Today, Out Magazine released their fifth annual Power 50, a list they compile of the fifty most-“power[ful] and talent[ed].” Having the largest monthly circulation of any LGBT periodical with 203,000 copies per month, Out is arguably a major player in LGBT news, identity, and community. It is both disappointing and hurtful, then, that four of the top ten featured individuals are not outly lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
Placed this year at number three, Anderson Cooper. Cooper’s place on the list is not in question – after all, he headed the late-2010 national media coverage on the series of suicides by young LGBT people due to bullying; he closelined anti-gay, totally-delusional bigot Andrew Shirvell on stalking and bullying the gay Student-body President of the University of Michigan; and he’s obviously gay. (Thanks, Kathy Griffin!) What is in question, though, is Out’s decision to place him on the top ten, for though he may be very influential and attractive, Anderson Cooper is not out. Unbelievably, Cooper beat out Rachel Maddow, an equally-influential political commentator who is actually brave enough to be open about her lesbianism. (Maddow came in at number four, one spot behind Cooper.)
At number six is Shepard Smith, the longstanding Fox News host of Fox Report with Shepard Smith. Smith’s position on the list is utterly, completely baffling. None of Smith’s official bios note that he is gay or bi; said bios do, however, note that he was once married to a college classmate (a woman) and that the pair divorced in 1993! To add insult to injury, Smith’s show frequently features anti-gay zealots such as Mike Huckabee and Maggie Gallagher. But there are a lot of internet rumors about Smith’s sexuality, aren’t there, Out? So that totally makes his inclusion logical!
Peter Theil, American entrepreneur, hedge fund manager, and Libertarian (aka Ron Paul enthusiast), is number seven. Like Anderson Cooper, Thiel’s inclusion on the list isn’t a complete mystery, for he has supported the American Foundation for Equal Rights and GoProud. However, like the previous two entries, Theil is not out, and may not even be LGBT.
Finally, Barry Diller is number 8. Diller is a very wealthy media executive; indeed, as the list focuses on power, Diller has plenty to go around. His inclusion on Out’s list though, is built entirely on gay rumors began by Andy Warhol, who you can totally believe because he is well-known for telling the truth. Apparently, lots of people assumed that Diller is gay, and ergo he deserves to be on Out’s list. That’s some integrity-filled compiling, Out Magazine!
What upsets me most about Out’s list if the lack of respect for LGBT people found within it. By placing four individuals who are not out, maybe not even LGBT, and not specifically straight allies of the community within the top ten, Out asserts that out LGBT people aren’t worthy of being on a list specifically-designed to celebrate them. Instead, the message that Out’s line-up sends is, “Yeah, confident and brave out LGBT activist, you might be working hard to achieve equality, but you’re not as good as these two closet cases, a really rich guy who some crazy artist wanted to be gay, and a Fox News commentator. They’re the REAL LGBT powerhouses.” Put simply, Out, fuck you.
Out’s actions continue the meme that LGBT people are unworthy, that they deserve to be second-class citizens, that they don’t deserve self-respect and community pride. As an LGBT periodical, Out’s very purpose should be to fight this kind if ideology; Out, however, seemingly disagrees, human dignity be damned.
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