Tyson Beckford: I Love My Gays
Tyson Beckford, supermodel and host of Bravo’s new reality show “Make Me a Supermodel,” says he loves his gay fans to death and doesn’t understand why some people still have problems with gay people.
Beckford is considered one of the few men who’s ever been considered a supermodel, namely because his is the longest-running contract Ralph Lauren has ever doled out. With men or women.
Last week Beckford talked to Dallas Voice about his new show and about whether or not being gay is a supermodel deal-breaker:
Dallas Voice: You really impressed your gay fans’ when you did that calendar signing at a gay club in D.C.
Tyson Beckford: Oh yeah, I caught a lot of heck for that, too. But in this day and era, people are still putting that gay wall up — like gay people aren’t cool.
Well, I’m sorry to tell you: Gay people really run the entertainment business. So you’ve been watching a lot of stuff that’s been gay influenced, but you just didn’t know. You know, it’s about time. I’m straight, but I have my gay fans and I also have my straight fans, and I do not want to ever offend either one. I mean, what is fashion without a little gay in there?
Dallas Voice: You did catch a lot of hell for appearing at that gig?
Tyson Beckford: Yeah, but that was just from the straight idiots who didn’t know any better. I got a gay friend who likes to call them “stupid straight people.” And I love him for that. And I tell him, “You know what? Those stupid straight people are giving me hell again.” I don’t see what that has to do with who we are as a person.
Dallas Voice: That appearance made a big impact about how gay people perceive you. But what did you take away from the experience?
Tyson Beckford: Not to let people judge me for who I hang out with, or where I go, or what I do, or who are my friends. I’ve always grown up that way. My parents never raised me to be homophobic or anything like that. And I raise my son the same way. And I just wish everyone else would raise their kids like that, too. So that way we wouldn’t have problems, like racism and people being gay or straight. Who the hell cares? We’re humans.
It’s 2008, and you’re still worried about whether the guy next to me is gay.
Like I said, they’re just stupid straight people — ignorant straight people. So hurray to my gay fans. I love you. I love you to death. Gay people keep it real.
Previously on Fresh Hotness:
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and we love you too tyson…wooof
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michael said this on February 5th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
He was just at the club fitting in. Then somebody noticed him and he came up with the story that it was a “calendar signing”
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Julio said this on February 5th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Does anyone know where I can see those pictures?
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Kevin said this on February 5th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
I’m black, and have noticed that more and more black celebrities are coming to the defense of gay people. That certainly wasn’t the case a handful of years ago. Glad to see that chaning.
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Lily Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Eh, Tyson’s a model. I wouldn’t use him as a good example really, he’s one of the exceptions.
Especially if we’re talking about Hip-Hop and R&B singers.
Hell, even Denzel and Terrence Howard are homophobic and they’re some of our more sophisticated celebrities.
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Nathan Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
And Mo’Nique, Oprah, Obama, Will Smith, Maya Rudolph, Al Sharpton, and Tyra are not. I said things are changing; not that they’ve changed.
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Lily Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
You said that things have changed from a few years ago. All those same people you listed were pro-gay a few years ago. There aren’t many more that have surfaced since.
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Nathan Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
I’m fairly certain I said “Glad to see that changing (though I mistyped).” Comparing the 90’s to the 00’s to the present 10’s, things are indeed changing for the better in that area…for now.
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Lily Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Well certainly decades ago, but your original statement said a handful of years. Which is what I was responding to. No need to get salty.
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Nathan Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
I wouldn’t know how to get “salty.” I’ve been nothing but civil in my responses to you, and will continue being that way with anyone who replies to me. My original statement would apply to even the difference between 2010 and 2003, for example.
Things are changing for the better for now. Let’s just agree to be happy about that.
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Lily Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
I certainly will do so. You have a wonderful evening.
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Nathan said this on February 5th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
as a young black gay man i wish there were more straight black men stepping forward to say its ok to be who you are.
i think in our culture the men are too afraid and ashamed to defend gays because they could be accused of being gay.
yes gays run things behind the scenes in hollywood
but i’ve never seen a gay run things infront of the camera in hollywood.
now that would be a shocker and something i would love to see. like a black hollywood movie star that just happened to be openly gay and i’m talking will smith status. i would give anything to see the day. but hollywood it seems itself is homophobic in many ways because all though gays may run things behind the camera like tyson said when will the day come when gay are infront of the camera?
where are the black gay actors? this is the dramatic arts for christ sake and i can’t think of 1 black gay hollywood actor. so if the industry filled with gays working behind the scenes are racist homophobes that won’t show our people what chance do we have in our own society. sometimes i just feel hopeless thinking about how bad it is for us.
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Jamie Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 1:38 am
Funny enough, your statement and your mention of Will Smith reminded me of Denzel Washington telling Will not to do the gay kiss in Six Degrees of Separation because black people think of their actors as “heroes” and it would basically ruin his career.
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Nathan Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Isn’t it funny Will Smith has gone on to star in more blockbuster movies than Denzel. Even Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson doesn’t have a problem playing a gay person in a respectful way (Be Cool, 2005) or, heh, even a “fairy” (Tooth Fairy, 2010). Times are indeed changing, though whether they will continue to change in this direction remains to be seen. I sometimes have my doubts.
But I do wish that Black America…no, all of America…would look for heroes in people other than entertainers. There are some amazing people out there. I’m more impressed by the blind Ben Underwood than I am by Denzel or Will Smith. Even though I admire both of them, I don’t put those guys on a pedestal or anything. They haven’t done anything heroic.
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blake Reply:
February 9th, 2010 at 1:37 am
will also said he regretted not doing that kiss cause he felt like he wasn’t fully committed to doing what the role entailed. he said he would never hold back like that again
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Nathan Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Darryl Stephens comes to mind. Jensen Atwood hasn’t been explicit about his orientation, but I’m fairly certain he’s gay. I recall the Wire had a leading gay male character, although the actor who played him was not. OZ and Six Feet Under also had major gay black male characters. They’re out there.
But if you’re talking about a summer blockbuster starring an actor who so happens to be gay, then I strongly encourage you to support independent films. They’ll take *risks* like this. Then if they succeed, major film companies will pick up where the pioneers left off.
I mentioned I’m Black, but forgot to mention I’m also hermaphroditic (the real kind). Now when we see a mainstream film starring an intersexed actor, we’ll be getting somewhere :-P!
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Craig said this on February 6th, 2010 at 1:36 am