Celebrity: April 2008 Archives

As actor Jason Lewis prepares for the big screen premiere of Sex and the City, he'll be making a pit stop to present at the San Francisco GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday, May 10. This isn't Jason's first time at the rodeo; he presented at the Los Angeles GLAAD Media Awards in 2007 (right, with GLAAD President Neil Giuliano), hot on the heels of his turn as a closeted soap actor on Brothers & Sisters.

Jason is featured in the new issue of Los Angeles Confidential, on sale now. The glossy mag is either so cool or so infrequent that they don't bother to give it a date or number, but it's the "Style & Design 2008" issue with Hilary Duff on the cover.

In regards to his Brothers & Sisters storyline, the actor said in the interview, "In terms of playing gay for the first time, I was supported by a really good story. It felt very much like a human issue and not a sexual issue."

Asked if he's gay, Jason says he's not and quickly rallies as an ally: "In the world we're living in, gay people are still horribly discriminated against. Why does anybody need to be so affected by someone else's happiness? Some of these people show up 20 years in a row at the county clerk's office [to get married] knowing they're going to be turned down. That's dedication and love...These are decent people."

And so are you Jason!

To find out more about the San Fran GLAAD Media Awards, click here.

And to see just how much of an ally Jason really is, check out this star turn!

In honor of GLSEN's 12th Annual National Day of Silence, talk show host Larry King has recorded a special message in support of the LGBT community. This year's Day of Silence is dedicated to Lawrence King, the 15-year-old student who was shot to death in February by a fellow student, allegedly because King was gay.

“Larry King and I share more in common than just our names,” King says in the spot, which debuts on YouTube today. “We both believe that all students should be free to be themselves without the fear of name calling, bullying or harassment.”

Out performer Lance Bass is starring in a new public service announcement for the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN). The spot is being released on Friday, April 25, in honor of the organization's 11th Annual National Day of Silence. This annual event encourages students take a vow of silence to protest bullying, harassment and discrimination in schools.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Bass explains that he got involved with GLSEN after hearing about the murder of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old boy killed by another student in February because he arrived at school in feminine attire. 

''I heard about Lawrence on the news," he says, "and it was just incredible to me that kids that age that would have such an issue ... with the subject of being gay. It also shows me that these kids don't -- they don't learn (bigotry) on their own. ... They're being told by older siblings or family members or other fellow students.''

The message of the PSA is: ''Everyday, thousands of students are silenced. They're silenced by fear, they're silenced for being who they are. ... They're brothers, they're sisters, they're gay, they're straight, they're you, they're me.''

Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) has been announced as the newest Ambassador working on behalf of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

During the April 11 episode of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher’s “New Rules” segment included a monologue about the cover-up of child abuse by the Catholic Church. In discussing the current Pope’s role in mishandling the situation, Maher, a staunch supporter of LGBT equality, misappropriated the historic slogan “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it,” leading some viewers to believe Maher was making a connection between gays and pedophilia.

GLAAD reached out to Maher to discuss the implications of his improper use of the slogan, and the host issued this clarification and apology: “My statements on the April 11th edition of Real Time with Bill Maher were intended solely as an indictment of the Catholic Church’s cavalier mishandling of the child abuse scandals over the years,” said Maher. “My comments did not in any way refer to the LGBT community, and I am sorry if they were misinterpreted that way.”

Watch the video clip here. 

Luke Macfarlane (aka "Scotty" in Brothers & Sisters) officially came out in Canada's Globe & Mail. According to the story, the 28-year-old actor seemed a little nervous to discuss his orientation, but said, "I guess I can't really be concerned about what will happen, because it's my truth. There is this desire in L.A. to wonder who you are and what's been blaring for me for the last three years is how can I be most authentic to myself - so this is the first time I am speaking about it in this way."

We're happy anytime someone chooses to live openly and honestly. Way to go, Luke!

A lot has been written about the historic story happening on As the World Turns, but the April 22 issue of SoapOpera Digest actually talks to the two guys behind Luke and Noah, or "Nuke" as fans know them. Van Hansis (Luke) and Jake Silbermann (Noah) sat down for an extensive interview to talk about their onscreen love affair, offscreen friendship and the diehard fans who want to see more passion between the boys. The interview was actually too long for the pages of SOD and flowed over to the mag's website, so check this bonus out for tales of their first audition (Van didn't want Jake to get the role!), their first public outing together at the GLAAD Media Awards in 2007, and my lunch  with the actors a year ago — where I told them they were on the brink of something groundbreaking.

Van also reveals an acting technique sure to be stolen by many daytime actors to come: "Eyes, mouth, eyes, mouth." Meaning, that's where his own eyes dart when he's in a romantic situation, as evidenced in this photo from Nuke's first clinch. Hey, the guy must know what he's doing, he got a Daytime Emmy nomination last year — and we'll find out April 30 if Van and Jake make the Emmy cut this year. Fingers crossed!

Out magazine recently published its 2nd Annual Power 50 list. According to the outlet, the rankings were determined by scoring each candidate on these criteria: (1) political clout; (2) pop-cultural resonance; (3) individual wealth; and (4) current personal profile.

Daytime host/comic/all around nice lady Ellen DeGeneres tops the list not only because of her significant salary ($15 million) and successful talk show (how many Emmys is it now?), but also for being so open about her orientation, changing the hearts and minds of Middle America every day.

Coming in second is the outspoken Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank. Loud and proud, he's currently serving his 14th term and shows no sign of disappearing from the public eye anytime soon.

Rounding out the top three is CNN anchor Anderson Cooper. Though he is "silent about his sex life," it is undeniable that the Silver Fox reigns supreme when it comes to delivering breaking news.

Other deserving public figures include showrunner Greg Berlanti (#19), financial guru Suze Orman (#24) and publicity powerhouses Simon Halls & Stephen Huvane (#37).

To view the list in its entirety, please click here.

On last night's Access Hollywood, the girls from MTV's The Hills were interviewed while shooting a voting awareness campaign for Seventeen Magazine. Wearing cute American Eagle "Vote" t-shirts, each girl was asked what issues meant the most to them. Whitney Port said she'd always been "passionate about education." Audrina Patridge succinctly offered, "the environment."

But our girl Lauren Conrad (center) stepped up and told the reporter, "I think human rights are really important. I mean, when they talk about gay and straight marriage and things like that, those things are really important."

We're happy to count you as an ally, LC!