Lance Bass came out earlier this week to People Magazine confirming the gay rumors and also going public about his relationship to Reichen Lemkel. Access Hollywood asked Perez Hilton his take on helping to out Lance Bass.
Back in September 2005, Perez started posting about Lance possibly being gay. Over the next few months his coverage of the N’Sync member intensified when he broke the news that Lance was involved with Amazing Race winner, Reichen. Perez also had contests on what to the name the new couple and settled on, Princess Frosty Locks.
Perez defended his actions: "“I know there is some controversy about outing people, but I also believe the only way we’re gonna have change is with visibility. And if I have to drag some people screaming out of the closet, then I will. I think that lot of celebrities have an archaic fear that being gay will hurt their career but look at Rosie. Look at Ellen."
I personally don’t think Perez did anything wrong with writing about Lance. His readers should see it as speculation. I mean, there’s only a few ways we would really know that Lance is gay. He could either straight up say it or he could get caught in the act. Yes, Perez might have added to the fire by constantly posting about it…but in the end I think it is Lance’s choice.
That being said, I think that Perez’s reason is a bunch of bullshit. Come on, I don’t think this is about creating "visibilityty" and opening doors. How is forcing someone to deal with something that has probably been very painful, opening doors? This isn’t about gay rights, it’s about entertainment and gossip. Had Perez said "I’m just doing my job. I’m reporting what I’m told and what I think to believe is the truth", then ok…I buy that. Sometimes gossipers decide to take a more direct approach and sometimes (ala Ted Casablanca) they decide to not make it so obvious.
There’s nothing wrong with what Perez did, however I think he’s really fooling himself if he believes that it’s about gay rights.
Dlisted
He is so right, Perez Hilton needs to come out and say he is doing it only for the hits so he can get more money from the advertisers. I saw his wide load a$$ on KTLA one morning bragging how he can make 6 digits (Over $100,000) in ads off of his site. So for him to say it is for gay rights, what and ever, it is for the money. But then again what was I expecting, he makes sh!t up all the time, that is why true bloggers and blog readers do not take his wide load a$$ seriously.
