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.

Sunny's picture

Leavin' on a Jet Plane...

Assuming, of course, that these "blogs" take the place of our much coveted discussion boards... Here we go...

My girlfriend and I broke up last week. She lives in Toronto... I live in Vancouver. It just wasn't going to work out, I guess. But you know how it is? You really love someone and you're really intimate with them and then *POOF* its over. Sigh. I'm not as Sunny as I normally am. I guess it's for the best though. We can both meet people in our own region now... the long distance thing just shouldn't have happened. I don't know how we managed to keep it alive this long. heh. It makes me laugh thinking about it. I miss her though. I wish she'd hop on the next plane home just so we could make love for the weekend. Sigh. It's a delusion. Nothing more.

dazed and confused's picture

thoughts at 1 am...

I should've known this was coming. I've felt it approaching for weeks, like how you can sense an impending storm by the smell and feel of the air. I'm sure I did know, somewhere inside me. But I ignored any warnings I may have given myself and now I find myself sitting at my computer struggling not to cry.

hol's picture

From your daughter, the good girl

You called your letter a reality check and a letter from one adult to another.

Excerpt dated October 25, 2000.

"Unfortunately, school does not teach all the important things in life. Now that you are in your mid 20s, you will begin to gain a greater respect from life experiences in the next 10 years

Leisa's picture

Re-discovery

Just a thought.

dazed and confused's picture

what did I just do???

None of my friends here know that I'm a lesbian... I think that will be changing soon.

What part of the newspaper do you read first?

Duh! the bits that have news
29% (23 votes)
I'm a business guy! The business page
3% (2 votes)
I'm gay- hello: arts and living!
22% (17 votes)
I'm morbid- The Obituaries
1% (1 vote)
I'm funny- the Funnies
22% (17 votes)
Section 4
1% (1 vote)
Newspaper? Sweetheart, what you on about. I got da net!
22% (17 votes)
Total votes: 78

When Did You Come Out

Between the age of 10 and 15
22% (6 votes)
Between the age of 15 and 20
56% (15 votes)
Older than 20.
11% (3 votes)
Still In The Closet
11% (3 votes)
Total votes: 27

Syndicate content Syndicate content