By Max Phillips (writing as Fifi LaBouche) • Originally published on FifiLaBouche.com
This week our copy of OUT magazine arrived and whose goofy grin should greet us from its cover? One of our all-time favorite gay nerds, Jim Parsons, that’s who. As we flipped through the pages we realized that some of this year’s top 100 have also made our list (or at least received a nod in our blog).
Here are a few from the OUT 100 that we found blog-worthy.
Jim Parsons
Recently Mr. Parsons was honored with his third Emmy for his work on “The Big Bang Theory.” This inspired us to put together a list of Emmy award-winning LGBT actors. While we only found 15, we still think it’s progress.
In his OUT interview, Parsons notes that his coming out in a New York Times article generated only, “Minor Internet-related chatter,” citing that as progress. We agree. It’s refreshing for an actor to be heralded for his or her accomplishments, (like three Emmys, thank you very much) and not for his or her sexuality.
Steve Grand
Mr. Grand crossed our gaydar when his indie country song and video “All-American Boy” made its rounds on the internet. We were drawn in by the overt homoerotic tone of the video, but were moved deeply by the universal theme of falling for the wrong man. Especially in a culture that still believes in ‘gay panic’ as a viable defense for violence against the LGBT community.
OUT magazine applauded him for using his life savings to self-release his video via YouTube. A clear indication that niche artists — like a gay country singer — can no longer be held back by big music labels, noting that, “the once-mighty labels have been outmaneuvered by technology.”
Jack Andraka
Mr. Andraka quickly became one of our new favorite gay nerds. At first glance, he appears to be just a normal, everyday kid. But hidden under that mop of a hairdo is one big brain.
At 15 years old he’d already been working hard to develop his new test for pancreatic cancer and hobnobbing with big wigs like President Obama and The Pope. But OUT reminds us that he is still just a kid trying to find his way in the world. “I really have no clue where I want to go or what I want to be when I grow up,” Andraka says in an interview, “I still have a lot of decisions to make.”
Cheyenne Jackson
Mr. Jackson had the dubious honor of a mention in our blog for news of his impending divorce from his partner of 13 years — and for some rather bizarre behavior.
While we were focusing on the negative, OUT reminds us that he’s actually having a stellar year — career-wise. He’s been busy filming “Behind the Candelabra,” “Full Circle,” and “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks,” and he released his first solo album, “I’m Blue, Skies.”
—Fifi LaBouche