2008 Woodie Awards
Lance and beau deserve HRC award
Issue date: 10/10/06 Section: Letters to the Editor
Matt Comer's article wanted to be a legitimate complaint about an unfair HRC [Human Rights Campaign] choice. Instead, it was a whiny diatribe.
No one ever called Lance Bass a hero. The award is for visiblity. What other gay couple has received as much press as Bass and Lehmkuhl have recently? It's unfortunate America is so celebrity-obsessed that every move washed-up boy band members make is news, but that's the way we are. If the two were receiving the Equality Award, that would be wrong. They're not. They're receiving an award for being known.
Calling Bass a "closet-case. . .who hid in shame. . . who has done nothing to. . .further LGBT equality," was in poor taste. That's what scared LGBT-ers need-to be judged. Just because Matt is comfortable with his sexuality doesn't mean everyone is; he has no right to judge. Bass never asked to be outed; it was thanks to the aforementioned culture. Not every LGBT person has to be involved in activism and politics like Matt. Some want to live quiet lives, and that's their perrogative. Should they be outed? Are they "closet-cases"?
And the HRC's "in-crowd"? The fact that HRC is a good cause doesn't free them from the bitchery that goes on anywhere else. Everyone has prejudices and snobbery. If HRC work is something Matt feels strongly about,he should suck it up, stop complaining, and deal with the same crap everyone else does.
Sarah Benedek
No one ever called Lance Bass a hero. The award is for visiblity. What other gay couple has received as much press as Bass and Lehmkuhl have recently? It's unfortunate America is so celebrity-obsessed that every move washed-up boy band members make is news, but that's the way we are. If the two were receiving the Equality Award, that would be wrong. They're not. They're receiving an award for being known.
Calling Bass a "closet-case. . .who hid in shame. . . who has done nothing to. . .further LGBT equality," was in poor taste. That's what scared LGBT-ers need-to be judged. Just because Matt is comfortable with his sexuality doesn't mean everyone is; he has no right to judge. Bass never asked to be outed; it was thanks to the aforementioned culture. Not every LGBT person has to be involved in activism and politics like Matt. Some want to live quiet lives, and that's their perrogative. Should they be outed? Are they "closet-cases"?
And the HRC's "in-crowd"? The fact that HRC is a good cause doesn't free them from the bitchery that goes on anywhere else. Everyone has prejudices and snobbery. If HRC work is something Matt feels strongly about,he should suck it up, stop complaining, and deal with the same crap everyone else does.
Sarah Benedek
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