SImilar to Ellen's Nikes

One, Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi both just received custom Nikes from the company as wedding gifts, and Ellen showed the audience her new kicks on her show. How cute! Go Nike, for being pro equal rights marriage! Nike is given the highest rating of 100 on HRC’s 2009 Buying Guide.

Two, Portia is going to be on Ellen’s show this coming Monday, March 16th. Again, I say how cute! This is the first time Ellen’s wife will be a guest on the show, and it’s telling of progress the show has made in its years of airing. The first few seasons of her talk show she referred to Portia only in passing and as her ambiguous ”partner.” It wasn’t until a couple of seasons in that Ellen started referring to her explicitly and affection.

Now Portia will be on the show. I can’t want to see how they handle her appearance.

Ellen and Portia

Katelynn Cusanelli, from Real World Brooklyn, has made history in becoming the first transgendered cast member of the ground breaking reality show. Real World has long been a way for queer people, gays, lesbians and now transgenders, to be able to accurately represent themselves in the mainstream media.

To give a brief background, on the Real World, Brooklyn Diaries blog site Katelynn has a short biography: “Katelynn is a native of West Palm Beach, Fla., where she was raised by a religious Italian family. Her strong desire to be a mother stems from her close-knit relationship with her own mom, but this goal always seemed like a fantasy since Katelynn was born male. In high school, she realized that something was missing in her life, and she began the slow transgender process. At the age of 17, she started living as a woman. Just this past July, Katelynn traveled to Thailand to undergoing the last of her surgeries, making the transition from man to woman complete. The 24-year-old is a self-proclaimed computer geek and practicing black belt in martial arts. After a string of bad relationships, she is currently with her boyfriend, Mike, the guy she hopes to marry one day.”

Katelynn came out to the rest of the cast on the first episode of the season as a post-operation, male to female transgender. She was essentially forced out by prodding questions, but she came out willingly and was willing to answer any and all questions. She’s been a great source of visibility for transgender and queer people alike.

Katelynn hanging out with the other girls

Being articulate, well educated, attractive, and generally normal gives a perfect face and voice to a highly visible trans woman. She has the knowledge to educate the people around her on the changes she made to her body, on the outside, to reflect the person she is on the inside. In the video clip in the second part of the her blog entry series “On Being Transgender” (linked above via the photograph) she attempts to educate a reluctant and seemingly repulsed ex-military housemate, Ryan, who refers to her surgery as “chopping it off.” Ryan comes across as ignorant and extremely judgmental. As she’s explaining the various aspects of the procedure, her families reaction, and entertaining Ryan’s slew of inappropriate and invasive questions, he continues to interrupt her, talk over her and disregard most of what she’s saying. Watch for yourself, it’s astounding!

The first time I heard about Ellen becoming the new Cover Girl model I was elated for a number of reasons. She is hilarious and I knew this was going to actually be a make-up commercial I’d want to watch, she’s an older woman, which isn’t the standard of beauty in the United States, but the most important reason for having Ellen in this role is because she is a lesbian.

Lesbians, in popular media, fall into a multitude of stereotypes: masculine, flannel wearing, Birkenstocks shuffling, cargo shorts draping, buzz cut sporting, dykes or the opposite is the male friendly, feminine, happy, dress wearing, kitten heal sporting, hip swaying, lipstick lesbians. Both fall into separate roles and both have very specific purposes; the dykes are for comic relief and to man-hate and the lipstick lesbians are to titillate  the male viewers. But, Ellen falls under neither of these stereotypes. Yes she’s definitely the comic relief and a little masculine, but she also wears designers clothes and is sometimes quite feminine. Ellen not only represents a more accurate portrayal of many lesbians but women of all sexual orientations. This is likely because Ellen is just being herself, she’s a normal, respectable, funny woman, who has won over the hearts of millions of Americans and many more viewers internationally, and JUST HAPPENS to be gay.

The increased circulation of her commercials, print ads, and billboards among the greater population gives positive and productive visibility of an openly gay woman to many Americans and to the world. This positive image of a successful, friendly, gay woman in such a prominent role gives me hope that people are becoming more accepting of gay people as just an everyday part of life.

Watch the Early Show’s reaction to Ellen’s new gig:

Did you see how surprised he was? And did you hear the shock in her voice? I feel like both of the reporters were just digging themselves deeper and deeper into a hole, and somehow tried to pull themselves out right at the end. ”Isn’t that funny, because I don’t think you think of Ellen Degeneres as glamourous per se, or even somebody who even particularly wear’s make-up.” “That’s right, she’s fifty and she’s very public about her sexuality, so certainly not the traditional face of that company.” Then she goes on to name a slew of women who were more believable Cover Girls and were, most importantly, straight.

It just seems so ridiculous and a little inappropriate that a national, live TV show would talk about how a lesbian isn’t a traditional choice, because she’s a lesbian. It’s certainly is true that homophobia is the last acceptable prejudice in this country. Sigh.

Well, either way, kudos to Cover Girl for choosing Ellen, and kudos to Ellen for being such a great representation of the gay community!

P.S. Ellen: Six figures, you go girl!

Josh Gerber

In my interview with Josh Gerber, co-owner of the award winning Cambridge, 1369 Coffee House, co-founder of the Boston branch of Guerilla Queer Bar, and an active member of  Mass Equality, the grass roots Massachusetts LGBT equal rights organization, I asked a couple questions about the roles he sees himself playing in the gay market and the queer community. 

Sitting at the bar in his Central Sq. coffee shop we started off the interview by talking about what brands he purchases specifically, if any? Cars? Clothes? Food? Etc. And how he thinks general marketing influences his decision. He explained that, of course he’s influenced by marketing, but not really much, he says. He’s mostly influence by friends’ style and his immediate surroundings. Being that he doesn’t watch much TV he relies on observing people around him, on the train, at work, socializing. Although he does admit that he buys magazines and reads the news from time to time, so the marketing he’s exposed to would have to be entirely from print advertising.

When describing his clothing buying habits he said that he re-evaluates what he has every season and buys everything all at once in the beginning of the season. Hmm, I wonder where he gets the idea for what he should wear…. Now, at least one gay stereotype does prevail with Josh when it comes to consumer goods, he owns a Subaru which he bought from his parents, because “it was cheap.” Subaru has, for quite a few years now, marketed directly to queer consumers in a very open, honest, and respectful fashion. He joked about his Subaru as being a “lesbian” car (oh, and yes I do drive one, I’m am an official lesbian), then told me about how when he went to an auto body shop a few weeks ago he had a “Dude car conversation” about his Subaru with the tough guy working behind the counter, they commiserated over some issue the employee was having with his Subaru. I guess, it’s not just gay people who drive them it’s everyone. So, kudos to Subaru for recognizing the queer community as consumers as well.

1369 Coffee House

When asked if he would be more likely to buy a Queer friendly brand, than an openly anit-gay or neglectful brand, he replied with an outstanding “yes!” Josh regularly reads HRC (Human Rights Corporation) list of queer friendly companies and corporations, and does make important personal and business decisions based on this list. He also said that depending on how easily the product would be to replace he would definitely stop buying from companies with anit-gay policies and advertising. Giving the example for Poland Springs Water, he noted that the company is not gay friendly and ranks very low on the HRC list of friendly corporations. Josh remarked that he would eliminate selling Poland Spring products in a second if he could find an alternative, but he has yet to find a brand that has a similar product and is also gay-friendly.

This posses a question for me, how likely is it that queer people, everyday, are purchasing and using products and services that hold anti-gay policies? And also, would people, gay or not be likely to stop purchasing, and boycott anti-gay companies in this market?

Besides running a self described “Gay friendly business.” Josh also co-founded the Boston chapter of Guerilla Queer Bar (GQB). On the GQB website there is a call to the gay people of Boston and a description of the group, “Tired of the same old gay bars? Think the pub on the corner needs a little shake up? Believe that “separate but equal” was never enough? Join us on the first Friday of every month as we take a straight bar back! Welcome to Guerrilla Queer Bar – Boston edition. On the first Friday of every month we’re descending upon an unsuspecting straight bar and turning it into a gay bar for the night. We’re not reinventing the wheel – this is done all around the country – just bringing a time honored tradition to Boston.”

GQB Logo

Josh explains how the options for queer-centered nightlife activities are severely limited for gay people and that GQB already existed in other major cities. He and his business partner Daniel thought, “it’s just an idea, lets do this, that’s great!” So, Boston’s very own GQB was started. The two of them created a website, a Facebook group (social networking site), and went out for guerilla marketing by going to clubs, bars and orgs to solicit partiers. They created pins and every time they would have an event pins would be given out the attendees like candy to children on Halloween. Facebook and word of mouth were really the big sellers of GQB and the queer people of Boston came-a-runnin’. Additionally, the guys had a secret plan, by getting a few key alphas in the Boston Gay scene to come with their circle of friends he spread the word faster than wildfire. Josh also explained how he and Daniel networked personally, they were always there and socializing which made people feel good and gave the attendees a sense of community and friendship.

After a few hugely successful takeovers the Media eventually came to them: first was Bay Windows, a popular Queer newspaper in the queer community, second was The Dig, a local, widely circulated, free, Boston periodical, third the Boston Phoenix, another popular free Boston periodical, and lastly the Boston Globe, the largest newspaper in the greater New England area, did a front page story in the Style section.

GQB in Boston now has around a thousand people participating the first Friday of every month and the group has grown so large that Josh and Daniel have started expanding to organized takeovers more than once a month.

Josh Gerber

We wrapped up the interview by going back briefly to the topic of 1369 Coffee House. When asked if his shop was indeed gay friendly he said that YES! It is open and friendly to all people, but is not necessarily a gay or straight spot. Any one should be comfortable, from a trans person to a frat dude. It’s important to him that 1369 is not exclusively gay, so obviously, he does not want to exclude people.

Both behind the scenes at his coffee shop and in the public eye with GQB Josh Gerber is an advocate for gay visibility and acceptance in the general public. He isn’t shouting from the rooftops that he is gay and thinks that people should just accept it; he is showing that he, as a gay man, is a productive and valuable member of society. He is in a position to make major decisions with respect to both his business and GQB and he chooses to make decisions that will help, not hinder, gay visibility and acceptance.

LINKS:

Guerilla Queer Bar – Boston
1369 Coffee House
Mass Equality

American Apparel has made a fantastic shirt that, as one of the sales girls in the Newbury St. Boston store says, “is selling REALLY well. Everyone seems to love it.” The shirt is a standard American Apparel T-shirt with the words “Legalize Gay” written in a dated, vintage style font. Some of the T’s also have the words “Repeal Prop 8 Now!” These shirts were originally created by AmAp for the Repeal Prop 8 March in Downtown LA, California in November of 2008, directly following the passing of said Prop in the November election. They come in such gay colors as purple on pink, purple on army, white on teal, purple on red and a few other!

So, I bought the shirt in army and purple. I’m gay, it’s true. I’m also from California and voted in the November election AGAINST Prop 8, a lot of good that did! (I joke.) But, even though I was not part of the march in LA, I now have a piece of history and also a little visibility.

All the way back in the summer (of 2008) I made my own shirt in support of equal rights marriages in California. It was simple and I only bought one, which means only one was ever printed, but at the time marriage was legal for all including same-sex couples. I was rejoicing and planned to wear the shirt in a local Pride parade. Sadly I bought the shirt a bit too big and gave it to my sister, but I think that she wears it more than I ever would, so YAY! for visibility.

So, what’s the moral of the story? Be visible, have an aqueerance, and support companies who are helping in the cause! Maybe you can start by getting one of those fantastic “Legalize Gay” AmAp shirts.

To find more companies besides American Apparel who are queer friendly visit the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) “Buying Guide for Equality 2009″ and help support companies who support us!

 Sean Penn as Harvey Milk

“My name is Harvey Milk and I am here to recruit you!”

I am so over joyed that Sean Penn won the Oscar for Best Leading Actor I could scream! In fact I did.

The queer visibility that Sean winning for his role in “Milk” as Harvey Milk produces is exceptional. The Academy Awards are watched by millions of viewers all over the world, many of whom live in places where the Queer community is condemned and ostracized simply because they are gay. Penn’s win and Dustin Lance Black’s win for Best Original Screenplay give a real voice to queer people in these communities and everywhere around world.

Now, Aqueerance.com will usually be covering issues of queer visibility within advertising, but this historic event cannot go without praise. The queer community is rejoicing tonight and we thank Penn, Black, Gus Van Sant, and most importantly Harvey Milk for giving voice and visibility to gay people everywhere! Also, specifically thank you to Penn and Black for their speeches that were addressed to the public, telling them that it is both okay and normal to be gay and that people need to start accepting and giving equal rights to these “beautiful and wonder people.” Amen.

Now your job is, if you haven’t already, to go see “Milk.” And if you have seen the movie please tell a friend, parent, sibling, partner or co-worker to go see it! Spread the visibility, it can’t come soon enough.

UPDATES: Check out some interview with Sean Penn and Dustin Lance Black on Our Scene TV