Remember the 8th grade where the pretty and the well off kids were the popular ones? And if you were different, that difference better be something that the cool kids like or else you would be shunned.
The Russian edition of Maxim took those pages right out of your school's yearbook and showed us once again how backwards and immature not only Russian politics, but Russian media can be.
Ian McKellen and Neil Patrick Harris are on a list of stars the magazine has “forgiven” for their sexual orientation.
In an article headlined “Gays We Respect,” the Russian edition of men’s magazine Maxim has “forgiven” a list of famous actors, authors and musicians for their sexual orientation.
“We, men, do not consider men who love men to be men. This is the rule,” the introduction to the post reads. “But there are exceptions. There are gays who have earned our respect and the right to remain real men in our eyes.”
These “exceptions” include actors Ian McKellen and Neil Patrick Harris, who the magazine has “forgiven” for their sexual orientation due to their onscreen roles.
“We weren’t sure about including Neil Patrick Harris in the list — after all, he declared himself a ‘happy gay’ in 2006. But his performance as Barney Stinson in the series How I Met Your Mother hasn’t left us indifferent,” the article reads. “It’s impossible not to respect someone who elevated the hunt for girls into a true art, who systematized all the tricks and techniques and created the ‘Bro Code.’ Even if he was just acting the role. But how he acted!”
Rob Halford of Judas Priest is evidence that “if you’re cool enough, it doesn’t matter what your orientation is.” British comedian Stephen Fry is presented as “the living embodiment of the idea that one can be openly gay and a sensible person at the same time.”
The editor of Maxim’s Russian edition told BuzzFeed News “our position is clearly formulated in the introduction to the article.”
“We are deeply disturbed by the article in Maxim Russia and fully condemn it,” a spokesperson for Maxim told BuzzFeed News by e-mail. “It is entirely against the views of U.S. Maxim.”
Maxim is owned by Biglari Holdings, but the Russian edition is published by Hearst Shkulev Media, a Russian joint venture of Hearst’s international magazines division that also publishes the Russian editions of Marie Claire and Elle.
BuzzFeed News has reached out to Hearst and Hearst Shkulev Media for comment. – BuzzFeed.com
I am sure NPH is so excited that his portrayal of a straight male pig has won the Russian public over and made them overlook he has a husband. And Stephen Fry is sensible and therefore his homosexuality is overlooked.
See, there are good gays out there, but just a handful. Thanks Russian Maxim and thanks for bringing us back to our shitty school days.
H.T. – BuzzFeed.com