Lance Bass' revelation a relief

Oh yeah - another dude we have to receive with open arms. The dude came out of the closet. Whoohoo! Yipee! Sound the alarms. I mean Lance is a hasbeen that is trying to generate press for his new project. So he's gay - WHO CARES! It's not like he is this activist who is groundbreaking or a really smart dude who found a cure for a horrible disease.I mean he's just another guy to announce his sexuality. Why do we have to drop to our knees and shout "How wonderful!" with him? There are MANY people who come to terms with their sexual orienation everyday. Some get killed for it - and he gets the cover of People magazine. Hmmmm...

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Heather, maybe I'm nitpicking, but what's up with this line: "He claims to be in a stable relationship..."

Why is this a claim? Why not just "He says he's in ..." The word "claim" alludes to stereotypes about gay men not being able to maintain relationships, I think.

Julie, I agree with you: I'm waiting for the day when being gay isn't newsworthy. Kudos to his bandmates, though, for issuing pubic statements of support.

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Heather- I am about to nit-pick, as well. Your piece is absolutely thoughtful and well-intentioned. I would like to call attention to your use of the phrase "lifestyle" to describe this person's sexual orientation. Lifestyle, for many, indicates a choice- as if a gay person had chosen to live a certain way.

For the gay men and lesibian women I know, who they are attracted to, form deep meaningful attachements with and have relationships with is no more a choice than being left handed or blue-eyed. I don't lead a right-handed or straight "lifestyle" any more than my brother leads a gay lifestyle. He is simply living and loving they only way that makes sense for him- just like me!

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In Heather's defense, having begun doing this myself, when you're trying to write up these stories (with kids screaming in the background and running on 4 hours' sleep), you don't think too much or too deeply about your wording. Sometimes, we use words or phrases that, in hindsight, may not have been the best choice, but I can guarantee from having had the pleasure of working with these women, there is no ill intent here.

That said, I too look forward to the day when people's sexual orientation is as newsworthy as whether they are right- or left-handed. Who the hell cares?

Mel Gibson is close-minded, zealous jerk. Doesn't mean I didn't enjoy Lethal Weapon. Schwarzenegger is a selfish, money-grubbing tool. I still enjoyed his movies. Lance Bass is gay. Good for him. You still couldn't pay me to listen to N'Sync.

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Even in these "enlightened" times, it takes courage to make that announcement. The government still pursues its misguided "don't ask, don't tell" policy with disastrous results.

The sports world, with the exception of tennis, is still firmly in the closet. They don't dare be otherwise; it would put paid to their career.

It shouldn't be that way but it is. Three men were murdered after the San Diego Gay Pride day. States are busy passing new laws restricting the rights of their GLBT citizens to foster children, adopt, work, or even live in the place of their choosing. My state of California has to battle every year to keep the laws we have and they don't go nearly far enough.

We're still unable to start a Gay/Straight Alliance in our local high schools (I don't know how the schools are getting around the law but they manage somehow) and I can pick up my paper and read Letters to the Editor filled with hate. Families disown their kids.

And, as another commenter said, people continue to die. I'd rather it not be my son who is next.

The more people with the courage to come out, the less power the bigots will have. Being famous doesn't hurt.

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