Tabasko muses about relevance of celebrities' sexuality

By Elizabeth Tabasko
Collegian Reporter
August 30, 2006

It’s safe to say that few, if any, were surprised to hear about ‘N Sync member Lance Bass’ coming out this summer. Bass did not necessarily fit into some sort of stereotype, but as the People magazine cover story hit, there seemed to be a general nod of understanding by the public.

In the late nineties, Bass made up one-fifth of a popular boy band; as the group took a hiatus, he maintained a low profile. Although Bass virtually disappeared from the spotlight as new, younger acts replaced the boy band craze, he managed to stay active in the pages of tabloids. In recent years, photos of Bass and his boyfriend have surfaced, gracing the pages of less than reliable news sources. Finally, this past summer, Bass confirmed the claims regarding his sexuality.

Although the experience liberates Bass, it places him in a new realm of celebrity life. Instead of being a former pop star trying to maintain a regular life and a normal relationship, he will be labeled as a gay pop star. While his heterosexual band mates will be exploited for their personal relationships, it will be more difficult for Bass because of his sexuality. Everyone wants to believe that he or she is opened-minded; we want to believe that this society is more accepting now than ever before. But life for a homosexual celebrity will always be more complicated than that of others. As a society, we have not come nearly as far as we would like to think.

There are few reasons why a celebrity relationship may make the cover of a newspaper. Usually, there is a scandalous picture of a scantily-clad actress and her tattooed boyfriend. For example, the Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson wedding day picture with Rock wearing a wife beater and Anderson in a bikini graced the covers of numerous publications.

The newspapers utilize shock to draw in readers. It seems strange that a picture of two fully-clothed homosexual men holding hands can be used in the same way. As much as we deny that this grabs attention or as much as we claim to be accepting, the media knows how the public thinks. If putting these pictures on the covers of newspapers did not move them from the shelves, they would not use them.

Like Bass, BackStreet Boy Nick Carter spent his teenage years making girls scream as a singer in a boy band. Now, he has developed a reputation for risky behavior, including dating socialite Paris Hilton. But despite their public feuds and wild nights, this bizarre relationship would always take a backseat to the loving, monogamous relationship Bass has with his boyfriend of two years. Both Bass and Carter have lost their fame after years in the spotlight, but Bass has now emerged as the gay boy band member and will forever hold a spot if not in the public eye, then certainly at least the tabloids.

Perhaps more disturbing than the fascination the media has with completely normal relationships between two gay men is the fear of rejection and ridicule celebrities face when contemplating coming out. Today, no one should have to choose between success and personal freedom. When People magazine interviewed Bass in his “coming out story,” he explained that he kept his sexuality a secret for the sake of his band. Bass felt very strongly that by coming out, he would jeopardize the future of ‘N Sync and the other four members. Even as we appear to progress as a society, people still seem to feel as if their sexuality will be treated as a disease. Bass seemed to fear that confirming rumors of his sexuality would equate to confirming rumors of some horrible deed.

The gay community has gained more support and respect throughout the years. But for some reason, we cannot get past prejudice altogether. Often, homosexuals are still portrayed negatively. Unfair stereotypes that populate the television shows and movies keep us from moving forward. Bass admitted to being in a committed, loving relationship with a man, and while no one is surprised, readers were drawn to the word “gay” printed largely on the cover of People magazine. As long as the media continues to address the sexual orientation of celebrities as something that should be stared at and scrutinized, we cannot hope to move forward as a society and become more accepting.

tabaskol1@lasalle.edu