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Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Tyler Perry's latest film Madea Goes To Jail may have topped the box office with over 40 million in ticket sales over the weekend but that's not the only thing that has Hollywood talking.
Legendary Village Voice columnist Michael Musto is the latest voice in a chorus of folks urging Perry to come out of the closet.
“Assuming the gaydar of millions is on target as usual, why won’t the guy come out already? Is he living on the down low? Is it because he feels his audience is largely homophobic? Well, if your message is love and peace and all that jazz, why would you want to pander to a bunch of haters?” Musto adds, “Come on, Tyler. Take off your dress for a second and call The Advocate.”
Perry's been dealing with persistent gay rumors since he made the leap from the "chittlin circuit" and achieved mainstream success with a string of hit movies dealing with the black experience primarily from a Christian perspective.
"It used to bother me a whole lot in the beginning, it really, really did,’ says Perry. ‘But what it’s done is give me firm seating in my manhood. And if some people can’t separate the character from the man that I am, then that’s their issue, not mine,‘” said Perry in a 2007 Essence Magazine interview.
Sure Tyler. Say what you will about Perry's decision not to disclose his (homo)sexuality publicly. If I've learned anything it's that people have to come out in their own time. As long as he's not using his celebrity or his art to persecute those of us who choose to live our lives openly and honestly then we won't have a problem. However, I have to take issue with Musto's implication of Perry being on the down low. When will white gays, black women, and Oprah realize that this deceptive behavior is not synonymous with black men? Ted Haggard anyone?
h/t Clay Cane
11 Comments:
I agree with your comment about the DL and also didn't like the comment that Perry's audience is “largely homophobic" being one of the reasons Perry has not come out, if in fact he is gay. By this I assume Musto meant Black folks and that get right back to the perception then African-americans are somehow more homophobic than other communities. Perry’s movies appeal more than just the conservative "Black" church crowd this view held by many white gay folks is one of the reasons there out was such uproar over Prop 8 out in California.
As for him coming out, like you said everyone in their own time.
March 03, 2009 3:53 PM
I wish that ole sissy would sit her pale butt down in her rocking chair and play with her cats.
I'm so sick of folks trying to pull everyone out of a closet that they THINK someone else is living in. What Tyler does behind closed doors is no one's business but his own. Who he sleeps with has no bearing on his work or his philanthropic endeavors.
This is why gays can't stand the gays. They want everyone else to be gays.
You already know how I feel about all this, Darian!! *takes a long pull from my cigarette and blows the smoke straight up in the air*
March 03, 2009 6:46 PM
Keisha, you may be correct in asserting that what Tyler does behind closed doors is no one's business. But at the same time, where aa gays in the country are trying the forage their own identity, it would be highly beneficial if he were to come out in do time. Also, I don't think this is a case of gays wanting everyone else to be gay.
March 03, 2009 10:48 PM
Perry says that the rumors about him being gay has given him "firm seating in his manhood". What the hell does that mean: that a gay man cannot be a "man". These are homophobic words to me.
Musto is an equal opportunity "outer" of public figures/celebs. He wants ALL of them to come out of the closet. Perry is a public figure so his sexuality is fair game for the media as far as I'm concerned.
March 04, 2009 1:00 AM
Yeah that DL thing he mentioned was wholly unnecessary he would have never said that about a white allegedly closeted male. Thats why its so important for BLACK homosexual mean to STOP perpetuating this stereotype. I know masculine men are attractive, fun, thrilling but we have gotta stop spreading the DL none sense. Any race of closeted MEN and WOMEN can be DL. Not just black, gay, men.
March 04, 2009 12:02 PM
It would be beneficial for the gays for him to come out, but Perry has no obligation to him. He is his own man walking his own path.
Our private lives are just that. PRIVATE! We have no obligation to disclose information that has nothing to do with our careers. It's like saying the government should be able to video us in our own homes and use the information for whatever reason they see fit.
Let Perry do what he wants and be who he wants to be. He is not hurting anyone by coming out or staying in this assumed closet. And just for the record, for those that think I am a Perry Groupie, I can't stand the man. I don't like his movies and I couldn't care less about what he does in his bed, but I do believe he is entitled to be who he is and keep it private.
March 04, 2009 2:45 PM
Even if Tyler did happen to be gay why does he automatically have to become the "poster boy" for gays and gay rights? Those that want him to "come out" don't give a crap about him. They're just trying to further their agenda's and will use any and everyone in the process.
Also the term “DL” is so not applicable here. Tyler has not publicly denied or confirmed anything about his sexuality. Nor is he running around here being a womanizer and attempting to prove anything to anyone. I blame the sensational, gossip hungry and lust filled gay black men of our community for allowing this “DL” phenomenon to get so far out of hand. It’s clear that a lot of people now think the “DL” is exclusive to the black gay community only. I don’t deny that it exists, but it’s the gay black man’s infatuation with the idea of “trade” and “straight boys” that has fanned this wild fire.
March 05, 2009 11:51 AM
Super Mario said...
Keisha, you may be correct in asserting that what Tyler does behind closed doors is no one's business. But at the same time, where aa gays in the country are trying the forage their own identity, it would be highly beneficial if he were to come out in do time. Also, I don't think this is a case of gays wanting everyone else to be gay.
March 03, 2009 10:48 PM
-------------------
To who?
You?
This is what we call a Fascist.
Not "George Bush"--this.
The sacrifice of the individual.
The idea that I can do whatever I want to you as long as I deem that there is some "good" to come out of it.
March 15, 2009 7:00 AM
HE IS GAY TYLER PERRY IS GAY THE PICTURE WAS TAKEN IN 1990 INSIDE CLUB LEXUS IN NEW ORLEANS WHICH IS A GAY CLUB SO TYLER COME ON AND AMIT IT
March 25, 2009 3:53 PM
its true tyler pery is gay any of you none believers want proof visit my blog http://www.thetruth2009-thetruth.blogspot.com
March 25, 2009 6:13 PM
The reason it matters is that the solid core of Perry's fan base and his big income is comprised of churchgoing African Americans - who are also a notoriously anti-gay-rights group. Yes, other people like Perry and see his plays and shows, but I think it is safe to say that he owes his success to a group of people who have a record of voting to support discrimination against the LGBT community.
If TP agrees with supporting discrimination, he should have the onions to say so. If he doesn't, ditto.
I don't believe in outing people unless they're actively working against equal rights; but I believe everyone who's as secure financially as TP has a moral obligation to speak out.
May 27, 2010 4:37 PM
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