Mary J. Blige is the cover model for the popular gay and lesbian newsmagazine The Advocate next month. Inside, she dishes on her new album, “Growing Pains”, homophobia in hip hop, and her work fighting HIV/AIDS:
On having gay fans:
“The majority of them are [gay], and I have to really make sure that they know I’m paying attention to the fact that they support me, and I support them.”
On the reason she became involved in the fight to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS:
“It was the elephant in the room that nobody’s looking at. It made me be like, Oh, this is right at our front door. This can touch us. So why wouldn’t I want to get involved with something that can help save all our lives, save everybody’s lives?”
On homophobia in the hip-hop community:
“The real hip-hop, the real people don’t even care about that. They’ll love you and accept you no matter what because they know who they are. There are a lot of people trying to figure out who they are and what they’re gonna be. There’s a lot of confusion in that. Confusion causes a lack of identity. I’ve heard a couple of guys say foul things, and those guys are not around me anymore because when they say things like that, I’m looking at them like, What makes you so scared? You don’t know who you are?”
Thanx Michelle!
She looks cute here, but she looks like she has a daughter named keyshia cole.
Thats hot, so is her husband!!!!!!!! OOPS! LMAO
wow. i wonder where i can find this magazine! she looks nice on the cover!
I dont think most of her fans are gay, but good cause none the less
Mary looking fierce !!!! Proud to see successful BLACK women doing there thing !!!
dang Mary you are hot…you have been featured in a lot of mags. GO MARY!!!
Mary looks great.I can’t wait for the new cd.
LOL @ #1
i like the picture and cover.
WT DAAT IS AN ABOMINATION..SPPORTIN GAYS ND ALL….BEING GAY IS WRONG FUL STOP…IF I FOUND OUT WUN OV MA FRENDS WER GAY ID PRAY FORR EMM ND TRY ND HELP DEM…BECOS I LUV DEM…BUT NT DA FACT DT DEY R GAYY!!!….MARYY J HAD DEFOO LOST KUDO’S WIV ME IM TOTALLY DISSPOINTEDD…MAYBE SHE IS JUS TRYNAA SELL CD’S OR SUNTING COS I AM CONFUSEDD!!!..
#10 BITCH PLEASE!!!! DON’T TALK ABOUT MY GURL MARY LIKE THAT HOE. SHE DONT NEED THAT TO MAKE MONEY SHE CAN SELL WITHOUT IT TRUST ME!!!
Lol @ the first comment…
Hmmm….this sounds like an interesting article; I might have to pick up a copy
Mary just gets better and better… Love her here. She looks fantastic. I want a jacket like that. I wish I were better with accessories and stuff… I forgot.. it’s not about me, lol. Mary, you look wonderful!!
Mary looks good. I agree with her. Any man thats concrete in his sexuality should care less about a gay man.
MJB looks so beautiful
@ #10, HOW IS MARY WRONG BECAUSE SHE SUPPORTS GAY PEOPLE? THERE IS NOTHIN WRONG WITH CHOOSING A SPECIFIC LIFESTYLE THE SAME EXACT REASON WHY IT ISNT WRONG FOR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE THE RELIGION THEY WANT TO BE APART OF OR THE PEOPLE THEY CHOOSE TO DATE,MARRY OR SPEND THE REST OF THERE LIFE WITH. TELLING SOMEONE THAT THERE ARE WRONG FOR BEING GAY OR THEY ARE WRONG TO SUPPORT GAY PEOPLE IS LIKE TELLING YOU IT IS WRONG TO BE BLACK OR IT IS WRONG TO BE WHITE. AND VERY IGNORANT ON YOUR PART. GAY PEOPLE DONT JUST WAKE UP AND ARE LIKE…”OK, IM GAY TODAY”. IT IS WHO THEY ARE, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT….I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU REALIZE AND TRY NOT TO JUDGE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE TO BE A CERTAIN WAY, NOT JUST GAY OR ANYTHING AT THAT. PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THEY WANT TO IN LIFE,THE DECISIONS THAT MAKE THEM HAPPY AND THAT MAKE THEM WHO THEY ARE. ITS IGNORANT PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT DONT UNDERSTAND THAT.I THINK ITS KOOL MARRY SUPPORTS HER GAY FANSAND ALLOF HER FANS.FANS ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE ARTIST AND SOME ARTIST FAIL TO REALIZE THAT BUT IM GLAD MARY DOES.
THANX!
Mary looks good
Love Mary!!!!!!
I LOVE MARY, ATLEAST SHE IS SMART ABOUT IT, LOL, I HAV GAY PPL IN MY FAMILY & THEY WERE SCARED 2 TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I LET THEM KNOW I LOVE THEM & STILL HERE, I USUALLY SAY THEY WRONG BUT ALL I CAN DO IS PRAY & SEND THEM ON
THEY WAY, NEVAMIND HOW I FEEL!
Nice cover.
EVERYONE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY KISSES UP TO THE GAY COMMUNITY TO EARN BROWNIE POINTS. IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY SUPPORTING THE GAY COMMUNITY IS LIKE ADOPTING AFRICAN ORPHANS. GAYS DO NOT CARE IF YOU SUPPORT THEM OR NOT THEY JUST WANT PEOPLE TO NOT ATTACK THEM FOR IT. I AM AGAINST THE GAY AND LESBIAN LIFESTYLE, BUT I AM NOT GOING TO SUPPORT VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM. MARY J. HAD SOME GAY RUMORS ABOUT HER ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, HMMM. LET ME STOP BEFORE I START SOMETHING. MOST CELEBS ARE FULL OF CRAP, I BET WHEN THEY GO HOME THE HOMOPHOBIA SESSION BEGINS. THEY KNOW THOSE “KIDS” CAN DO SOME HAIR AND MAKEUP, AND I BET SOME HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVE IS GAY, THAT IS PROBABLY THE MAIN REASON WHY PEOPLE IN HOLLYWOOD ARE FOR GAYS ALL OF A SUDDEN.
I’m a fan Mary and I’m most definitely not gay. Good look Mary!!!!! You look beautiful.
Mary looks nice! Would somebody tell Keyshia that she isn’t Mary? She’s pissing me off because she is trying to be Mary in every sense of the word!
Banging cover! Love the jacket and accessories.
@ #1, you and Keyshia both wish.
@21 Denise….Amen.
You wanna be in with the Hollywood crowd? Be prepared to sell your soul.
Another nice cover. Again, take notes Vibe.
Most of her fans are gay? For real? I remember my BFF (lesbian) telling me that a lot of gay brothas love Mary. I doubt that gay men surpassed sistas in her general fan base.
Props to Mary for pointing out that not every rapper’s a homophobe.
@21 i completely agree with you. everyone in the industry are fakes. i dont care what anyone say they know who their audience (not necessarily who they intended) is n they know what will happen to sales if they fail to please….and believe me they are adoring n faithful fans. Think about all the raga artist who aint gettin nowhere coz of dem “bun chi-chi man”, “fire fi dem” tunes.
i personally don’t agree with homosexuality (& i aint guna budge so dont try) but i wouldnt go as far as Sharia Law practiced in some Muslim countries.
btw we’r lovin the loop in London!!
I think its great that Mary is acknowledging that all of the fans that have supported her thoroughout the years are not str8! Its about time she and her team made that move. Its not about KISSING UP (@ comment 21) its about basic human respect and good business accumen.
And just for the record, NOBODY who is straight ever made the CHOICE to be attracted to the opposite gender so I dont why you keep charging that the gay people made the CHOICE to be attracted the same gender. You grow up and unfold into who you are naturally and the outcome of that is the life that you live (lifestyle).
isn’t she supposed tio be pregnant?? I am so confused! Can someone inform me please!
Whoooo..thank the lord some new news to talk about on this glorious friday evening!!!
I do not agree with the gay and lesbian lifstyle however, I don’t treat them (people who choose this lifestyle) any diffrent than I would treat a straight person. It’s not for me to judge ( that’s between God and that individual).
It was a smart move on Mary’s part to acknowledge her gay fans cause that’s a large community who will support her music. I love this cover and the new Mary overall, I have never been a huge fan of her’s and I’m starting to love her more and more as she grows.
Mary you looks goode gurl!
why is she on these magazines i never heard of ?
but she looks great tho
LMAO AT #9 “LIKE JIGGA MAN WHY YOU LOOK LIKE ANIMAL” WHEEEEW. BUT YEAH, MARY LOOKS REALLY PRETTY. *SINGS JUST FINE, FINE, FINE, FINE, FINE, FINE, WHEW!*
#10
The real sin is your lack of education and spelling. Instead of judging others lifestyles you need to be in someone’s class learning how to write.
Mary looks good on this cover and that’s cool she’s supporting “that” community. I am 100% straight but I have love for all. That’s what comes with an education. You learn to accept people for who they are reqardless of race, religion, or sexual preference. Just remember we as black people have been discriminated against since they took our ancestors from Africa until present day. So, you would think we would know how discrimination feels and will accept all.
Y DO PEOPLE MAKE OUT HOMOSEXUALITY N RACISM IS THE SAME THING… despite what Micheal Jackson thinks we dont have a choice what colour we are but as for homosexuals… well there’s no way i could prove my theory ethically!!
LMAO to the titles on the front cover i just read… after CHER, their great SAN FRANCISCO, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, n RELIGIOUS people who “want us dead”, what else is there to discuss let alone have to fill a magazine with each month?
I dont care about what detractors say, Marys a genuine and honest person. Everything sister gurls done is from the heart. All these Hollywood types support gay rights just to be fashionable, but I honestly believe that Mary is saying this from the heart. At least after Ja Rule and others making homophobic remarks, there’s someone from the hip-hop community saying somethin different.
I don’t understand what someone’s choice of lifestyle or so-called natural preference has to do with someone else’s acceptance of that person’s lifestyle. Different things offend different people and the people who disagree with homosexuality have just as much a right to voice and state their beliefs as the people that “tolerate” or agree with it. Mary J. Blige is a pawn and a tool to be used by the entertainment mainstream. She was being used to foster that self-hate in black women and hatred towards the black man for years until she finally became mature enough to allow herself to engage in something positive. Now that she’s moved past that self-destructive phase they’ll move Keyshia Cole into her slot of self-pity to steer this new generation of young black women into that nonsense of “I hate myself, so let me make a bunch of songs about how much I hate (black) men.”.
Believe it or not, Mary J. Blige doesn’t have a choice as to whether or not she “agrees” with that lifestyle. The minute she, or any other “star”, speaks against what this society is moving towards, their file would be opened. All the lines of coke, shots of heroin, and crack pipes, the tri-sexual orgies, the payoffs, and the contract killings would be put out for the public to see. All these “stars” fear for the prolongation of their 15 minutes. Mary J. Blige is no different. She knows that she can be replaced; like that, with another delusional, talented, desperate young black woman. That’s why she’s always sniping at these younger chics, lol.
The entire upper echelon of America is governed by sexual deviants and the endorsement of homosexuality and bisexuality is integral to population control and the continued spread of AIDS and other genetically engineered diseases. The white man gives these negroes their marching orders to teach their own people to accept homosexuality and perverse behavior and they ask no questions, they just obey like good soldiers (house negroes). Most of these people aren’t intelligent, strong, or spiritual enough to understand why they should take a stand on anything other than self-glorification. This is why Gabrielle Union and these other chics expect to be supported because they’re “black”, lol, when most of them are sleeping with white boys because they’re desperate to break into that Halle Berry sphere.
Love MARY! Now I feel so much betta about myself!
@JUDAH
I agree with most of what you said.
Homosexuality is wrong and condemned by God.
Living this kind of lifestyle is a choice. IMO
God created ADAM and EVE not ADAM and STEVE
O yea Keyshia and Mary plz stop with the comparin! Keysh gots a long way 2 go b4 shes even on Marys heels!
@ #38 Judah….I just said AMEN in my office so loud, these fools I work with wonder what the hell I’m in here doing!!!!
What’s up Judah!!!!!
JUDAH SAID:
“they’ll move Keyshia Cole into her slot of self-pity to steer this new generation of young black women into that nonsense of “I hate myself, so let me make a bunch of songs about how much I hate (black) men.”.
Shut the hell up. I grew up listening to Mary J. Blige and I never once wanted to get on drugs or be in an abusive relationship. How bout mary was young and dumb just like how a lot of women are before they wake up and smell the coffe. If you don’t go somewhere with that blackplotation crap.
Of course this topics would bring out some ignorant people. My thing is God is love, regardless in the bible it is a sin, but god still is love.. He love his kids str8, gay or whatever. You don’t have to agree with a person lifestyle, but your suppose to show them love period. Now being a black-gay male- no one can tell me what I have experienced (far as ALWAYS knowing I was gay, ALWAYS) so people can say its a choice, but that choice was there before I was old enough to make that type of decision, believe it or not its not my job to make you believe what I know. But the ignorance has to stop. No one know what made her do that add- maybe she knows people that are gay- loves people are gay.. I’m positive its not for the money- she has plenty. The reason for Aids/HIV is because of ignorance and lack of education- has nothing to do with sexual preference. People should embrace there people whether str8, gay, black, white whatever, again God teaches love.. You can’t love someone and not accept them for who they are. Hence you are sining just as much as gays.
Especially ya’ll black women will learn to accept gay’s if you don’t- its going to increase DL men, spread of diseases to women and just not knowing truly your kids/family member-friends. Also causing them to be ashamed and sneaky about them selves- which is bad for their mental health. Regardless if you agree with there decision you should accept people. I’m comfortable with myself, love myself but some people aren’t that strong. HOMOPhobia is similar to RACISM especially when we know we were born that way. Again str8 folks can say we werent because they havent had a day in our shoes. But people calm down and accept your people, because we accept and love you str8 ignorant asses
What gives?! I can’t post!
Wierd…is there a character limit or something?
Do yall mothafu*** have to type in caps…………damn makes people want to skip your comment.
I don’t where to begin.
I’m curious: what, again, is most people’s basis for “disagreeing” with homosexuality (especially those people who claim not to treat “them” any differently)? Also strange is the assumption that people in the entertainment community “all of a sudden” are scrambling to appease the gay community at any cost. When you still have the abundance of ignorance displayed in such instances as Busta Rhymes’ reaction to a gay fan in Miami, and the way the “accusation” of homosexuality is still regarded as a high insult in the rap community, I just don’t see how the entire industry has figured out some new trick of the trade.
Instead, it makes more sense–and is far less disheartening–to posit that there are many Black celebs who now realize that 1) HIV/AIDS is NOT a “gay” disease, as people were supposed to stop believing some years back (and, in fact, if you are going to define it by the demographics that report the most new cases, it is a “Black woman’s” disease); 2) not only were many of the people who shaped our beautiful culture gay themselves, but many of our community’s pillars and people who affect social change today are as well; and 3) with a significant percentage of our community *IDENTIFYING* themselves as homosexual, it’s time we get over our institutionalized homophobia, since a) it’s fueled by Western ideals, and b) as we say over and over again, we cannot achieve mobility until we attain solidarity.
…and for someone to ask how “they” can fill a magazine every month? You’d be surprised. Ostracism is a powerful tool of social synthesis, and if you get into how a group–when denied basic rights, systemically and professionally displaced, regarded as physically inferior and disease-ridden, vilified and discriminated against, and marginalized to within an inch of the justification of their genocide–still manage to converge, organize and produce a culture with its own lifestyle, dialect, customs, and *INTERNAL* circulation of currency…well, then, you might just have a piece of the puzzle to solving the Black dilemma in this country. If, that is, you aren’t afraid your friends will tease you on the playground for having the sissy help you with your homework.
Mary looks beautiful..i love the coat
OOHHH, I get it. You can’t post messages that contain links. Hell, I had supporting examples from the CDC, amazon.com, the Census Bureau and everywhere else to support the points I made above, lol! If anyone needs to see them, I’ll be happy to send them.
I don’t KNOW* where to begin…damn, a typo on the FIRST line, lol!
# 44, I agree with you.
God is about loving everyone.
And according to the Bible having sex before marriage is a sin also, and I know no one in here waits to after marriage to have sex. No sin is greater than another.
That coat Mary has on is HOT!!
@42
What’s up sis? How you doin. You can always tell the spirit of truth because it stirs up the demons in protest, lol.
@44
This is not a forum or debate about the Most High and how he feels. How he feels and what he wants us to know about how he feels is predicated off of the scripture, not your own vain philosophy (Col 2:8). The Love of the Most High is not man’s love. The Lord tells us that we must show our love for him by earnestly attempting to adhere to his Word (Deut 30:15, Proverbs 8:17Matt 5:17-19, Luke 10:25, John 14:15, I John 5:3, etc.). No disrespect to you or anyone else but I really don’t give a damn about your “opinion” of the Lord (Prov 16:25). So hypothetically, if God loves everyone, you mean to tell me that he loves murderers and child molesters that are unrepentant? Please. You people with that “no sin is greater” misunderstanding frustrate the grace of Christ (Rom 6:15, Hebrews 10:26). The only reson why people say those things is so that they can justify their acts and acceptance of the ways of this world while still trying to be a man or woman of God. None of us are perfect but you are supposed to aspire to something…anything. That’s negroes problem. At least one of them. Cats are scared to shine.
@48
Who is this, Michael Eric Dyson lmao? That’s the only other negro I’ve seen that can put so many multi-syllabic words together to champion idealism and not make any cogent points whatsoever. First off, homophobia is by no means “Western”. When you analyze the history of the different races, homosexuality was taboo to varying degrees but the white man always has been and always will be the biggest proponent of homosexuality on the face of the earth. He has forced homosexual “tolerance” on all races, so how the hell can he be the bastion of homophobia? I think you just love the white man and don’t want to admit it. You speak of solidarity but solidarity with who? You have to get specific with me because I don’t like slick negroes, lol.
Ignorance is bliss!!!!!!!!!!!
I tell you. Just some facts black women has the highest cases of AIDS and the funny thing is, it is very hard for a women to give a man AIDS which means there are alot of DL men and that is so sad. IF you want to be with men then do it. But in God’s eye it’s a sin and in case some of you forgot “Sodom and Gomorrah”
Repenting means to turn around and go the other way and not to continue to commit sin.
Jesus ransom sacrifice does not apply to those who willfully continue to practice sin.
(Galatians 6:7) 7 Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap.
(Hebrews 10:26-27).For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, 27 but [there is] a certain fearful expectation of judgment and [there is] a fiery jealousy that is going to consume those in opposition.
@JUDAH. I agree with you 100%
Ultimately it comes down to this…being gay, bisexual or lesbian is NOT a choice. Nobody can tell me otherwise because I am gay. Ask yourself, what logical person would honestly wish or choose a lifestyle that has so many negative views attached to it? I can say this because i am a gay man but I also have Jamaican parents. Needless to say, it can be a difficult situation for my family to accept and it’s something we struggle with daily.
Yes, the bible has its opinion on the gay lifestyle, but it also speaks about: 1) Love for God and 2) tolerance and love for all of God’s children. Nobody is without sin, and that is what people are forgetting. All we can do is accept people for who they are and pray that we make it to the other side on judgement day. It’s nobody’s place to judge anybody! It’s fine to have an opinion on the matter, but if you can accept hatred towards gays, why then do you feel like the oppression of black people was wrong? That’s more than just hypocritical, it’s scary. You would think that as a people who know discrimination, we would want to diminish it…regardless if it directly affects you or not. We can’t be selective when it comes to human rights and that’s the bottom line. I have always loved Mary and have a greater respect for her to take a firm stance on the topic.
I have a question for all those who have something negative to say about gay people as well (food for thought for ya’ll asses lol):
1. If the world was switched, meaning Gay relationships were considered “normal” and accepted by the Bible, would you convert from being straight to accomodate society and religion (or any other reason you expect us to switch)?
…and Judah offers an entire rebuttal to a point I never made.
Not once did I say that “homophobia is Western”. I said, and I directly quote:
“it’s time we get over OUR institutionalized homophobia, since a) it’s FUELED by Western ideals”
The point you missed – a point, I must say, highlighted by the MONOSYLLABIC operative words “our” and “fueled” – was that Black people’s internal differences have always kept some of our greatest minds from working together, under the shadow of Lynchism. I’m sure you would agree, now that I’ve specified what was hiding between the lines.
As much as I am not offended by the Dyson comparison, I will say that I am not a Dyson fan…still, it’s hard to find insult in your quip (monosyllabic, but – watch out – it’s a slick one!) since I doubt Dyson is often specific enough to have shown you what it is you’re comparing my stance to, since, by your own assertion, that specificity is what you need. At any rate, I do empathize with him in one of his dilemmas – the lazy American’s lack of any desire to expand his vocabulary.
Obviously some people don’t read the Bible or they have not read it in its entirety because “no sin is greater than another” is just an escape goat to make an excuse for your unrighteous behavior. This behavior is not justified to GOD.!!!!
Question: If this was okay why is it not mentioned in the BIBLE?
@Mallato, first of all sweety I am a female and I’m heterosexual. And when I said “no sin is greater than another” I wasnt using it as a scapegoat. I was just pointing out how “sleeping with someone before marriage” is so common but in your eyes being gay is the ultimate sin.
I love how so called “christians” use the Bible to bash a group of people.
Question: Have you ever engaged in sex before marriage? Be trueful. Cause if you have know that you are no better …………..according to the Bible that is.
*sarcasm* God must not love you either…………………..WELL YOUR GOING TO HELL if you have ever had sex before marriage. See how ridiculous that sounds. It sounds the same way when you all talk about gays going to hell.