An Open Letter to Press Reporting on Queer Celebs Separating

Dear, Dear Media:

Writers have a long history of geeking out at each other’s work. The same can be said of modern queer writers. I’ve been a fan of Zachary Zane’s work almost since I started working for bi.org. The “bisexual mega influencer” has written for such esteemed publications as Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan, and Slate, to name a few.

Zane is now a contributing editor for MensHealth, and one of his most recent articles caught my eye. Zane gave a proper beatdown to other journalists who insinuated in their reporting on Miley Cyrus’ divorce her pansexuality was to blame. (No, I won’t link to those articles because I refuse to drive more clicks to their sites — Google is your friend if you’re really curious.)

Zane did a fabulous job in his rebuttal. So I want to “yes, and” on his points.

Journalism in the digital era is a tough business — journalism is not only in a hurry, it’s hurtling at record speeds to break the story on Twitter. I feel for them, I do. To a point.

The response the press gave to the divorce was both typical and damning. There is a whole sordid history of Hollywood reporters and gossip columnists working hard to either suppress or leak news that celebrities of the Golden Age were queer. During the Hays Code era, as Scotty Bowers wrote , general culture put the stars of the day under a moral, heteronormative microscope — and actors and other luminaries were expected to oblige or lose their careers. Gossip columnists did their best to wield the pressure of their threats to squeeze out stories and details for their articles. Do better than striving to be the second coming of Louella Parsons or Hedda Hopper.

These days, fifty years post-Stonewall, there are still queer hang-ups in our culture. Many of them have bitten the dust as queer visibility has risen in the past decade. But unfortunately, since bis are still fighting for representation and fair treatment, this type of backlash seemed bound to happen.

OK, press (and I like to imagine you as a collective all wearing those dapper, old-timey press hats) — let’s do what you love best and get to the point:

Perpetuating biphobia as a possible reason for a couple with (a) bi partner(s) separating? Don’t do that. Not a good look.

Need more reasons? I’ll try to explain — and use as few adjectives as possible.

Stating the facts is fine. Yes, Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth filed for divorce. Soon after, sensual photos and rumors were leaked of Cyrus on vacation with her friend from “sources” (eyeroll). Which part is responsible to put in the story? Which part could get fact-checked by, say, oh, I don’t know, the City of Los Angeles? Insinuation is how you get libel suits — just ask Carol Burnett.

There are better ways to fill those column inches — say, by including the expected request for privacy from the couple in pain. Your bounce rate probably won’t go up for going for the truth.

Also? Bisexuality is an orientation, not a divorce co-respondent called upon for character assassination in the court of public opinion. If your editor is breathing down your neck about getting the bi take on this, maybe consider doing some bare-bones research on the orientation and the community. This’ll ensure you aren’t perpetuating stereotypes.

Don’t have time to go do that research? Here, have a boilerplate template of dismissal of those untrue characteristics:

• Bis are greedy. Come on. Don’t start sounding like that biphobic scene in Sex and the City. It’s tired, false, and patently hurtful.

• Bis are likely to cheat because they can’t be satisfied with one partner.
  • 1) do some research on ethical non-monogamy which could be at play here.
  • 2) Lots of research shows bi+ peeps are no more likely to cheat than any other orientation. In fact, plenty of the gays and straights do it,  so it’s not wise to point fingers.

Need I go on?

Oh. Hey. If you’re going to report on someone in the queer community, try talking to one of its luminaries. Like Halsey. 

Hey tigerbob. Doesn’t surprise me that ur saying this and ur page has u crying about Brie Larson too! Stop being afraid of women who aren’t afraid to do what pleases them and not other people :-) https://t.co/uPyB1cXE0D

— h (@halsey) August 11, 2019 

I promise you they will give not only supportive hot takes, but great pull quotes that can spice up your narrative.

Deadlines loom, yes, but better to do your due diligence than deal with a hefty lawsuit. This is #20BiTeen. It is so not cool to celebrate that hashtag trending, and then out of the other corner of the mouth assign blame to that sexual orientation in order to move units.

With more and more people opening up about their sexuality, these kinds of stories with young queer celebrities will happen more and more. Consider Cyrus a test run and figure out where you can learn from the mistakes your colleagues made. Make your editor and journalism professors proud and rise to better reporting.

TMZ isn’t hiring, anyway.