Sexual Orientation Is NOT News
Ranked #7,015 in Culture & Society, #143,220 overall
If I See One More "Guess Who's Gay" Headline....
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons / CC
So, I got up this morning and read the news online as I always do. And I always check various sources. You know, to get a wider range of perspectives. (Unbiased? Where?)
Today, though, no matter where I looked, one of the major headlines was some variation of "Adam Lambert is GAY!" (He was the second-place finisher in this season's American Idol contest, in case you aren't familiar with him. And he's a VERY talented guy, if you ask me.)
And to such headlines I say, "So WHAT?" I can't wait for the day -- if it ever comes -- when someone's sexual orientation is no longer news. I see no reason why it should be, and, personally, I think such a headline diminishes the value of the news source. Print a "so-n-so is homosexual" headline, and I don't want to read or listen to that source anymore. Which really does narrow things down.
But perhaps I'm being a hypocrite just by writing this. Hmm ... well, touché. I just needed to rant, I guess.
He Or She Is Gay Or Lesbian Headlines Are Everywhere!
And I think it's ridiculous.
Know of a similar so-called news story? While adding the link here may seem like blatant hypocrisy, I think it serves to show how obsessed the media is -- and, I suppose, their readership -- with the sexual orientation of celebrities. Perhaps, it if weren't such big business for the media, it wouldn't be as much of an issue in the rest of society either.
Yes, we're gay! Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson finally confirm Hollywood's worst kept secret
After months of speculation about their relationsh more...3 points
EXCLUSIVE: Grey's Anatomy star T.R. Knight Confirms He's Gay - T.R. Knight : People.com
"I hope the fact that I'm gay isn't the most more...1 point
Meredith Baxter: Yes, I'm gay - CNN.com
"Family Ties" actress Meredith Baxter ma more...1 point
Clay Aiken to reveal he is gay
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After years of dodging que more...0 points
Lance Bass: I'm Gay - Lance Bass : People.com
The onetime 'N Sync heartthrob says he's "mor more...0 points
Actor Neil Patrick Harris says he's gay - Celebrities- msnbc.com
Neil Patrick Harris is gay and wants to quell any more...0 points
Ricky Martin comes out: 'I am a fortunate homosexual man' | EW.com
Latin heartthrob Ricky Martin announced on his blo more...0 points
Country music's Chely Wright comes out - CNN.com
Country singer Chely Wright's reasoning was sound. more...0 points
Suze Orman Comes Out | AfterEllen.com
The financial guru and TV show host tells the New more...0 points
Wanda Sykes: "I'm Proud To be Gay"
LAS VEGAS - Comedian Wanda Sykes says the passage more...0 points
Should We Care That A Celebrity Is Gay?
It's your turn to weigh in. Or just vent like me.
But me first again. I mean, as a friend of mine just said, "We have kids who graduate high school who can't read and write, our economy is in the toilet, but this is news? I don't think so."
I agree! Whether someone is gay, straight, somewhere in between, or all of the above is NOT worthy of a news story. To me, a story like that is no better than tabloid trash regardless whether it's true or not.
Okay, NOW it's your turn. :)
Someone's sexual orientation isn't newsworthy! Or is it?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, you're right! This stuff should not be news.
NYThroughTheLens says:
It's no one else's business. Ridiculous that it is newsworthy. Live and let live.
Posted July 03, 2011
WildFacesGallery says:
While I may think it's interesting, just like it's interesting if they do charity work or like to cook. I don't think the furor that is so often raised is deserved. Also if someone wants to keep it private they should be able to.
Posted February 21, 2010
Geekness_FortWorth says:
With consenting adults, it is no one else's business.
Posted February 21, 2010
OhMe says:
I could care less what anyone's sexual orientation is and sure don't think it be newsworthy
Posted January 15, 2010
HappySeasons says:
I still don't understand why it is important to know the sexual preferences of anyone.
Posted December 18, 2009
arncyn says:
Kudos to you for starting a debate on this topic! I'm sick of the (thinly-veiled) prejudice too. Funny too that you should use a photo of Adam Lambert - I love him, i think he's great and it does NOT matter at all to me or my husband whatever his sexuality is or not. Bottomline is he's a fantastic singer.
Posted November 19, 2009
JaguarJulie says:
Oh my goodness! I came here after looking for a Thanksgiving lens. Let me tell you, it sometimes makes me wonder why the newscasters have to put this topic out there in the news -- perhaps it is a slow news day?
Posted October 14, 2009
says:
I agree - it seems that nothing is private anymore
Posted October 14, 2009
boshemia says:
I've always felt that a persons sexual orientation really isn't any of our business for the most part. Nobody cares what I do in my bedroom, and I don't care what other people do in theirs. Love is love, and I support it in all forms. Is it news? Rarely... Now when a man falls in love with an alien... THAT'S News!
Posted August 22, 2009
DeboraR says:
NO! It is not newsworthy! It's like saying they peed when they went to the toilet! Who cares! Good grief!!! Is that all they are...GAY? My sex life is not WHO I am! It surely doesn't make them anything special in my opinion, they are a confused lot. I sometimes think as celebrities they say such things just for the attention and media attraction.
Posted August 20, 2009
cjsysreform says:
I agree... although I must admit to having read several stories about Lindsay Lohan's girlfriend.
cjsysreform confesses: She Reads About Lindsay Lohan! news at 11.
Posted June 12, 2009
Stazjia says:
In the UK, the media's defence of intrusive reporting of a celebrity's private life is "It's in the public interest" which should mean the public has a right to know because it has some relevance to how they do their job. Usually what they mean is "the public are interested because we all love gossip."
I think reporting sexual orientation as if it's news is as pointless as reporting their religious denomination, the kind of music they like, or that they are a Texan or a Cornishman. As you say, "So what?" and I say, "Who cares?" The important questions in this context are, "Can he sing? Is he entertaining?" Obviously this applies to men and women.
Posted June 12, 2009
No way, Monkeybrain! This sort of news has merit.
Tipi says:
Roll models are under the micro-scope. I will support a good roll model. Sir Elton John has been a good roll model in his own right, and I love the guy and his music. However, I do like know who and what life-style I might be supporting. Adam, is not a good roll model because of his life-style, I would not support him.
Public popularity plays a big roll and if someone is in the public-eye, their sexual orientation and behavior will be public. We really did need to know about President Clinton, which doesn't seem to have harmed him in the long run.
Posted January 31, 2010
newbizmau says:
While I believe that their sexual orientation is their own business. I wouldn't mind seeing a few positive Gay role models for the community, not that any of the stars in the press are/aren't good role models. There can be something positive that comes out of this.
Posted September 17, 2009
_Joan_ says:
Oh, I wanted to add that while I think these news stories have the impact that I stated, I don't think that's the actual reason that they get reported. The news media's motivation is the fact that people eat up any kind of stories about celebrities and sex.
Posted July 10, 2009
_Joan_ says:
It's newsworthiness is related to the social context. In a society where lots of people have pre-conceived ideas about a certain type of people, I think it is newsworthy. A lot of folks think that they don't know anyone who is gay. Stories like this tell them that, yes, they do know some gay people. And the newsworthiness can be larger or smaller depending on the person's field of endeavor. A person's race probably isn't newsworthy when they get elected to the school board (although it was at one time!), but it's still newsworthy if they get elected POTUS. A person's religion isn't newsworthy if they become the head of General Foods, but if an atheist became the head of the Boy Scouts, his religion would be very newsworthy.
In the world of entertainment, a lot of our silly fascination with celebrities comes from our opinions about their attractiveness, and it's sometimes implied that if your fans don't secretly want to sleep with you they won't be interested in seeing your movie or buying your album. "Coming out" stories challenge that idea.
Posted July 10, 2009
Fess Up!
And this is incognito, so....
Whether or not you think someone's sexual orientation is newsworthy.....
Tell The Truth!
Whether you read these kinds of "news" stories or not....
Is there seriously an argument to the contrary?
How is someone being gay, straight, or bisexual newsworthy?
If you know of an article, blog post, or other web page that discusses a good reason or illustrates a valid reason for someone's sexual orientation to be in the news, go ahead and add it here.
Hmm ... this list is awfully short.
Beyond the Candlelight Vigils
After four teenage boys in different areas of the more...0 points
Support For My Opinion -- Gay or Not, It's NOT News
And I'm never wrong. (Right?)
- I'm not a religious person, in the traditional sense, but that's neither here nor there. I really like the sentiments expressed in this article by Rob G. in Exodus International, "the largest information and referral ministry in the world addressing homosexual issues."
Someone I Know Is Gay Or Lesbian - Adam Lambert fans sure don't care. See all the comments on the:
Adam Lambert Fan Site - Here's a blog post on Cinie's World about Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor:
Sotomayor Gay? Who Cares? - Here's an article from Newsweek's Times Online by Simon Barnes, Chief Sports Writer. This article is more about the climate surrounding the idea and reality of gay men in sports than it is an opinion piece; although, to me, the writer's opinion seems evident.
Man Is Gay? Who Cares?
And If You Think THIS Was A Hot Debate....
You should weigh in on this celebrity's sexual (or asexual) preference/s....
More Comments About Sexual Orientation in the News?
Please share them here.
And, yes, I know, this lens is very hypocritical of me. (And I think that's the third time I've said it.) So maybe we can skip that part?
**You don't have to be a member of Squidoo to leave a message.**
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NYThroughTheLens
Jul 3, 2011 @ 3:41 pm | delete
- Great lens :).
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SudokuNut
Jul 2, 2011 @ 3:03 am | delete
- Sexual orientation should at the most be a footnote and nothing more. How they constantly get a full page story or several days worth of news out of the most mundane, boring, inconsequential topics never ceases to amaze me. Weiner's weiner, Arnie's lovechild, Kardashian's butt, the cost of someone's enagagement ring, some D-lister is dating a C-lister and yup, someone is GAY....arrghh!! Meanwhile the world falls apart around our ears and you have to dig for a real news story about it. Geesh!
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gaytheist555 May 19, 2011 @ 12:33 am | delete
- I loved the idea behind this page... never thought of it that way!
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KathyMcGraw
Oct 23, 2010 @ 11:29 pm | delete
- I found one of your statistics fascinating....and you are so right, who cares!
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kiwisoutback
Oct 1, 2010 @ 10:01 am | delete
- I agree, who cares? It makes for such a boring news story. Meanwhile in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran...
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