Interview with Michael Jensen, Editor of AfterElton.com

Michael Jensen is the Editor of AfterElton.com, a LOGO web property all about gay entertainment. Apparently, the two time author and web editor can't step away from the computer for more than a few hours at a time, but we convinced him to take a break and talk to us about freedom of speech, outing gay celebrities and the best movie he's ever seen.

You've backpacked with Aussies, been an honorary Kiwi, slept with lice on the concrete, and published two historical novels... what's the one thing you haven't done?

Get forty-eight hours off and away from the computer! Or I would love to stand on top of one of the world's great mountain peaks. There would be something amazing not just in the achievement, but in simply being at the top of the world.

The media is in a frenzy as actors, DJ's, athletes and the like speak their minds to the offense of many. Are the Imus's, Hardaway's and Washington's of the world exercising their freedom of speech or abusing their social responsibility?

I say potato, Don Imus says "nappy headed..." Of course, they are exercising their right to free speech, but I'm less interested in whether Hardaway or Washington are also abusing their social responsibility (they are) than the corporations that profit by doing the same thing. That's where the real problem is at.

Even though their "sins" were definitely of varying degrees, I think Hardaway, Washington, and Imus are actually perfect examples of that. Hardaway is a retired basketball player with relatively little influence, and is of no real consequence to the corporate powers. Therefore, he got taken to task for his comments right away. Washington was being a jerk during a fight with Patrick Dempsey, but his payback was a lot longer in coming because he's part of a huge moneymaking machine for ABC. And Imus got away with verbal murder for years because he was making big bucks for a lot of folks. So the real question for me is "Are corporations abusing their social responsibility" and the answer is "Well, duh."

Are we in danger of becoming a censored State?

Hardly. At least not in the sense I think you mean of the "PC" (I hate that word) left making it hard for straight, white men to use the "F" word. However, if you mean are we censored because the mainstream media is terrified of the right wing and/or owned by a few big corporations that don't want certain messages to get out, I'll repeat my previous answer: Well, duh. Thankfully, the blogosphere is changing that.

I know you're itching to set the record straight (or gay) on the whole Disney gay fantasy marriage news. Talk to us...

That was an interesting and somewhat frustrating experience as the change by Disney came about because of an article [AfterElton] wrote about their not allowing same-sex wedding ceremonies on their properties. When Disney did the right thing and changed their policy, the Reuter's reporter took the initiative to do a little something journalists call "research" and read our article on the subject. The reporter also possessed something called "skepticism" and thought Disney's explanation [that] they were suddenly changing their policy, well, just [because] they're so super, was a little hard to buy and included our article as a possible part of the explanation. The AP reporter meanwhile just bought Disney's story hook, line and sinker and wrote a story that was little more than a press release and completely excluded us. When I contacted him about it, his response was utter indifference and shock that Disney might be lying.

What's the greatest gay movie ever made?

I'm not sure I'm qualified to pick the greatest, but my favorite is Brokeback Mountain. Actually, I'm not sure favorite is the right word, but the most moving.

... And the worst?

Good lord, there isn't time enough to pick the worst. Besides, as a novelist myself, I know how hard artists work so I don't want to single anyone out as worst.

What do you think about closeted celebrities? Should they be outed?

That depends—do you have good dirt on someone?

In all seriousness, I don't think they should be outed, but nor do I think they should be protected. If Joe Blow uses media attention to further his career, then goes out in public with his boyfriend, I don't think asking him about it should be out of bounds. I understand things aren't perfect for gay actors and they still face prejudice, but the fact that they can live their private lives openly stems directly from the fact that some of the gay men and lesbians who came before them made sacrifices to make the world a more tolerant place for us today. It's our obligation to make the world even better for those who come after and that's pretty hard to do locked up in a closet. And I think it's becoming even more hypocritical to stay closeted as actors like Neil Patrick Harris and T.R. Knight have taken such brave steps.

Get more from Michael Jensen on AfterElton.com.