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Top 10 moments in 2011 pop culture

Coming out stories, dancing with Chaz among year’s top stories

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It was another big year for LGBT visibility in pop culture. Here are our picks for the top 10 pop culture stories of 2011.

No. 1 Chaz Bono on ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Chaz Bono became the first transgender participant to compete on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” this year on the show’s 13th season. He was partnered with professional dancer Lacey Schwimmer for the season, which premiered Sept. 19.

From the start there was controversy over Bono’s inclusion in the show. There was backlash from conservative supporters and threats of boycotts, leading producers to hire extra security for his time on the show.

Bono’s mother, Cher, spoke out on Twitter in support of her son as did many others. He was voted off the show during week six.

No. 2 Celebrities come out

Several celebrities and sports figures came out this year.

Zachary Quinto, star of 2009’s “Star Trek” and currently on FX’s “American Horror Story,” came out in October, explaining on his blog that after the suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer, he realized “living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it, is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality.”

Evan Rachel Wood, who played teen lesbian Jessie on “Once & Again” and starred in HBO’s “True Blood,” came out as bisexual in an interview with “Esquire” in April.

CNN anchor Don Lemon came out in his memoir “Transparent,” released in May.

No. 3 MLB teams make ‘It Gets Better’ videos

Several Major League Baseball teams filmed videos for the “It Gets Better” campaign, starting with the San Francisco Giants. And while the videos were similar, each team added a personal touch.

The Chicago Cubs included a message from lesbian part owner Laura Ricketts and the L.A. Dodgers were the only team to specifically mention gender identity. The Boston Red Sox included their fans and the Tampa Bay Rays featured a personal message from Johnny Damon, who was bullied as a child.

The Seattle Mariners produced their video with Seattle’s other professional sports teams. All the videos are available on YouTube.com.

No. 4 Lady Gaga rallies around LGBT fans

Lady Gaga has done a lot for her LGBT fans in terms of making noise.

The title track off her most recent album, “Born This Way,” deals with self-acceptance and specifically mentions sexual orientation and gender identity.

Lady Gaga

She appeared at Europride this summer, giving a speech in which she criticized the state of gay rights in many European countries.

Most recently, during the iHeartRadio Festival held in September in Las Vegas, Gaga dedicated her performance of “Hair” to 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer, who committed suicide after being bullied the same week as the concert.

No. 5 Arizona and Callie wed on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

In the May 5 episode of “Grey’s Anatomy,” orthopedic surgeon Callie Torres, played by Sara Ramirez, and pediatric surgeon Arizona Robbins, played by Jessica Capshaw, tied the knot.

The couple became engaged after getting into a car accident that nearly cost Callie and her unborn child’s lives.

There haven’t been many lesbian weddings on television and even fewer weddings that were actually shown and involved lead characters.

The lesbian wedding between Ross’s ex-wife Carol and her girlfriend Susan on “Friends” in 1996 was one of the first.

No. 6 Tracy Morgan, other celebs make homophobic remarks

“30 Rock” star Tracy Morgan went on a homophobic rant during a stand-up routine at a show in Nashville this summer saying kids should get over being bullied and threatening to kill his son if he were gay. He later apologized for the remarks and agreed to make appearances with GLAAD.

L.A. Lakers star Kobe Bryant was fined for using an anti-gay slur against a referee, as was Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah and Atlanta Braves coach Roger McDowell.

No. 7 Gay-helmed talk shows proliferate

What is it with talks shows and gay hosts?

There is of course Ellen DeGeneres, who began her eighth season this year and Rosie O’Donnell has returned to television with her talk show on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN, which premiere in October.

Then there’s Sara Gilbert, famous for her role of Darlene on the sitcom “Roseanne,” who is not only one of five hosts, but is also an executive producer on “The Talk.” Nate Berkus also has his own show as does Rachel Maddow. And Anderson Cooper debuted a talk show this year; it’s rumored that he’s (finally) planning to come out during February’s ratings sweeps period.

No. 8 Gays host award shows

Neil Patrick Harris, star of CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother,” hosted the Tony Awards this year, opening the show with a musical number that included lines like  “Broadway has never been broader, it’s not just for gays anymore,” had a “host-off” with Hugh Jackman and rapped a wrap-up of the evening’s events that was written as the show progressed.

Jane Lynch

Jane Lynch of “Glee” fame hosted the Emmys this year. Lynch spent her hosting gig making fun of the celebrity crowd as well as herself.

Neither Harris nor Lynch are the first gays to host either award show, still the visibility was impressive for such high-profile events.

No. 9 Another coming out on ‘Glee’

There have already been three main characters to openly acknowledge being somewhere on the LGBT spectrum on Fox’s hit show “Glee” and yet another main character has joined them. Santana Lopez, played by Naya Rivera, was outed in a third season episode in a political ad targeting Sue Sylvester.

The following episode, titled “I Kissed a Girl” featured the club rallying around Santana as she came to grips with being out and singing P!nk’s “F****** Perfect,” Melissa Etheridge’s “I’m the Only One,” a slowed down version of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” and k.d. Lang’s “Constant Craving.”

No. 10 ‘A-List: Dallas’ stars attacked

Logo expanded its “A-List” franchise this year with “The A-List: Dallas” starring Levi Crocker, James Doyle, Chase Hutchinson, Ashley Kelly, Philip Willis and Taylor Garrett.

There was controversy surrounding the show when Garrett, a Republican fundraiser, tweeted that his house was vandalized and included a picture of a broken window. Bloggers found this suspect when a producer tweeted back to Garrett about making headlines and it was discovered that Garrett didn’t make a police report. Both tweets have since been removed.

Later, Logo provided the Huffington Post Gay Voices with copies of two police reports, one reported by Garrett’s building manager and another made by Garrett himself.

In an unrelated incident, Crocker said he was attacked at a gay bar in Oklahoma City, Okla., in November.

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Movies

‘Things Like This’ embraces formula and plus-size visibility

Enjoyable queer romcom challenges conventions of the genre

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Max Talisman and Joey Pollari star in 'Things Like That.' (Image courtesy of MPX Releasing/Big Picture Collective)

There’s a strange feeling of irony about a spring movie season stacked with queer romcoms – a genre that has felt conspicuously absent on the big screen since the disappointing reception met by the much-hyped “Bros” in 2022 – at a time when pushback against LGBTQ visibility is stronger than it’s been for 40 years.

Sure, part of the reason is the extended timeline required for filmmaking, which tells us, logically, that the numerous queer love stories hitting theaters this year – including the latest, the Manhattan-set indie “Things Like This,” which opened in limited theaters last weekend – began production long before the rapid cultural shift that has taken place in America since a certain convicted fraudster’s return to the White House. 

That does not, however, make them any less welcome; on the contrary, they’re a refreshing assertion of queer existence that serves to counter-balance the hateful, politicized rhetoric that continues to bombard our community every day. In fact, the word “refreshing” is an apt description of “Things Like This,” which not only celebrates the validity – and joy – of queer love but does so in a story that disregards “Hollywood” convention in favor of a more authentic form of inclusion than we’re ever likely to see in a mainstream film

Written, starring, and directed by Max Talisman and set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, it’s the story of two gay men named Zack – Zack #1 (Talisman) is a plus-sized hopeful fantasy author with a plus-sized personality and a promising-but-unpublished first novel, and Zack #2 (Joey Pollari) an aspiring talent agent dead-ended as an assistant to his exploitative “queen-bee” boss (Cara Buono) – who meet at an event and are immediately attracted to each other. Though Zack #2 is resigned to his unsatisfying relationship with longtime partner Eric (Taylor Trensch), he impulsively agrees to a date the following night, beginning an on-again/off-again entanglement that causes both Zacks to re-examine the trajectories of their respective lives – and a lot of other heavy baggage – even as their tentative and unlikely romance feels more and more like the workings of fate.

Like most romcoms, it relies heavily on familiar tropes – adjusted for queerness, of course – and tends to balance its witty banter and starry-eyed sentiment with heart-tugging setbacks and crossed-wire conflicts, just to raise the stakes. The Zacks’ attempts at getting together are a series of “meet-cutes” that could almost be described as fractal, yet each of them seems to go painfully awry – mostly due to the very insecurities and self-doubts which make them perfect for each other. The main obstacle to their couplehood, however, doesn’t spring from these mishaps; it’s their own struggles with self-worth that stand in the way, somehow making theirs more of a quintessentially queer love story than the fact that both of them are men.

All that introspection – relatable as it may be – can be a downer without active energy to stir things up, but fortunately for “Things Like This,” there are the inevitable BFFs and extended circle of friends and family that can help to get the fun back on track. Each Zack has his own support team backing him up, from a feisty “work wife” (Jackie Cruz, “Orange is the New Black”) to a straight best friend (Charlie Tahan, “Ozark”) to a wise and loving grandma (veteran scene-stealer Barbara Barrie, “Breaking Away” and countless vintage TV shows) – that fuels the story throughout, providing the necessary catalysts to prod its two neurotic protagonists into taking action when they can’t quite get there themselves.

To be sure, Talisman’s movie – his feature film debut as a writer and director – doesn’t escape the usual pitfalls of the romcom genre. There’s an overall sense of “wish fulfillment fantasy” that makes some of its biggest moments seem a bit too good to be true, and there are probably two or three complications too many as it approaches its presumed happy ending; in addition, while it helps to drive the inner conflict for Zack #2’s character arc, throwing a homophobic and unsupportive dad (Eric Roberts) into the mix feels a bit tired, though it’s hard to deny that such family relationships continue to create dysfunction for queer people no matter how many times they’re called out in the movies – which means that it’s still necessary, regrettably, to include them in our stories.

And in truth, “calling out” toxic tropes – the ones that reflect society’s negative assumptions and perpetuate through imitation – is part of Talisman’s agenda in “Things Like This,” which devotes its very first scene to shutting down any objections from “fat shamers” who might decry the movie’s “opposites attract” scenario as unbelievable. Indeed, he has revealed in interviews that he developed the movie for himself because of the scarcity of meaningful roles for plus-sized actors, and his desire to erase such conventional prejudices extends in every direction within his big-hearted final product.

Even so, there’s no chip-on-the-shoulder attitude to sour the movie’s spirit; what helps us get over its sometimes excessive flourishes of idealized positivity is that it’s genuinely funny. The dialogue is loaded with zingers that keep the mood light, and even the tensest scenes are laced with humor, none of which feels forced. For this, kudos go to Talisman’s screenplay, of course, but also to the acting – including his own. He’s eminently likable onscreen, with wisecracks that land every time and an underlying good cheer that makes his appeal even more visible; crucially, his chemistry with Pollari – who also manages to maintain a lightness of being at his core no matter how far his Zack descends into uncertainty – isn’t just convincing; it’s enviable.

Cruz is the movie’s “ace in the hole” MVP as Zack #2’s under-appreciated but fiercely loyal bestie, and Buono’s hilariously icy turn as his “boss from hell” makes for some of the film’s most memorable scenes. Likewise, Tahan, along with Margaret Berkowitz and Danny Chavarriaga, flesh out Zack #1’s friend group with a real sense of camaraderie that should be recognizable to anyone who’s ever been part of an eclectic crew of misfits. Trensch’s comedic “ickiness” as Zack #2’s soon-to-be-ex makes his scenes a standout; and besides bigger-name “ringers” Roberts and Barrie (whose single scene is the emotional climax of the movie), there’s also a spotlight-grabbing turn by Diane Salinger (iconic as Francophile dreamer Simone in “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”) as the owner of a queer bar where the Zacks go on one of their dates.

With all that enthusiasm and a momentum driven by a sense of DIY empowerment, it’s hard to be anything but appreciative of “Things Like This,” no matter how much some of us might cringe at its more unbelievable romcom devices. After all, it’s as much a “feel-good” movie as it is a love story, and the fact that we actually do feel good when the final credits role is more than enough to earn it our hearty recommendation.

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Calendar

Calendar: May 23-29

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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Friday, May 23

“Center Aging Monthly Luncheon and Yoga” will be at 12 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. For more details, email [email protected]

Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity and/or expression. For more details, email [email protected]

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at DIK Bar. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Saturday, May 24

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Black Lesbian Mixer will be at 11 a.m. on Zoom. This is a support group dedicated to the joys of being a Black lesbian. For more details, email [email protected]

Sunday, May 25

“The Queen’s Table: A Women’s Empowerment Brunch” will be at 11 a.m. at Zooz. This event will celebrate queer women’s strength. For more details visit Eventbrite

Monday, May 26

“Center Aging Monday Coffee and Conversation” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected]

Tuesday, May 27

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know you’re not 100 percent cis — this is your group. For more details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook

Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This support group is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook

Wednesday, May 28

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Thursday, May 29

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fairer with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245. 

Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breathwork, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.

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Photos

PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards

Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony

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Members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington as well as local drag artists joined hosts Mike Millan and Felicia Curry with other performers for a WorldPride dance number at the Helen Hayes Awards on Monday. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.

A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.

The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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