by
Thomas Allen Heald
ON THIS DAY
On this day in 1984, Michael Jackson's personal manager holds a press conference in West Hollywood (ahem) to refute widespread rumors that his client is gay. The press are warned that Jackson henceforth sue any periodical publishing "new fantasies" about his sex life, and are also handed a printed statement in which the gloved one shrieks "NO! I've never taken hormones to maintain my high voice. NO! I've never had my cheekbones altered in any way. NO! I've never had cosmetic surgery on my eves. YES! One day in the future I plan to get married and have a family. Any statements to the contrary are simply untrue. We all know that kids are very impressionable and therefore susceptible to such stories. I'm certain that some have already been hurt by this terrible slander. In addition to their admiration, I would like to keep their respect." Jackson's publicist Norman Winter notes "If little girls want to grow up and marry Michael, now they know they've got a chance."
"The Los Angeles Times" notes "There does not appear to be any precedent for a celebrity going to such lengths to proclaim his or her heterosexuality."
BIRTHGAYS (and the occasional straights)
* 1912 - Avant-garde composer / pianist John Cage
* 1944 - Italian poet, author and playwright Dario Bellezza
* 1946 - one killer Queen, singer Freddie Mercury
* 1975 - SoapOperaFan.com guru Dustin Cushman
* 1981 - The Ms. Leather contest
Q.UOTE
"This president talks a lot about good and evil and the need to seek out evil doers. But he doesn't seem to recognize the evil in hate crimes. The right to live without the fear of being murdered for whom we love is not a special right." -- potential first lady Elizabeth Edwards.
PRI-DVD
"Suddenly"
Marcia, a lonely lingerie salesclerk in Buenos Aries, dreams of escaping her dreary life. One day she is propositioned by a pair of girls named Lenin and Mao. When she resists, they kidnap her, steal a taxi, and go looking for the beach. Marcia is a little frightened - but also a little excited.
This work is copyright© 2007 Thomas Allen Heald, all rights reserved. Brought to you by the power, passion, and pride of PageOneQ.com. Additional material provided by publishers. Contact the author at tom@idontgetit.org. Archives may be found at Pridelets.com.
