Anybody see this a couple years ago?


http://www.keithboykin.co...00859.html


A Kiss Is Still A Kiss
By Keith Boykin
October 22, 2003 09:55 AM
in sexuality

Mark Twain once said, “a lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” In the age of the Internet, that cliché is more true than ever. Urban legends have spread like wildfire across the world wide web, but many of them just aren't true. Tommy Hilfiger did not go on Oprah's show and diss black people. African Americans are not going to lose their right to vote in 2007. And Beyonce Knowles is not a rabid hypocritical homophobe. With so many rumors out there, it's worth asking one important question. Why do we believe them?

Gays and lesbians were stunned last week by news reports that recording artist Beyonce said she disapproved of lesbian affection. In an interview with the London Sun, the pop diva reportedly said she was shocked by the on stage kiss between Britney Spears, Madonna and Christina Aguilera at the August MTV Video Music Awards.

"I have standards. There are things I will not do," the singer reportedly said. Beyonce knew about the kiss from rehearsal but she was still stunned to see it happen on stage, the paper said.

Newspaper accounts quickly contrasted her allegedly conservative views on homosexuality with her liberal views of her own sexual expression in her clothing. "I always carry myself like a lady. I don't feel like I ever do anything raunchy," she was quoted to say. When asked how she reconciled her Christianity with her performances, she said "it's entertainment and I believe God is OK with that," the Sun reported.

The LGBT community immediately took notice. That's the good news. It's about time we start to challenge homophobia in entertainment. Whether it comes from a pop diva, a hip hop artist, a rap star, or a rock star, bigotry is poisonous and survives off our complacency.

But in this case, the controversy was unwarranted. This story is more a critique of tabloid journalism than of a crossover music star. Under pressure from GLAAD and others, Beyonce explained her remarks on her website.

"I'd like to clarify any confusion over some quotes that were attributed to me totally out of context in a recent interview," she said on her site. "I have never judged anyone based on his or her sexual orientation and have no intention of starting now. I have a lot of gay and lesbian fans and I love them no differently than my straight fans."

Now Beyonce is threatening to sue The Sun over the misprint. Beyonce's manager, her father Matthew Knowles, expressed regret about the interview. According to several media accounts, he said he never wanted his daughter to interview with the tabloid paper anyway.

He says the comments were taken from two separate interviews and pasted together to give the impression that Beyonce was homophobic. He added that Beyonce had actually said: "I would never do that, but I thought it was a great performance."

That makes sense. Beyonce has every right not to do certain things on stage, but at least she understands the importance of respecting her fan base. The whole issue raises the question of when we should be offended and what we should do about it.

Recording artists Brand Nubian, Canibus, Common, Cypress Hill, DMX, Eazy E, Eminem, Goodie Mob, Allen Iverson, Ice Cube, Ja Rule, Jay Z, Mase, Mobb Deep, Public Enemy, Snoop Dogg, T.O.K. and 50 Cent have all recorded homophobic music in the past. Some like Common and 50 Cent seem to have moved away from the homophobia for now, but others are still pumping out new homophobic tunes like DMX's "Where the Hood At?"

And it doesn't stop with the hardcore artists. Missy Elliot is now working with homophobic Jamaican dance hall star Elephant Man on a single “This Is Not A Test” for her new CD. R&B recording artist Jaheim caused a scene on New York's Hot 97 radio last summer when host Jimmy Marr asked if the singer was gay. Jaheim reportedly became infuriated, asked Marr the same question and then began destroying microphones and equipment in the studio.

Maybe one reason why artists continue to straddle the line of homophobia is because their LGBT fans and supporters don't stand up and represent themselves. Maybe if the gay stylists, makeup artists, promoters, publicists, agents, DJs and fans said something about the homophobic artists and their work, the artists would get the message and move on.

Then there's the question of why we assume so many artists are homophobic. Maybe we believe the rumors so quickly because we're so used to hearing disparaging remarks about us. Maybe we believe the rumors because we don't think highly of ourselves. And then maybe many artists actually are homophobic, but we know we're not challenging them on it.

Since the Internet helps to generate so many of these stories, lets use the Internet to fight back. The next time we hear about an artist making homophobic comments, let's handle it a little differently. For every batch of forwarded emails we send to our friends about the incident, lets also send an email to the artist to get an explanation. Next time let them know we exist.

1. Make Me Scream (Oh My Gawd) feat. Beyonce Knowles
2. Catering 2 The Lawd feat. Beyonce Knowles
3. God Made Me Bootylicious feat. Beyonce Knowles
4. Lap Dances From Above feat. Beyonce Knowles
5. Devil Cant Make Me Fall This Time feat. Beyonce Knowles
6. If Only He (Was STD Free) feat. Beyonce Knowles
7. Loose My Sanity (Can U Keep U) feat. Beyonce Knowles
8. The Christian Booty Drop feat. Beyonce Knowles
9. Drop It Like Its Hot For The Lawd feat. Beyonce Knowles
10. Lord Watch My Man feat. Beyonce Knowles
11. Say His Name (GOD) feat. Beyonce Knowles
12. I Wish I Could Be Solo feat. Beyonce Knowles
13. Finally She Is Gone feat. Solange Knowles
14. I Hate Those Knowles

VoicesCarry said:

that's hilarious!

that track listing and album cover is mad funny!

VoicesCarry said:

That's a classic right there!

'Beyonce is a hypocrite'


well dear,sorry to burst your bubble but most artist are..there are of course the few the ones that are trully underrated,furthermore i woudnt take to serious to flavor of the year artist..really know what unique and or new thing has she contributed to pop music? none..musicans like her..are the kind to listen and not to ponder over..you might just waste good time on other thoughts are more important.

interesting...

Cloudbuster said:

Cloudbuster said:

Funny...wasn't Mase rumored to be messing around with Puff Daddy in the late 90s?

DavidEye said:

Cloudbuster said:

it's a "story" that was reported by the lovely Wendy Williams (gossip columnist in New York).Don't know if there's any truth to it,but you never know

DavidEye said:

i read something silly about mase falling depressed from his breakup with puffy.

Christopher said:

Yeah.He was so "depressed" that he gave up fame and fortune to become a minister

DavidEye said:

Damn! It must have hit him hard.

What were Common's homophobic lyrics ?

variety1317 said:

From Nag Champa:

Posin like a bitch for exposure
It's rumors of gay MC's, just don't come around me wit it
You still rockin hickies, don't let me find out he did it



Some stupid and unnecessary shit from a supposedly enlightened artist.