GayPop 2010 :: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
2010 in GayPop culture brought us a politically active Lady Gaga in a meat dress; Christina Aguilera in a grind house; fewer, but choicer gays on network TV (Glee and Modern Family); reality shows we loved to hate (A-listers in NYC and housewives from across the river); Republican gays into teabagging (and we don’t mean its slang usage); More celebrity come-outs (Ricky Martin and Chely Wright); Dan Savage’s fresh approach to dealing with an age-old issue; and instant YouTube sensations (shirtless lipsyncher Craigery Morgan and video parodist Ryan James Yezak).
GayPop is so pervasive that there’s even now a Facebook page devoted to anti-gay pop culture. "This group is for the guys that actually act like guys," reads the page’s description. "Guys that aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, and rough-house, and play sports; and for the straight folks that are tired of the gay pop-culture scene."
Well, for of us not tired of the scene, we’ve compiled a list of the good, bad and ugly in the world of GayPop. Those we cheer and jeer, the trendmakers and the trainwrecks, and the ones we love and the ones we love to hate.
In no particular order, here are the good, bad and ugly in the world of gay pop culture during the past year.
Lady Gaga
No other pop-star in recent times has done more for the cause than Lady Gaga. Since just dancing into our hearts with her bad romance and pushing the limits of her image, fashion, and her talent -- Lady Gaga has single-handedly revived the lost art of the music video. Gaga also puts her money where her mouth is: she walked down the VMA red carpet with the unsung heroes fighting "Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell" and then spoke on our behalf at the rally. In 2011 there’s more Gaga on tour, plus her new album (already completed) to be released in March. Ra Ra Gaga!
Cher & Christina Aguilera
Why dare pair the quintessential gay icon with the pop-princess? Cher does owe a bit to XTina who practically begged the Oscar winner to join the cast of the musical Burlesque, which marked Cher’s return to movies and the first round of new Cher music in a long time. The film easily marked Aguilera’s transition to the movies, but it was Cher who subtly stole the film from the rest of the 20-somewhere cast.
Dan Savage
The undisputed master blogger and sex columnist took things to an entirely new level in 2010. With the increased number of teen suicides in our community perpetuated by the heightened disparity of bullies, Savage took it upon himself to prove to every struggling teenager that it gets better! His mantra inspired the world and soon everyone, from every walk of life wanted to share their story and encourage our young people to hang in there. If only one young person reacted to the thousands of stories that Savage was able to broadcast, that’s one more light shining in the world! No words rang truer: It does get better... for an entire new generation! Thank you Dan... hmmm, ever think of running for President?
Chris Colfer (and the cast of "Glee")
As the whimsical Kurt on the FOX breakout show of the season, Colfer has revolutionized the way the nation looks at gay teens. No longer the victims of frat-boy bullies, his character is an indispensable part of the ensemble and a powerhouse of talent to boot. In a a year mired by teen suicides and the horrors of bullying, many young people have found a role-model in Colfer and have happily identified with his character’s strength and fragility. They found someone who is as much part of the band as any of the other jocks on the team. And with a budding love interest this coming season, here is TV proof that it only gets better.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (and the cast of "Modern Family")
It’s fantastic not having to go very far to see reflections of our community properly and responsibly portrayed on television. As half of TV’s most beloved (and wonderfully realistic) gay family units, Jesse Tyler Ferguson helped land his cast an Emmy for Best Television Comedy and was integral to his television husband Eric Stonestreet winning an Emmy win of his own. Ferguson’s "Mitchell" is the most fully-realized gay character free of the typical stereotypes that have often plague similar sitcom roles in the past. He ventures weekly with the support of his entire modern family into uncharted sitcom history.
