bit more. These are the policy makers of the next generation and he holds some sway with them. I think magazines like the Advocate would be foolish not to cover someone who does have such a connection to the next generation.
He seems to me to be an honest and sincere guy and I think that resonates with people. After reading some of his stuff, I think what you see is what you get and that is appealing.
Posted by: Ed | Dec 13, 2007 12:05:33 PM
wow, what a way to celebrate 1,000 issues...
I suppose The Advocate embraces their own spineless homogenization by flagging the issue as a typical "Year In Review" with a wishywashy celeb cover, while ditching the opportunity to champion their 1,000th issue with something substantial and meaty.
Posted by: A.J. | Dec 13, 2007 12:10:27 PM
To what degree of success is he talking about openly gay acts recieving in the music business?
I always thought of Imperial Teen and The Pixies being pretty darn successful.
Not to mention: Morrissey, The Gossip, Le Tigre, Scissor Sisters, Tatu (I guess that counts), The Cliks, et cetera.
Posted by: RP | Dec 13, 2007 12:16:36 PM
Oh yeah, and...
Elton John
Posted by: RP | Dec 13, 2007 12:19:15 PM
I never have had a problem with him... but now I will make fun of him for saying "It’s a touchy community because it’s the last civil rights movement we have left here in America." It's not like the other civil rights movements have won all the victories they deserve... There's still plenty of discrimination and bigotry in our country and the world.
Posted by: DS | Dec 13, 2007 12:23:35 PM
i agree with the first poster. i mean, i get that he was with n'sync and they were popular for a while... but they aren't anymore. and it always seemed to me that the individual members weren't famous so much as the whole group together. has he done anything else of note with his life besides come out?
i don't get celebrity in general, but this one in particular seems uniquely strange to me, as if someone in control of major media outlets flipped a switch and decreed that Lance Bass Is Interesting.
as far as the "straight-acting" thing goes, i think it's kind of an offensive term that i wouldn't use (and though i wouldn't find it offensive to describe someone not "having stereotypically gay mannerisms," neither would it be something i'd mention outside of a very specific context), and so i can see why people get upset about it. but then i also don't like it that gay men are expected by certain, more "gay-acting" parts of the community to conform to their own behavior, either. in a way, it's similar to the criticism of black people "acting white." seems like people should just act how they want to act and respect each other's choices/natures--as long as we also keep fighting te stop discrimination.
Posted by: le_sacre | Dec 13, 2007 12:25:00 PM
NPH and TR would have been more fun--imagine the photo contrast with Larry Craig, et al!
I thought it was great of him to come out last year, but this article is designed to help his book sales. I don't think he needs to go out of his way to help the community, just that he shouldn't ignore it.
Posted by: anon (gmail.com) | Dec 13, 2007 12:28:22 PM
Well...after reading all of the comments, it seems like we all know what it is like to be in the spotlight...well, we don't!!
It is easy to say "come out"...be courageous, well sometimes people don't have that control. They have publicists and managers who tell them, don't do it!!
And there is still lots of discrimination in the country...look who is in the white house.
At least Lance has publicly let people know he was gay and has "gasp" a boyfriend.
And so what if he says he is straight-acting. There are a lot of gay people who use that expression, not to say being a flamer is anything to be ashamed of, but there are lots of people in the community who don't like it. It doesn't bother me, but it isn't who I am either.
stop dogging Lance.
Posted by: Paul | Dec 13, 2007 12:37:13 PM
His circle thought LB was "straight-acting"? Damn those folks don't know too many gay men do they? Or straight men, or men at all.
I have much more admiration for an honest flaming queen who knows who he is and says "screw you" to those who would object than I will ever have for demi-celebrities who hide such an essential part of their being--from others and themselves.
This choice of a cover story to commemorate a milestone issue just shows that The Advocate has become as irrelevant and marginalized as it cover (wanna-be)twink. Pathetic.
Posted by: rudy | Dec 13, 2007 12:38:31 PM
"At least Lance has publicly let people know he was gay and has "gasp" a boyfriend."
Sorry, I have to disagree with you. Lance only "came out" retroactively because he was outed after it hit the gossip columns that he was seen in P-Town getting into tiffs with Reichen (sooo sad I know all that, but in this country celebrity is F'N' forced down your throats).
He didn't step out of the closet, his *ss was tossed out.
Posted by: RP | Dec 13, 2007 12:46:08 PM
LOL!!! @ Mike's comment.
Posted by: Tintin Malfoy | Dec 13, 2007 1:04:49 PM
Well, I applaud The Advocate for putting Lance on the cover. All of you nelly queens would have been up in arms had they put a straight on the cover. Get over it, already. Lance is a very nice guy and I am VERY proud of him for finally being honest about who he is.
Posted by: Josh | Dec 13, 2007 1:13:50 PM
I'm not sure why everyone has so much vitriol and hatred for Lance? Is it because of his use of the term "straight-acting"? I see people use that term all the time on all those personals websites. I agree it's a stupid term. But I wouldn't hate him for using it. At least he didn't say "No fats, no femmes." Shouldn't we be praising him over someone like Anderson Cooper who is afraid to come out? It's not like there are a ton of openly gay successful performers out there. Aside from Lance, Elton and Ellen, most of straight America doesn't know very many gay people.
As far as him being on the cover, I would rather have a gay man on the cover of a gay magazine than another picture of some shirtless straight male model on the cover.
Posted by: Todd | Dec 13, 2007 1:17:44 PM
No offense to Lance, but if he's the best that the Advocate can come up with to put on a milestone issue, the magazine's relevance has fallen much farther than I ever realized.
Lance is by no means the first major celeb to come out nor the most relevant. While he may be the "it gay right now, I'm sure he'll get relegated to his proper role as celebrity footnote in another year or two.
If gay celebrity were to be the subject of the 1000th issue, wouldn't an historical montage on the cover have been more interesting?
Posted by: DCguy | Dec 13, 2007 1:21:35 PM
RP... thanks for mentioning The Gossip. They are incredible! And the fact that the lead singer is a lesbian makes it even better. I hope that Andy and other bloggers pick up on them and help them spread into America, since they're pretty much a UK phenomenon right now. Oh yeah... and they're from Arkansas!
Posted by: Jonathon | Dec 13, 2007 1:32:53 PM
Is it sad that the first thing I pictured was Lance Bass sitting around with Charles Nelson Reilly/Paul Lynde/Waylon Flowers (all of whom I love, RIP) and all of them telling him he how "straight acting" he is? He seems like an okay guy. My reaction to the cover is "meh."
Posted by: Frank | Dec 13, 2007 1:43:25 PM
I hate the term straight-acting-gay so much, so so so much. In my opinion, it's just another way of stratifying heterosexuality and homosexuality. The only definitive difference between homosexuals and heterosexuals is with who they share their beds. So my definition of being gay is completely incompatible with the definition of being straight. Using the term straight-acting-gay thus just feeds directly into the stereotype that gays are "weak" and straights are "strong" in a general sense (ie, to seem "strong" it is imperative that Lance Bass identify with being straight). Obviously, people can describe themselves however they want since it's obvious that society demands qualifiers at every turn; this is just my opinion. But to me, calling yourself a "straight-acting-gay" is not a badge of honor, it's just a cheap way of being unable to identify fully with the homosexual community at large, and thus rejecting it.
I don't like Lance Bass at all for reasons like this. He's in the public eye because he's a "celebrity", and he comes out with moronic statements like what was posted above (the last civil rights movement? do civil rights movements ever end?), that then filter back to the entire gay community. Lame.
Posted by: David | Dec 13, 2007 1:43:54 PM
Pathetic choice.
I mean what has he done even lately
except pick up a few lame awards for "finally" getting is ass out of the closet. (and yes I include HRC for giving one too)
I hate to break it to him but yeah the straight acting schtick was/is offensive but it was more so cause he was/is so damn "nelly".
Look even Ricky Martin was/is more straight acting.
Posted by: MCnNYC | Dec 13, 2007 2:13:24 PM
why does everyone have to be so rude?
good on him for coming out and being out in the public eye. i sure as hell doubt anyone on here knows what he went though... and for those of you who say what took him so long, everyone is different and has different circumstances. just suck it up and be happy he came out at all.
Posted by: Ryan | Dec 13, 2007 2:14:03 PM
I LOVE how people are like, "Shut up Lance, you're nelly." Have you ever even met him? Or are you just judging him because of the way he looks?
Good for him for getting the cover. People do talk way too much trash about him for incredibly pathetic reasons. There are a lot of people out here (like me) who think he's a nice guy and enjoy seeing an out gay person who isn't clinically depressed, a drug addict, a whore, or a crazy trainwreck.
Posted by: Ryan | Dec 13, 2007 2:30:26 PM
You guys are a trip...
You go off on closeted gay celebs and the ones that do come out, you put every single movement, word and inference under a mega-spotlight. It's not like the man used "straight acting" in a derogatory, divisive manner. And people DO have opinions. Whether you agree or not, maybe in his world the gay rights movement is the last great American civil rights movement. I've heard other people say it, though I don't personally agree. But that's what an opinion is.
I'm not exactly on "team Lance" either, but you guys are really rough on some of these out celebs. It's no wonder the closeted ones don't bother: they rist losing a portion of their hetero fan base and there's no guarantee their GLBT "brothers and sisters" will have their backs either. All they have to do is read the responses on Towleroad...
Posted by: Derrick | Dec 13, 2007 2:30:34 PM