BBC Star and Same Sex Couples Dancing 

I’ve posted about this topic before. I think it was back when Michael Sam was on Dancing With the Stars here in the US and I was hoping he’d dance with a man. I honestly don’t know how that turned out because I didn’t watch. However, I’ve been hoping that one of these mainstream dance competition shows would have men dancing with men the way real life gay men dance with other men in real life. Evidently, that’s not about to happen soon.

In this case a BBC star is alleging they wouldn’t allow him to dance with a man on the UK TV show, Strictly Come Dancing. I think this is the first time anyone’s actually addressed the issue and spoken up about it in public in detail. But I could be wrong about that. Either way, it’s still newsworthy.

Eggheads’ CJ de Mooi, who claims he was being considered for the show, said he would appear but only if he would dance with a male professional.

Jeremy Vine, the presenter of Eggheads, was chosen as a contestant.

Speaking to the Mirror, he said: ‘I can’t believe they picked Jeremy over me. I’m quite upset. It’s because I wanted to dance in a same-sex couple.

‘Someone at the BBC told me at least for the foreseeable future neither Strictly Come Dancing or the US version Dancing With The Stars will have a same-sex couple on. How disappointing.’

The article goes on to state they want to keep these shows family shows, with quotes from a BBC spokesperson. You can read the rest here.  

Liza Minnelli Leaves NY

I know this is being headlined as gay icon Liza Minnelli leaves NYC, but I think of it more as a pop culture story. Even though I’ve never totally understood the gay icon mindset with performers like Bette Midler and Cher, I do think Minnelli is as important to pop culture as Andy Warhol was.

And now Minnelli is leaving NY for sunnier weather in LA.

But that’s about to change. The EGOT-winner has just sold her posh Upper East Side pad for a cool $8.37 mill (check out the amazing photos here) because she hasn’t been spending much time in the building, which was also home to Joan Crawford at one time.

The lady is heading west to live in eternally-sunny L.A., where she was raised as show biz royalty as the daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli.

Of course she will be back in NY for work related reasons. You can read more here. 

Ellen and Caitlyn Jenner

I didn’t see this interview with Ellen and Caitlyn so I can only go by this link and what I’ve read.

‘I have to admit – I remember 15 years ago, 20 years ago whenever it was when the whole gay marriage issue came up – at first I was not for it,’ Jenner says in an interview to air on Monday (7 September).

‘I mean I thought I’m a traditionalist. I’m older than most people in the audience. I kind of like tradition and it’s always been a man and a woman. And I’m thinking I don’t quite get it. But as time has gone on, I think like a lot of people on this issue have really changed their thinking here to I don’t ever want to stand in front of anybody’s happiness. That’s not my job.’

I can’t say the same for myself. I’ve always been for legal same sex marriage. However, I do know other gay people who weren’t always on board much the same way Jenner describes it above. But they are now. So I think this might be a generational thing and it all needs time to evolve.

The comments are mixed, and very strong at times.  

In any event, there’s more here.