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Ricky Martin’s memoir due November 2

LGBTQ Nation • Thursday, August 19, 2010 • Filed under: Books and Authors, Celebrities, Music • Comments (1)

Ricky Martin is set to release his memoir, Me, on November 2.

Martin said in a statement Thursday that the project led him to extract memories that he had erased from his mind. He said the book was not easy but allowed for an “incredible spiritual journey.”

USA TODAY’s Cindy Clark reports that the Grammy-Award winning artist opens up for the first time about his early childhood, his experiences as a member of the boy band Menudo, and coming to terms with his sexuality. Martin also talks about being a father and his work with children around the world.

Martin has said that preparing to write the book was one of the reasons he decided to reveal earlier this year that he is gay.

There will also be a Spanish language edition released in Spanish the same day, titled Yo, which is Spanish for “I.”

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Westboro bigots picket Lady Gaga concert with ‘God hates fags’ signs

LGBTQ Nation • Sunday, July 18, 2010 • Filed under: Missouri, Music • Comments (0)

Westboro bigots outside the Lady Gaga concert in St. Louis

Homophobic hate-monger Fred Phelps’ gang of Westboro Baptist Bigots has taken a break from picketing military funerals with its “God hates fags” message to picket the Lady Gaga concert in St. Louis on Saturday night.

“Now what type of wicked hypocrites would we be if we did not warn this little false prophetess and all of her over-indulged sycophants that they are each one, individually heading straight to hell in a gender-confused, self-loathing, tone-deaf hand basket,” said Westboro, via their website.

In response, about an hour prior to her concert, Gaga posted this message to fans, via Facebook:

“At the risk of drawing attention to a hateful organization, I would like to make my little monster fan aware of a protest being held outside the Monsterball in St.Louis tonight. Although we have had protesters before, as well as fundamentalists at the show this group of protesters are hate criminals and preach using lude and violent language and imagery that I wish I protect you all from.
Their message is of hatred and divisiveness, but inside at the Monsterball we preach love and unity.
My request to all little monsters and public authority is to pay these hate criminals no mind. Do not interact with them, or try to fight. Do not respond to any of their provocation. Don’t waste your words, or feelings, no matter what you hear or see.
You are more fortunate and blessed than they are, and in your heart just pray for them. Although I respect and do not judge anyone for their personal views on any politics or religion, this group in particular to me, is violent and dangerous. I wanted to make my fans aware of my views on how to approach, or rather not approach, these kinds of hate activists.
Be inspired to ignore their ignorant message, and feel gratitude in your heart that you are not burdened or addicted to hate, as they are. X”

And post-concert, via Twitter:

@ladygaga: Tonight love and hate met in St. Louis. And love outnumbered the hate, in poetic thousands. Hate left. But love stayed. + Together, we sang.

Westboro is a small church in Topeka, KS, and is not affiliated with the Baptist denomination or any other Baptist church. According to news reports, almost all of its members — fewer than 100 — are related to founder Fred Phelps either by blood or marriage.

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Adam Lambert’s ‘Glam Nation’ is must-see tour of the summer

Kelvin Lynch • Wednesday, July 7, 2010 • Filed under: Celebrities, Music • Comments (0)

By Kelvin Lynch

Adam Lambert proves he's a glam superstar. His tour is nearly sold-out.

Adam Lambert is selling out venues across the U.S. with his Glam Nation Tour, which features fellow American Idol alumni Allison Iraheta and enough rhinestones and glitter to cover the Statue of Liberty.

Lambert’s otherwordly voice is reportedly in better shape than ever, and he brings on the outrageous Broadway-style costumes and theatrics reminiscent of the Master of Ceremonies in “Cabaret”.

However, in this production, Lambert is more Liza-as-Sally Bowles than Joel Grey. Despite all the costumes, risque moments, lasers, video screens, and flashing lights, the show is all about self-empowerment and being who you want to be.

MTV says, “Lambert channeled Dr. Phil several times during the show, doling out self-help platitudes any chance he got. By sharing about his life (and perhaps oversharing about how a dance move hurt his man-parts), the glittery star brought himself down to earth.”

But make no mistake, the Golden Voice is a master of working his fans into a frenzy, and he is there solely to give them their money’s worth. Lambert consistently delivers the goods, and brings in the crowds wherever he goes, whether it be in New York City or Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he played at the House of Blues last night. Fans at both venues came out in full force and were wowed by Lambert’s electric energy and showmanship.

Lambert, perhaps because of his stint on AI, has the uncanny ability to draw incredibly diverse audiences at every stop. Fans who lined up for the House of Blues show included mostly women, young kids, some straight men, and gay fans, according to Out Impact. Local writer Bambi Weavil said, “If there was any doubt that Lambert could draw a diverse crowd, all doubt can be laid to rest that he appeals to everyone.”

After seeing the concert, Weavil raved, “Do not pass up seeing Lambert if you have the opportunity to go, especially in an intimate setting like the House of Blues, for any reason – you’ll leave feeling entertained, energized and re-inspired on your own path to keep going and to always be who you are.”

Lambert is criss-crosssing the country, bringing his traveling circus to cities both large and small. Next up, he will appear in Knoxville, TN, and then make his way west, playing the venerable Warfield in San Francisco, CA on July 23 and 25. The tour ends September 21 in Washington state. Then Lambert takes the show overseas.

Click here for a full schedule of Adam’s concert and TV appearances, and to buy tickets (if you’re lucky enough to get them).

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Eminem speaks out in favor of gay marriage

LGBTQ Nation • Friday, June 18, 2010 • Filed under: Celebrities, Music • Comments (0)

Rapper Eminem, famed for his homophobic lyrics, appears to have had a change of heart and has declared his support of gay marriage — cynically anyway — saying “everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable.”

In an interview with The New York Times Magazine that will be published this weekend, the rapper said his “overall look on things is a lot more mature than it used to be.”

Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, said: “I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable.”

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Country music singer-songwriter Chely Wright comes out

LGBTQ Nation • Monday, May 3, 2010 • Filed under: Coming Out, Featured, Music • Comments (2)

Wright's "Lifted off the Ground" cover

Country music singer Richell Rene “Chely” Wright has come out.

In an interview with People magazine, the “Shut Up and Drive” singer revealed her sexual orientation, and said she had previously resisted the urge to publicly address her homosexuality because she didn’t want to be the first country star to do so.

“There had never, ever been a country music artist who had acknowledged his or her homosexuality,” she said. “I wasn’t going to be the first.”
But now Wright has changed her tune.
“Nothing in my life has been more magical than the moment I decided to come out.”

The singer-songwriter, who has won both an Academy of Country Music and a Country Music award, will later this week release her memoir, Like Me, as well as her first album in five years, Lifted off the Ground.

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Klein says Michael Jackson had gay relationship with office manager

LGBTQ Nation • Sunday, May 2, 2010 • Filed under: Celebrities, Featured, Music • Comments (0)

Dr. Arnold Klein — Michael Jackson’s long-time best friend and physician — has told TMZ he did not betray Jackson by claiming Jackson had a homosexual affair with Klein’s office manager, Jason Pfeiffer.

Image: TMZ.com

Klein and Pfeiffer were featured on “Extra” a few days ago, and during the interview Pfeiffer claimed to have had a romantic relationship with Jackson.

On Friday, Klein told TMZ that Jackson was gay and Pfeiffer was “the love of his life.”

Pfeiffer says, “Michael was not ashamed of his sexuality.”

Since their statements became widely public this week, Klein and Pfeiffer said they have received numerous “horrible death threats.”

They have both been in touch with the FBI and now say they have bodyguards.

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Christian musician Jennifer Knapp comes back, comes out

LGBTQ Nation • Sunday, April 18, 2010 • Filed under: Coming Out, Music • Comments (0)

Knapp

Jennifer Knapp, the former Christian music singer, whose last album “Way I Am” was released in 2001, has come out as a lesbian.

According to CNN:

After selling about a million records and winning at Christian music’s prestigious Dove Awards in 1999, the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter simply vanished in 2003 — leaving fans wondering where she had gone. There were countless theories as to why Knapp checked out, including the possibility of illness.

But this week Knapp burst back onto the music scene with news of a comeback and a coming out. Her new album will be released in May, and she has revealed that she has been in a same-sex relationship for the past eight years.

Knapp said she realizes that some fans will now view her earlier work with lyrics about inner turmoil as evidence of the struggle between her beliefs and her sexuality. But she says she has always struggled as a person of faith to be the person she wants to be, and her sexuality was only a part of that, she said.

“I would rather be judged before God as being an honest human being,” Kanpp said. “If I am in any way unpleasing in his sight, I can only hope and pray that he gives me the opportunity to find who I am supposed to be.”

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Why Ricky Martin matters — to me… and maybe a few other boys

LGBTQ Nation • Tuesday, March 30, 2010 • Filed under: Celebrities, Coming Out, Music, Views & Voices • Comments (2)

By Lorenzo Herrera y Lozano
hairspray & fideo

There’s been a lot of commotion regarding Ricky Martin’s recent coming out statement on his official website. As with most things in life these days, I learned about the news on Facebook.

So, I immediately posted about the news as well and quickly joined in the jubilee of queerness and pranced about the office like a middle school-aged boy who accidently touched hands with his classroom crush. I even committed the blasphemy of comparing the news to that of Health Care Reform and the release of Apple’s iPad (insert sound of angel choir here).

And then, of course, there was the storm of cattiness that followed the news. As a queer Xicano, I admit that sarcasm is built into my genetic code. The survivor of four Christian-themed religions and 500+ years of white supremacist occupation, I find humor, irony and disbelief in most things. Still, yesterday I just wanted to celebrate.

I agree that the fact that Ricky is gay is not all that shocking. Queer men and not long speculated or asserted that he shook his bon bon far too well to be straight. Plus, for us jotos/maricones/patos, there was the added benefit of dreaming him up queer, which somehow put us that much closer to his arms.

Still, as the catty remarks continue, as people boast about how they knew and think he should have done this 10 years ago, or sassy queens dismiss the news as inconsequential, I say, look beyond our borders (geographic, cultural, and age-based) and take a minute to honor the fact that for many, Ricky’s coming out is groundbreaking, perhaps even life-saving. Continue reading…

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Ricky Martin comes out: ‘I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man’

LGBTQ Nation • Monday, March 29, 2010 • Filed under: Celebrities, Coming Out, Music • Comments (3)

Ricky Martin has come out in a posting today on his official website:

“Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment. These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed.”

Martin ends his post with, “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.” Continue reading…

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Tom Goss, Matt Alber sing out against ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

LGBTQ Nation • Saturday, February 6, 2010 • Filed under: Don't Ask Don't Tell, Music • Comments (0)

Gay artists Tom Goss and Matt Alber were in D.C. this week, preparing for their upcoming joint tour when they wrote “This Is Who We Are,” an anthem against the U.S. military’s failed policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the U.S. miltary.

From The New Gay, here’s video of an impromptu, roof-top jam session: