Recent Articles by James Hillis

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The "Gay Newsmen - A Clearer Picture" series was awarded the 2007 GLAAD media award for Outstanding Digital Journalism Article.
Miguel Marquez Gay Newsmen - A Clearer Picture Part I
Network News Correspondents who report from the Iraq war zone to political Washington, and anchors from across the country discuss their careers, their journeys to being out gay men in front of the camera, and how being out is part of their responsibility to the truth as journalists.

Jeffrey Kofman Gay Newsmen - A Clearer Picture Part II
A Fox News Executive comes out. Network News Executives go on the record about supporting gay on-air talent. And the reporters and executives discuss why some on-camera journalists still won't come out, the impact being out has on society - and the importance of the truth.

Gays in Primetime: a two part series.
Gay in Primetime Gays in Primetime - A Special Investigative Report Part I
The Entertainment Presidents of ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and CW talk about their responsibility to GLBT representation on their networks - and why it's so lacking. Also includes interviews with executive producers of Reality show hits Dancing with the Stars and Survivor.

Dawson's Creek Kiss Gays in Primetime - A Special Investigative Report Part II
Some of the most powerful creators and showrunners of current network hits - Silvio Horta (Ugly Betty), Greg Berlanti (Brothers & Sisters, Eli Stone), Bill Lawrence (Scrubs), Max Mutchnick (Will & Grace), Jon Robin Baitz (Brothers & Sisters), Tim Kring (Heroes), Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies), Paris Barclay (NYPD Blue, CSI, Law & Order) - talk about why GLBT characters have a tough time on network television, how to create those characters successfully - and why it matters.

smiling man Crossing Gay Color Lines
Five gay African-American artists - in movies, television and music - talk about how Gay and African-American communities can better understand each other; and about the special challenges of being a racial minority in the LGBT community.

Bob Costas Bob Costas Discusses Gays in Sports
The renowned sportscaster and NBC Olympics’ anchor speaks out on NBC’s failure to mention the historic nature of out, gay Australian diver Matthew Mitcham’s gold medal win Beijing 2008. Costas also talks about what it would take for a gay athlete in pro team sports to come out, and attitudes about gay fellow athletes among the straight pros.

two men, one in clerical shirt Gay People of Faith Come Out
The media and its new, realistic images of religious gay people - in movies, news coverage, television and on the web. Gay Christians, Muslims, Jews and Buddhists represent, and create a fuller picture of what it is to be gay, and what it is to have faith.

still from The Matador How The Matador's Bisexual Hit-Man Missed the Gay Target
The sleeper hit film The Matador starred Pierce Brosnan as a dissolute, bisexual hit-man. But did the "bi" content make it to the screen? Matador's director, Richard Shepard talks about how the gay gets washed away when it comes to Hollywood.

Hairapy Marketing Crew The Hairapy Guys Give Marketing a Gay Face
The Hairapy Guys are a groundbreaking marketing idea: Openly gay men used to launch a new product targeted to women. See how Sunsilk shampoo expects the Hairapy Guys to connect with women - then hampers them with a "warning". (Since this article was published the "mature subject matter" advisory was taken off the gethairapy site.)

Queer Eye Cast A Look Back at Bravo's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy With 3 of Its Stars
As the final season of Queer Eye began to air, Ted Allen, Kyan Douglass, and Jai Rodriguez gave this exclusive interview where they discuss seeing firsthand how Queer Eye changed the world - while affecting their own self-acceptance in the process.

Kyan Douglas "Queer Eye"'s Kyan Douglas Gives AfterElton.com an Exclusive on His Engagement - And World Peace
Kyan talks about the end of his engagement to former partner Greg Durham, gives his views on marriage equality, and shares a personal story about finding common ground with a loved one who converted to an Evangelical faith.

Tim Gunn Interview with Tim Gunn
Project Runway's mentor and breakout star dishes on gay men and clothes, his love life, and being a gay role model.

Eric Himan Interview with Singer-Songwriter Eric Himan
Out singer-songwriter Eric Himan talks about his music, his life, and having the courage to be an honest gay man - and still make music for all people.

Gregory Douglass Profile of Singer Songwriter Gregory Douglass
While munching on Chinese food off interstate 95 - the extraordinarily gifted musician and songwriter talks about his career coming-out, and making his own rules as an indie artist. Includes two of his recent videos.

Shane Landrum MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Fresh Meat. Surreal Reality at it's Best.
MTV's recent challenge proves nobody knows how to cast an over-the-top parade of reality show insanity better than the "former" music television channel. And for this season, they're doing a controlled experiment: Two gay guys, a tropical climate, and available alcohol. Any predictions? You might just be wrong.

 

James HillisJames Hillis is an award-winning classical pianist, a journalist and free-lance writer.

You can contact James at: jhillispiano@gmail.com.


Max Mutchnick Will & Grace Creator Max Mutchnick
Max Mutchnick - co-creator of Will & Grace and the model for Will Truman - talks about his groundbreaking show, his own "internal oppression", the advice he got from a famous gay Hollywood director - and gift ideas for Ellen Degeneres' 50th birthday.

Jon Robin Baitz Out Playwright and Television Creator Jon Robin Baitz
Interview with the acclaimed New York playwright and creator of the ABC hit show Brothers & Sisters. Baitz discusses the WGA Writer's Strike, "Love" after 40, and the prodigious romantic life of B&S gay character Kevin Walker.

Bryan Fuller Exclusive: Out Pushing Daisies Creator Bryan Fuller Reveals His Show's Gay Character
Fuller also discusses the gay Star Trek episode that never happened, his Showtime creation Dead Like Me, and the big gay show he dreams about doing.

Short bios included in the
Gay Newsmen series

Thomas Roberts Gay Newsmen: Thomas Roberts
The former CNN Headline News anchor and CNN correspondent talks about his mission as a journalist.

Paul Mueller Gay Newsmen: Paul Mueller
This rising star news anchor talks about his career, and being out in tv news.

Miguel Marquez Gay Newsmen: Miguel Marquez
The ABC correspondent talks about covering the Iraq War and being out.