It's been quite a year for The Advocate. Not only did the news mag celebrate it's 40th year and a new, controversial design, but now they're celebrating their 1000th issue.
And, as you can see, they decided to put Lance Bass on the cover. But, like a true champ, former boy bander Bass rationalizes popular skepticism:
You know, every community is hard to please. Our community is very fickle. It’s a touchy community because it’s the last civil rights movement we have left here in America. So when someone new like myself comes along and says off-the-mark things, yeah, I can see how people would get pissed.
The performer also gabs about former love Reichen, saying, "We've already established that Reichen is someone who wanted the fame and the spotlight…" Touchy?
While some of us may doubt Bass' validity as a cover boy, homo-journos Sean Kennedy and John Cloud duke it out over where we queers stand…
Kennedy remains optimistic, writing that our battle reached the proverbial tipping point: "Indeed, in terms of acceptance, 2007 was the year that the gays were finally embraced on a visible nationwide scale in America - when society at large came to our side."
Kennedy acknowledges that our legislative victories had their shortcomings, but points to a perhaps larger indication of gays place in American history: "On September 6 the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History unveiled, under the title "Treasures of American History," two vintage gay rights picket signs from 1965…"
Cloud disagrees. And that's putting it lightly. The Time staffer sees nothing new or exciting: "Not only did 2007 look nothing like a tipping pointl it was actually a year when the struggle for gay equality took a step back. It was a pathetic excuse for a year." Cloud cites the ENDA disaster and political demagogues as some of the year's low points. He's not entirely negative, however, he reminds us that California's gay inmates can now have conjugal visits. Way to see that silver lining, Cloud.
The Advocate's 1000th issue lands December 18th.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, yes, Melissa Etheridge makes her requisite appearance.
Editor
Andrew Belonsky Editorial Director
David Hauslaib Publisher
Jossip Initiatives
Why doubt Bass's validity as coverboy? He deserves it! Should he have made a comeback and played str8 for a few years until his star was on the wane and it was "safe" for him to risk it? Give him some credit.
Wow! They gave the boy some cheek bones.
Does anyone actually read this magazine? It's all sort of last century.
I'm with Cloud - 2007 will hardly make the books when gay history is written.
I also doubt we're the "last civil rights" movement in America. Last I checked the list of people still fighting for basic constitutional protection of their liberties included African-Americans, Atheists, non-Christians, immigrants, the mentally ill, HIV positive folks, the transgendered …
Interesting. He looks very different in that picture.
How dumb to put this guy on the cover of a publication that has had such impacts in our community in the past. Advocate truly sucks and is playing to a reader they will never have.
Jon, given the alternatives (Out and Genre), I'll take the Advocate any day … at least it pretends to have news value …
Delete "pretends" from my previous post …
I would take the Washington Blade over the anemic Advocate - anytime.
I want to know who thought Lance Bass gets to be a spokesman for our community. The boy has barely been out for a year, and spent a lot of time in a boy band where no one really mentioned sexuality. And SINCE he's been out, he's been a celebrity. . . so, when did he EVER have to deal with gay community as an actual member of the community and not just an "icon?"
All gay rags are less than real. I never liked the Advocate that has turned into a Lesbian news brief that does not impact my life.
Some old-school gay journalists probably never imagined that the trash like the advocate would ever survive. Gays are the focus of joke because of our not being considered professional with such sophomoric covers.
I've been subscribing to the advocate since I was in my 20's, now that I'm in 40's and in the age of the Internet, the Advocate has become irrelevant.
Aside from their "features" the rest of the content is old news by the time it arrives in the mail. And I don't hear of too many guys in their 20's who even read the Advocate these days.
Doesn't help that the Advocate doesn't have a journalist voice of any sort; it has become "middle of the road" PC pablum.
I agree, Jersey.
The Advocate lost its focus. Is it news like the the Washington Blade or Fashion/Entertainment like Out or Genre? With their poor numbers, anemic presentation - they will not be around long. Very sad. It was such a staple.
WOW, even after all that photoshop on his eye bags he still looks like a squirrel !!!
Lance doesn't look like a Park Slope lesbian in that picture.
When I worked at the Advocate - we had to look at everything as a Lesbian would. We HAD to - our bosses told us to. Also, we had to run ads from Out - because we could not sell our own. It was a downer environment……
It's still the only national gay newsmagazine. That said, it is thin as Kate Moss - but so's Newsweek, Time, etc.
Damn forty years !!!! I understand why bitchy queens hate the rag ….especially old bitchy queens…the snotty pervy kind.
We young guys love it, and especially those of us who agree with those who want freedom and rights like other countries have…who are supposed to be lesser than our own.
Honestly, I have never seen a picture where he looks THIS good… he looks… well… gorgeous.
His picture looking good cost the Advocate a great deal of money in touch-ups. They had to go outside their normal creative team - as Lance demanded it. Having a celeb who is currently on Broadway on the cover, then having him in the pages in costume - how Genre two months ago with the Ritz. Genre at least let us see Terrence McNally and the entire cast.
Does the Advocate have any original idea? With all the incredible influencers they've featured over the years - this is the best they can do? It drives one to not read any magazines - and just pick up their information online. OR, is that what we are doing here? Safe Holiday Travels….
I really wanted to like the Advocate when I subscribed a couple of years ago, but you're all right– the news is irrelevant by the time we get it (other than 'exclusive' interviews by people like Lance and Jim McGreevey). And the articles are thin and short. What tore it for me was when they had Brokeback on the cover– and they said something about a sequel on the cover. What kind of sequel could there be? When I read the article, I was so disappointed– three pages (crammed with already-seen pictures and not much copy) and their "sequel" teaser was one sentence long, about how there never could be one. well, duh!
I like the cover photo of Lance, though. I think he's a cute guy.
I'm sick of the exbf bashing this is little girl is doing after a year. That does not represent any gay man I know. Puleeze. Stop crying, quit your bitching that your ex has moved on and actually do something worthy.
What has Lance Bass done for the gay community except show up at a few awards shows and renew his dead career for another 15 minutes? Are they trying to sell issues to 30yo straight housewives?
Covering 40 years, The Advocate could've picked anyone from Dr. David Ho to Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer. ANYONE!
Lance got famous by dating Reichen…not the other way around. He was a washed-up nobody until Reichen came along and got him some attention.
I love that someone prancing around on broadway is getting on his EX bf (who he couldn't compare to in intelligence, hard work, and well clears throat* looks) for wanting the spotlight. Reichen is a smart guy making his way from a small reality show.
LOL @ how the last three comments are all by the same person (check the IP address).
Anyway, I read a clip of the article and it's surprisingly good. Sucks that they got Perez Hilton to comment, though. That guy creeps me out.