I was a little excited at first that a black gender queer icon made the splash page of the New York Times. The big news is that Miss J, (or J. Alexander) has a new book , Follow the Model, Miss J’s Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise and Power, and I’m happy that my favorite part of America’s Next Top Model has finally taken a step out of that spotlight and is making one of his own. Obviously, he’s been working hard for years and all the interviews I’m reading about the publication has fierce quotables from the walking diva. However, whatever journalistic skills NYT reporter Cathy Horyn has were thrown out the window when she went to interview him. Instead of talking about the book, she asks him to show her how to walk. Not that I wouldn’t have: the opportunity to have the fiercest stilleto coach give you some non-slip tips doesn’t come around too often. But besides failing to mention his book (he’s not a real author, right?) Horyn also purposefully ignores the big book reveal that all the blogs are birth-squealing over–Miss J has a seven year old son. It’s all about timing with these things, people. Here we are, smack dab in the middle of the hugest fight for queer families’ rights, and the N.Y.F.T. won’t talk about it with their fashion freak cuz she ain’t a square portait of what a family man should be. I’m not buying it – their recent interview with Pedro Almodovar also didn’t ask him about his big gay life, but they DID ask the straight sitting next to him, Penelope Cruz, about her possible nuptials. There is no way Horyn didn’t get an advance on Miss J’s book, and to omit the juicy and leave it for *every *single *other media outlet means NYT chickened out on another one. This wouldn’t be so upsetting if it didn’t constantly position itself as a beacon of level-headed liberalism. To me, failing to talk to an out there, queer speaking, snappy black queen about his family is a clear indication that “well spoken” high rise dwellers just aren’t ready for non-nuclear families, not the way they pretend to be. UGH, and just as I went back to get a link there is a front cover story on the Octomom. WTF.
