Gay Teens are the cover story of Entertainment Weekly

Attention Gleeks! (and non-Gleeks),

Looks like this week's Entertainment Weekly is worth a gander. Here is how the EW staff describes the cover story:

Gay teens are suddenly popping up in major roles all over television, with Glee’s popular pairing of Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss) leading the way. How did gay teens go from marginalized outcasts and goofy sidekicks to some of the highest profile — and most beloved — characters on the likes of 90210, Pretty Little Liars, and Skins? And more importantly, how is this affecting real-life teens still facing the daily high-school realities of bullying, discrimination, and ignorance? The new issue of Entertainment Weekly investigates the history of gay teens on TV — from the angsty Rickie on My So-Called Life to sensitive-soul Jack on Dawson’s Creek to the slew of groundbreaking characters on Degrassi. We talk to the producers who fought for such progress, the actors who held the career-defining roles, and the activists who cheer recent advances — but are still pushing for more.

Check it out, and report back with your thoughts!

Oasis celebrates its 15th year!

Wow, it started as a monthly "magazine" style site, is now a community site, and at some point in 2011 should morph into a full-blown social network, but on December 1, Oasis turns 15 years old.

I launched the site in 1995 and am amazed by what it has become, as the site has always been driven, created, and supported by the people who share their lives here.

Some of our biggest assets were accidents that I now take credit for, such as not creating a girls forum and a boys forum, which has led to people realizing the problems are universal and the support is welcome from everyone willing to help. This is also useful more recently as our trans membership increases, saving my inbox from messages about reinforcing gender binaries, etc., etc.

I've been a bit absent lately as I've been at a the tail end of one job that was sort of spiraling out of control, and instead of the unemployment I expected, I actually have a 3-day weekend right into a new job with an even longer commute. The upside is that I will be earning enough now to hire a developer and get this site (and my vegan social network) developed in parallel.

So, thanks to everyone who comes here to share their lives, welcome others, and let people who need compassion and concern feel virtually what they might not feel in their offline lives.

I may have created this thing, but everyone reading this is the reason it has become such a special place online.

Andy South: Interview

By Jeff Walsh

Andy South was the youngest gay contestant on Project Runway this season, and made it into the final three contestants who got to show an entire collection at Fashion Week. He may look familiar on the site because he wrote an article for Oasis about his thoughts on fellow contestant Mondo Guerra revealing he was HIV-positive on the show a few weeks back.

Sadly, Andy didn't end up winning the show, but he seems very aware that Project Runway is an opportunity to build on, and from now, it is up to him to succeed.

We spoke last weekend, two days after the finale aired, and the first day he remembers sleeping in for a very long time, as he transitions from being a reality show contestant back to being a full-time fashion designer.

Here's what we said:

Latest journal entries.

DiamondDog's picture

In a black tank and zebra shorts...

Not a lot to say other than the fact I'm in PJ's and going off to a rehearsal at 1pm for Cinderella with another member here who hasn't posted anything. [Cough! TripleThreat86 Cough!] I was out and about last night in good ol' Old Town Pas when I was going back to my friends car and these guys were whistling and flashing their lights at us.

Now, it us a bit annoying. Just a bit. So I walk over to give them the hint it really doesn't work on girls. And with the Amstel Light in his hand, the passenger seat boy said to me, "My dad owns the construction company around here. Are you single?"

NellyL87's picture

And the Heart-Eating Monsters Struck Down Upon Me...

After all these months of pining away, trying my hardest to catch you... to hold you, just once, and being able to say you were truly mine...

blindlove's picture

Straight until proven otherwise

My freind brought this up in conversation the other day. Everyone assumes that everyone is straight until people prove otherwise, or come out. In the perfect world would straight people have to come out to, or would nobody assume anything and we could just be whatever felt natural?

JB's picture

I'm Bi-Sexual

Its something that has been on my mind for some time now. thoughts that I was too ashamed to admit. BUt after talking with people and watching the documetry link jeff posted, I have decided that I am infact Bi. I cannot deny it anymore. My unexplained fascinatiion of breasts can now be explained! I look forward to exploreing this whole new world, now that I am being oepn about my true feelings!
of course i am just joking!

sneezing gurl's picture

TO BE BI OR NOT TO BE BI *shivers*

I am a GIRL, I feel ATTRACTED to other GIRLS. Some say it is OKAY and some say it is NOT. I like GUYS too, most say it is NORMAL, but few say MAKE UP YOUR MIND. I want to be HAPPY. I am a piece of shitty lard, who is letting her sexual orientation come in her way of her everyday life. What about college? A career? IAMGAYIAMGAYIMAGAYIAMGAY...SO WHAT????? ARE YOU CRAZY?!?! WHAT IF SOMEONE FINDS

alana's picture

"girl problems"

this has been a long week for me. i need a break from my life. even being sick didn't give me any real rest. i had a bit of a moment with my online ex, but she is still too busy for me, even though she says shes still in love with me. so thats not happening. then theres the girl in maryland who also likes me and i can't be with.

i sound all cool with all my girl problems, but its not fun. i'd rather not have any, especially because i'm in in a relationship with any of them.

dazed and confused's picture

Yet another *fun* filled Friday night...

I am sooooo bored and very frustrated at the moment. I wish I knew how to go out and meet people, have fun, etc. I'm not old enough to go to the gay bars/clubs in town, and I don't know of any gay "parties" here on campus, lol. I don't even really have any friends throwing parties or anything. There's NOTHING to do!!! :P I could go to one of the numerous mardi gras parties being thrown in the numerous guys' dorms on campus, but I just don't get much pleasure out of being squished in a room with 30 people I don't know, plus everyone there would assume I was straight. *sigh*


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