I read your post, yet some people are happy to be labelled and refer to themselves as gay and proud. That is what I am saying...

Well said

Of course. Agreed! Embrace who you are. With you on that one!

But Michelle said Perez let a whole community down. Why is that? She labeled a WHOLE community on her own dislike of someone. She labeled people who didn't want to be labeled. No?

She said he (perez) undone years of 'hard work' and 'fighting'.

This is where an argument fails. DO NOT ASSUME, OR LABEL ANYONE!!!!!

Whilst aggressively and systematically marginalising a Gay man in the show. Ironic...absolute.

It would make you a 'bad' person if you were spouting out about some Palestinians that they were a disgrace to Palestinians, and furthermore trying to isolate Palestinians in an already hostile environment, and trying to win an event by treading over and/or eliminating them from the process. In this context you'd be perceived as a hypocrite and a fraud.

I agree this was a silly comment, but it was likely based on the fact that Perez has made a career which enjoyed publicly declaring people as gay who did not want a 'label'. These two have history and Perez has a very poor reputation in the US

I don't doubt her motives and she's definately not homophobic

1) I don't promote myself as a champion of any cause. So it's not necessary to wait or relevant to compare.

2) She's repeatedly tried to isolate a Gay person in an already hostile environment. Homophobic strike one.

3) She decides that certain types of Gay people are a let down to their Gay community because they behave in a way that she disapproves of. Homophobic strike two.

Maybe so.

I was very aware of both Perez and Michelle before they went in the house. Perez hasn't, at all made his career out of 'outing' people (ironic here how you label that as 'fact'). He 'outed' one person. His career has been about 'whoring' over celebs. They used him, he used them. Perez is one of a kind, like him, hate him. We all couldn't do his job!!!!

They don't actually have any history. Not personally.

He does have a poor reputation in the US. Same as Katie H in the UK, eh?

No, i agree. Like i have many times. Her motives are good. But she seems stuck in the 1980's scene!

Not just one person, his own explanation in an interview "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"

Yup, and how many people, by name did he out in that speech?

I'm no Michelle supporter, but the threads on this are getting silly now.

There are quite a few reasons to dislike her (her bitchy behaviour), so why do we still keep discussing this one particular issue?

She means well and her comments on Perez, although a bit overwrought, were agreed with by many LGBT on here. Those who didn't agree said their piece, and were heard. Despite some not wanting her to be a 'mouthpiece' for the LGBT community, I don't think I saw anyone who identifies as LGBT condeming her for caring in the first place?

So, given that, I don't understand why people are still trying to find cynicism and fault in this, because, let's be honest, her support is a good thing. In some people's opinions, she may go about giving her support in the wrong way, yes, but to continue to debate it is getting you nowhere.

I think the thing that grates most with me about Michelle is that she appears to be misjudging British culture.

Whereas there is still a lot of homophobia in general society, our TV output is pretty good on the whole in providing a platform for gay issues and gay celebrities are everywhere on our screens.

I don't think we need to be importing strident supporters of gay culture, we have plenty of people here already doing that.

To me, she is an anachronism, she would be the type of person who would be celebrated here back in the 70s. We have moved on and now are more subtle in our support, we don't need the big lettered T shirts, when a simple shrug, quizzical look and a "Being homophobic is sooooo last century" attitude from non-gay people , will often shut up the bigots.

I can't see her as homophobic, I just can't see her how her fans do.

If the LGBT community see her as supportive and that they really need her input and she makes a positive difference, then perhaps that's all that matters.

My opinions that she isn't the deepest thinker hence why her comments seem a bit off - and that she is self serving and really promoting herself and her career really aren't important if vulnerable people are actually feeling empowered by her.

But why is it such a big deal if she's not so subtle about her support? She's not hurting anyone is she? It's still warranted, and likely welcome, support for a marginalised community (however much life might have moved on, there is still homophobia in our society).

You have to also understand that she comes from the US (my country - i'm a gay guy in the US) which is pretty much on the same level as the UK in terms of LGBT equality, but where, like the UK and Commonwealth, there are still some regional differences. It would be nice to think that homophobia is something from the past, but it still very much exists.

Young kids are discovering that they are gay, bi, transgender, etc all the time and trying to figure it out. That's why things like Pride parades and LGBT organizations exist, to keep putting out there that you can be healthy and happy as a gay person.

I agree that it can come across as overwrought, but I also know that having people out there who are supportive, accepting and outspoken can be very meaningful to some young person grappling with their sexuality out in some lonely corner of the world.

I loved Stephen Fry's documentary "Out There" highlighting gay issues around the world.

Comparing that level of involvement and courage with Michelle sitting in BB saying she loves Britain and the gay community doesn't quite do it for me.

I don't know if that's just me - maybe she has got her finger on the pulse of Britain and I'm way off.

of course it does, I don't disagree with anything you have said, and can see why she might be popular in your country. My point is not to criticise Michelle's intent, I wholeheartedly believes she means well, just that her approach might not cross cultures as well as it would have back in the 70s, and that might be why a lot of people here might feel unease at her approach.

not saying. I'm right, just offering an alternative explanation.

Very good point.

sorry but whether a man is gay or whatever is not neccessarily genetic trait, its much more complex then that and frankly, some of the theories/ research is not politicially correct.

example - feminizing chemicals in our food, Houses, plastics etc and effects on a developing fetus.

How? What's she actually done to forward equal rights except wear a t-shirt and tell everyone she is a champion for equality? In what way is she really one?

She's a bore, says a lot that she has allied herself with motormouth Hatie the bigots, bigot!

ummm YES they do, years of it. Its been talked about on the show and there is a youtube clip of them talking about it -perez in his usa flag onsie sitting on kitchen counter.

i posted it like a week ago.


anyways, THAT is why michelle hates perez so much, she's furious he didnt keep in touch with her after he hit it big.

SHE said that she gave him a big break having him on her Radio show and they were friends, THen when his career really took off, she didnt hear from him anymore.

Michelle has Sour Grapes that she is out there slugging for fame and Perez has it.

that is the truth of her spiteful treatment of him.

There is a clip from today of Michelle bawling her eyes out that perez is back. She starts to blurt out a comment then reels it back in.

this is really about Perez not being the 'right kind' of gay. SHE wants him to be a rep or spokesperson or Some kind of an example. She doesnt want him to be himself.

in my opinion, She wants to label him as gay and demands that he should Conform to this 'standard.

Simply because she is an ally. If you know Michelle Visage's history you'd know that she's been part of the scene since she was in her teens and met gay Latin@s who embraced her. And they love her. We're not seeing Visage in all her glory because she's made a bad alliance in the CBB house with the Hopkins. She could have been great. Think about that contradiction when you condemn Nadia for her alliance with Perez.

Brilliant post. Also, even though Michelle is married, I suspect she is probably bisexual and she is well acquainted with drag queens so she walks the talk.

Why don't we just take support from where it is offered? Yes I get she is a married woman, but at least she is doing something for a cause she believes in. We don't berate Ben Cohen the straight rugby player for standing up against homophobic bullying and getting his kit off at every opportunity do we? We don't condone brad Pitt and angelina Julie for saying they will not get married until gays and lesbians can get married in all 50 states? We don't think that Daniel Radcliffe doing a Trevor project ad is disrespectful cause he is a straight man. I could go on and on with other examples of straight allies to the gay community just take the positive energy and support cause there is enough negativity towards us.

You just say you are, and it just sort of makes it so. You don't even have to actually do anything, you can just buy a tee-shirt with a slogan on it from a shop, and you're an instant champion of all the gay people in the land.
It's good because you don't have to endure the same problems some gay people may go through in life such as discrimination and bullying.