Del Shores Addresses Perez Hilton

Perez Hilton is a disgrace to the gay community and I am done with him!

I met Perez about a year ago for the first time when we were doing publicity for my show "Sordid Lives: The Series". My publicist arranged for Rue McClanahan and myself to have lunch with him. It was purely for publicity. We used each other, like we do in this business. Perez got to have lunch with an idol of his, his favorite "Golden Girl" and in exchange, he was to run our trailer for the show. He did. I got a great story out of it for my one-man show. A fun and silly memory.

I have run into Perez a few times at various functions -- Outfest, the Weho Awards and the Advocate's 40th anniversary party.

I have never read PerezHilton.com much. It's just not my cup of tea. I have never agreed with the way he attacks, the way he outs people, and the way he writes -- mean-spirited, juvenile and frankly, not very intelligent. BUT I have always been kind to him. In person and in my show.

No more. I'm going after the asshole with both guns blazing.

Why? Because he has betrayed the gay community by posting pictures of Dustin Lance Black. Private pictures that were none of his and none of our business.

Some gay leaders have attacked Dustin because they claim "unsafe" sex was practiced in the pictures. I'm not sure how they know that, frankly. My understanding was that they guy in the photos with Dustin was an ex-boyfriend. So, who knows if they were tested together, if they were monogamous, if they were "safe" -- except for them. So Dustin has an evil ex. Many of us do! I quote the Bible, "Let ye who is without sin cast the first stone". I'm always astounded how so many gays want to eat their own.

Which takes me back to Perez. Why did he have to put his dirty spotlight on someone in the gay community who has made a difference and continues to make a difference and who is a hero. Why did Perez choose to destroy good?

Dustin Lance Black gave us such an important film and from the moment he won the Oscar, has used his platform, his celebrity, to uplift, to educate, to enlighten and to help our gay youth. On June 29th, The Trevor Project -- the gay teen suicide prevention hotline organization -- will be honoring Dustin in NY. This is an organization I have supported for years.

I would like to propose that all gay functions ban Perez Hilton from attending. Straight folks already have the good sense not to invite him places. He is an embarrassment to our community.

And boycott his site. Never return to it. Join me right now by making that commitment. Please.

I will now trash him in my show. I will do it again tonight at Comix tonight, as I have done for the past three nights.

I'd like to leave with Dustin Lance Black's Oscar speech -- who for the record, I have never met.

"I wanna thank my mom, who has always loved me for who I am even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he'd want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you, God, for giving us Harvey Milk."

Del Shores