2008 Woodie Awards
Don't Ask, (I'm Telling): Lance Bass a hero? Hardly
HRC should award someone who deserves it
Matt Hill Comer
Issue date: 10/3/06 Section: Opinions
This Saturday, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) will hold its national dinner in Washington, D.C. Celebrities, politicians, dignitaries and gay activists from across the country will gather with the nation's largest LGBT advocacy and civil rights group to celebrate community, talk politics, network and wine and dine to their hearts' full delight.
HRC will also be presenting a number of awards. These national awards are among some of the highest honors lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, as well as straight allies, can receive in the field of LGBT activism.
Lance Bass and his boyfriend Reichen Lehmkuhl are set to receive HRC's "Visibility Awards." Not only do I think this is outrageous, but I also think it is shameful. Lance Bass and his boyfriend are not heroes. They do not deserve any award or praise from the LGBT community or HRC, because they haven't earned any of it.
Lance Bass never even wanted to "come out." He tried desperately to hide who he was, denying not only himself but all of those LGBT youth whose lives would have been changed knowing that one of their role models was just like them. Lance was forced out of the closet by his own stupidity; he went to a gay club with his boyfriend and then cried when people actually found out about it. If you are an international star, don't expect not to be noticed or photographed every where you go.
So this is how HRC shows their so-called "appreciation" to all those folks fighting daily for LGBT equality. They give an award to a closet-case who was forced out of the closet, who hid in shame, who has done nothing to help further LGBT equality, who is not involved in any activism or politics, who openly stated to PEOPLE magazine that he did not want to be involved in activism or politics and whose boyfriend's largest contributions to the LGBT community include soft-core porn in gay magazines and calendars.
What about all those grassroots activists in the Mid-west or Southern regions of the nation? What about the folks who, sometimes, risk their lives to fight for equality? What about the people who are actually worthy of receiving an award from HRC?
For a long time I've been a supporter of HRC. They are doing a good portion of the work for LGBT equality in Washington, D.C., on Capitol Hill and in many areas across the country. There are times, however, where I feel not only betrayed by HRC but also as though I (and the thousands of people like me) am not wanted, appreciated or accepted by them.
I went to the Capital Pride festival in Washington, D.C., this summer and had a chance to stop by the HRC information booth during the Sunday festival. I also had the chance to stop by the HRC national headquarters during my trip there. Looking at the folks who worked at both the information tent and the national headquarters, I could tell right away that if I were to ever work there I would never be a part of the "in-crowd" or a part of the obviously clique-ish workplace they have. I'm not a fashion queen. I'm not a person who looks like a super-hot model. I don't wear expensive clothes. I don't walk around with my nose stuck up high in the air, just so I can look down on all the folks who are doing the same type of hard, gut-wrenching work for equality as me.
Lance Bass and his boyfriend do not deserve this award from HRC. Celebrity isn't something to award. If you are a celebrity, it seems to me that you already have plenty of awards. The HRC should take that award from Bass and his boyfriend and give it to two people who really deserve it.
The HRC had better wise up, stop being so elitist and remember its base… the people who are the real, everyday members of the organization and the people who are doing the daily, tormenting work which allows HRC to have such a large membership and following.
Read more from Matt at his blog, www.matthillnc.com.
HRC will also be presenting a number of awards. These national awards are among some of the highest honors lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, as well as straight allies, can receive in the field of LGBT activism.
Lance Bass and his boyfriend Reichen Lehmkuhl are set to receive HRC's "Visibility Awards." Not only do I think this is outrageous, but I also think it is shameful. Lance Bass and his boyfriend are not heroes. They do not deserve any award or praise from the LGBT community or HRC, because they haven't earned any of it.
Lance Bass never even wanted to "come out." He tried desperately to hide who he was, denying not only himself but all of those LGBT youth whose lives would have been changed knowing that one of their role models was just like them. Lance was forced out of the closet by his own stupidity; he went to a gay club with his boyfriend and then cried when people actually found out about it. If you are an international star, don't expect not to be noticed or photographed every where you go.
So this is how HRC shows their so-called "appreciation" to all those folks fighting daily for LGBT equality. They give an award to a closet-case who was forced out of the closet, who hid in shame, who has done nothing to help further LGBT equality, who is not involved in any activism or politics, who openly stated to PEOPLE magazine that he did not want to be involved in activism or politics and whose boyfriend's largest contributions to the LGBT community include soft-core porn in gay magazines and calendars.
What about all those grassroots activists in the Mid-west or Southern regions of the nation? What about the folks who, sometimes, risk their lives to fight for equality? What about the people who are actually worthy of receiving an award from HRC?
For a long time I've been a supporter of HRC. They are doing a good portion of the work for LGBT equality in Washington, D.C., on Capitol Hill and in many areas across the country. There are times, however, where I feel not only betrayed by HRC but also as though I (and the thousands of people like me) am not wanted, appreciated or accepted by them.
I went to the Capital Pride festival in Washington, D.C., this summer and had a chance to stop by the HRC information booth during the Sunday festival. I also had the chance to stop by the HRC national headquarters during my trip there. Looking at the folks who worked at both the information tent and the national headquarters, I could tell right away that if I were to ever work there I would never be a part of the "in-crowd" or a part of the obviously clique-ish workplace they have. I'm not a fashion queen. I'm not a person who looks like a super-hot model. I don't wear expensive clothes. I don't walk around with my nose stuck up high in the air, just so I can look down on all the folks who are doing the same type of hard, gut-wrenching work for equality as me.
Lance Bass and his boyfriend do not deserve this award from HRC. Celebrity isn't something to award. If you are a celebrity, it seems to me that you already have plenty of awards. The HRC should take that award from Bass and his boyfriend and give it to two people who really deserve it.
The HRC had better wise up, stop being so elitist and remember its base… the people who are the real, everyday members of the organization and the people who are doing the daily, tormenting work which allows HRC to have such a large membership and following.
Read more from Matt at his blog, www.matthillnc.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Sammi
posted 10/05/06 @ 12:19 PM EST
Although I do understand the argument, that neither Lance nor Reichen have done an extreme amount yet regarding LGBT (*yet* being the key word), this isn't what the award is about. (Continued…)
Cassie Green
posted 10/06/06 @ 3:36 PM EST
Lance didn't "open up" earlier because he had other people's careers to think about. Jc,chris,justin,joey.
Reichen deserves it because he does actually do things that help his fellow, "people". (Continued…)
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