Perez Hilton Betrays Dustin Lance Black
The gay rights movement has always been pockmarked with "traitors" from within (Roy Cohn, anyone?), but the treachery always came from the right, not the left. That all changed a few days ago when Perez Hilton posted x-rated pics of Dustin Lance Black, a beloved, rising star in the movement. Black won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Milk, Gus Van Zandt's ferociously moving bio-pic. He burst into the limelight with a poignant acceptance speech aimed at lonely, isolated gay kids.
Before we get to the betrayal by the bleached Brutus, three things you should know about Black:
- He's hot.
- He's eloquent.
- He's hot.
Yet, Hilton threw him under the bus.
Just to give you a sense of who Perez Hilton betrayed, here's the transcript of Dustin Lance Black's Oscar acceptance speech:
"I wanna thank my mom, who has always loved me for who I am even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he'd want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you, God, for giving us Harvey Milk."
Dustin Lance Black has heart. He's a green shoot sprouting from the darkness cast by the often ossified tree trunks of institutional organizations like HRC. Perez Hilton stomped on it with the heel of a heavy, steel-reinforced boot. He didn't just publish run-of-the-mill x-rated pictures; they were shocking, TRIPLE XXX photos guaranteed to repulse Straight America. Perez Hilton betrayed Dustin Lance Black and everything he stood for. Namely, us. Every man, woman and child who's ever been forced to prove their humanity should be sickened by what Perez Hilton did.
Instead of elevating Black to higher ground, Hilton elevated him to the hook pinatas swing from. He took a guy who's helping millions reconcile faith and family with their sexual orientation and turned him into a porn star.
Dustin Lance Black is not a victim of friendly fire; he is the victim of a premeditated character assassination. When Black saw the blood on the floor he must've looked up expecting to see the Huns on the right holding the knife. Instead, he saw one of his own.
As he staggered back against the wall, you can just imagine what Black must have thought: "Et tu, Perez?"
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Privacy and safe sex concerns aside, who really cares? I saw the post on Perez and had forgotten about it ten minutes later. Lambasting Hilton because he "threw [DLB] under the bus" when he posted "TRIPLE XXX photos guaranteed to repulse Straight America" approves that revulsion, doesn't it? Gay folks, just like straight folks, have sex. And sometimes, just like their hetero counterparts, they like to take pictures of themselves while doing it. In my humble opinion, if Straight America sees some photos of accomplished, good-looking dudes having sex with other dudes it might just warm them to the idea that there isn't actually anything to be repulsed about.
At the end of the day, the only thing this "scandal" says about Dustin Lance Black is that he had sex - albeit irresponsible sex - with someone he cared about several years ago. What this says about Perez Hilton and the oppurtunistic bit of slime who made a buck sellin the pictures and betraying a talented, famous young man is loud and clear - both are completely without decency, shame, or human kindness. DLB has nothiing to apologize for.
i started to read this blog with an open mind, not wanting to just place the blame on anyone. That being said, I understand what you are saying but don't you think your argument is a bit one-sided. some blame has to be placed on Mr. Black, 'cos we all know in these times nothing is secret. He should have taken actions to keep the tape very secret by destroying it, or never making one. What Perez did might seem deplorable, but he's just showing people what the effect of having a sex tape might be. And if you notice he didn't make fun of Mr. Black on his website. In conclusion, it is sad that the situation has come to this, 'cos this is clearly a private matter. I hope people can look past it and focus on the good Mr. Black clearly does and has done.
While Hilton's actions are generally deplorable, I'm not sure how it's his fault here. The photos weren't given directly to him, they were sold to someone else by the ex, and that site now has the photos up for sale. I guess Perez could be faulted for buying and posting the photos on his blog for all to see, but they would've made there way out to the public at large eventually. I find it kind of curious that all your anger is directed at Perez here, and not once in the entire piece did you mention the ex who sold the photos. HE'S the really disgusting one here. He betrayed Black's trust by selling a private moment between the two for a quick payday. Again, not defending Hilton, I just think you need to redirect your anger towards the one who seems more responsible for this incidence.
Ditto, well said. These photos would have gotten out with or without Hilton. That said, I don't think these photos will hurt him that much. I saw him on Anderson Cooper last night and he looked good (also saw the photos where he really looks good). I think the GLBT could really care less about these photos. We're not as hypocritical as some. See Sen. John Ensign. Sex is a natural thing and I'm glad our community leaders are getting some. It keeps them sane and level-headed.
I agree that the pictures would have gotten out with or without "Hilton" but he didn't have to publish them. It served no purpose other than to further his own self-promotion. Just because Mr. Black doesn't hide who he is doesn't mean that every aspect of his life should be up for public display. It doesn't matter who released the pictures. It doesn't matter if they would have ended up on a rival website. "Perez Hilton" has a phenomenally popular site and he is responsible for the content. While he does promote worthwhile causes in between playing in the shallow end of celebrity, "Hilton" needs to remember that not everything needs to be publicly presented. Respect privacy.
Ideally, in a world where we weren't inundated with shame over our naked bodies and their assorted functions and pleasures-- where sex (including the videographed variety) wasn't a cause for humiliation and ridicule-- the only issue here would be the despicable lack of consent to publicize Mr. Black's personal, private video & pictures for the sake of web-hits.
But in the context of a culture where that isn't the case, where DLB could be scandalized by this and lose credibility, Hilton's action is repugnant and unpardonable. Knowingly making a mockery of a good leader by reducing him to a porn caricature is beneath contempt. Maybe Perez was motivated by jealousy, lashing out at someone we admired because his own celebrity is so cheap, vapid and meaningless?
It would be awesome if we could black(&blue)-ball Perez Hilton by sexually boycotting him to communicate our displeasure at his unscrupulous, self-serving gay Uncle Tom backstabbery.
As for "what about every other poor soul Perez has ganked, where were the protestations for them?" Some of us don't follow his disgusting blogging antics and only learned about this because it was exposed on a site that we do follow. If his every cheap exploitation was mentioned on HuffPo I'd likely have the same basic sentiment in every case.
If this is the first time you are disgusted with something that Perez Hilton has done then there is something wrong with your sense of what is right and wrong. Is it only because it was someone that you are sympahetic with? What about all the other people Hilton has abused with his website? Do they not count to you?
Before we get all sanctimonious with Perez... I wanna remind everyone that he has also had nudes leaked online...
I'm not condoning what he did, but there you have it. Also, aside from the whoe bareback business there is the questionable logic of taking pics of your sexcapades... when your partner is a guy who makes a living doing webcam shows.
Nonetheless, the thing that actually bothers me about all this is that there is the implied suggestion that Dustin is better than other folks and doesn't deserve this treatment. However, had someone else made the same mistake we'd all be chuckling and forwarding urls. Who gets to decide who does and doesn't deserve to have their behavior exposed?
My issue is with private photos being published. Pictures that are so obviously not meant for public viewing shouldn't be media fodder. Celebrity status is irrelevant. I would still make this argument if "Hilton's" private pictures ended up on-line without his permission. Pictures of this nature shouldn't be published unless all parties involved have signed release forms. Everyone deserves their privacy, no matter how famous, infamous or anonymous.
I just want to say the post is great
the main thing to remember is Dustin Lance Black is an oscar winning writer...his professional and charitable work is amazing...he is great for the movement...this is nothing he can't handle
I haven't seen the pictures and have no desire to. Not because I would find the pictures disturbing but because these pictures are none of my business. These pictures are not the business of anyone but Mr. Black and his partner. Why were they published? Surely Mr. Black didn't sign a release. These pictures were obviously private and not meant for mass viewing.
The only thing that disgusts me in all of this are the actions of "Hilton". For someone who demands tolerance and acceptance for the LGBT community, he certainly doesn't seem to extend respect to all members of this same community. He isn't furthering equality, he's furthering his own agenda of fame and self-promotion. As for Mr.Black not using condom? My husband and I don't use them either.
I listened to Mr. Black's acceptance speech at the Oscar's and it was the only bright spot in an otherwise boring broadcast. Please keep up your mission of providing mentors and positive examples for gay youth. In my mind, this will be your legacy and thank you for it.
One of the big issues with the unprotected sex is that A) he was with a guy he was dating, not a long term partner with whom unprotected sex had been discussed and agreed upon which leads into B) he goes around speaking about the importance of practicing safe sex.
I'm not saying he's a hypocrite, but I will say he's not the Saint of the Homos some are trying to say he is. Yes, it was a nice Oscar speech. That really has nothing to do with anything.
The actions of Hilton? He was doing his job. Black did not sign a release. It would seen that the ex boyfriend put the pics out for sale. If the pics did not exist in the first place there would be no controversy.
Let play a game: You and your husband are in love and decide to take some sexy pics in the heat of the moment. But wait. This is before you got married and this is just a boyfriend. What? You wouldn't do that? And why not? Think about it.
Unprotected sex is dangerous and in addition to preaching abstinence to my kids I've also preached (and bought for them) protection, Protection, PROTECTION!!!!
No one but Mr. Black and his partner know if the relationship was casual or just short of renting tuxes and finding a minister (I'm Canadian, gay marriage has been legal for a while.). Everyone seems to have an opinion on a subject that is none of their business!
The real issue is privacy. What did "Hilton" gain by publishing the pictures? He did not have to post pictures that were obviously private. Even the source of the photos is suspect. Mr. Black's ex has apparently denied releasing them. Private pictures are just that. Private. "Hilton" is becoming the famewh*re he takes delight in mocking. Just because one is a public figure, a "celebrity" so to speak, doesn't mean they're not entitled to privacy. Posed pictures at public events, such as awards shows and the like are part of the "job". Anything else is a gross invasion of privacy. I'm sick to death of hearing of "freedom of the press". That phrase has become a joke. It's being used to justify "stalker-azzi" behaviour of the media. These pictures were not newsworthy.
Just like pictures of me and my husband would be newsworthy.
As far as taking sexy pictures? It never occurred to us. Let's just say that while pictures may be worth a thousand words we're having to much fun making each other speechless!
Well... if by "premeditated" you mean that Hilton tricked Black into having unprotected sex with him and while doing the nasty took photos to one day screw him over, sure, it was premeditated.
At first I thought your article was going to be a humor piece... a week after the hoopla had dominated the tabloids... but I get the impression that you're serious.
I also get the impression that it may have been premeditated of you to wait a week and then, when the dust had settled, drag the story back out. Maybe so Dustin might see it and think, "Oh... I want to be Mike's boyfriend!!"
Mary... you're a week late an nobody cares.
AGREED!!!
Not only does no one care but he's also not HOT!!
Oh and, I saw the pics, he's especially gross because he didn't use protection...sorry but um, so not hot!!
When were these pics taken? As Black is an advocate for safe sex, we need to know when and also maybe the guy who Black was with is HIV neg and Black asked prior to having sex with him or dating him if he was. I always ask. Sure some people might lie and if I'm serious about someone I ask to see documentation and the first thing I look at is the date on the lab work document. I also wear a condom no matter what.
Although some might think Black is hot, he's not my type, too blond and not rugged loooking enough for me however I can see where some guys might find him very hot. His intelligence is very sexy and although I haven't looked at the pics and won't, he probably has a great body too, long and lean and hard.
Bottom line. Black gave us so=mething that Operez can only dream of and probably jealous of. Black gave an heroic life on film that will live forever and that kind of contribution far outweighs any lasting impression Perez will leave.
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