Wait, Perez Hilton Is Hispanic Of The Year?
Comments (4)
Perez's Cover, Perez-ized
First, I'd like to congratulate Perez Hilton for being named Hispanic of the Year by Hispanic magazine. In 2009, the celebrity blogger made headlines with his question to Miss California, Carrie Prejean, about same sex marriage. Unsatisfied with her conservative-made-for-Fox-News response, he went on to call her many names, filed under Icky Icky Poo.
I was hoping that if Hispanic Magazine insisted on giving him this honor it would be because of Perez' unapologetic views regarding California's controversial Prop. 8 and the fact that many Latinos continue to live in the closet because of strong religious upbringings or cultural misconceptions of gay lifestyle. I was hoping to read how Perez was challenging the notions of sex, identity and politics and how Perez was putting a fresh face on 2nd and 3rd generation Cuban-Americans who are far more liberal than the Castro refugees of the 1960's who tend to be conservative and Republican. I was hoping for depth, insight, and perspective, but found none.
Without question then, the incredible success of the Cuban-American Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr., a.k.a. Perez Hilton, a.k.a. The Queen of All Media, is noteworthy. The article qualifies the magazine's decision and states that the blogger not only "has as every square inch of Hollywood covered... [but] has branched out over the past year to transform his saucy pseudonym into an enterprise that now spans across other industries including fashion, music, books and advocacy groups."
But really? Hispanic of the Year? For being a "notorious gossiper," as per the magazine byline? I'm not entirely sold. Especially because following the 2008 Presidential election, 2009 has been a remarkable year for Latino/Hispanic achievement.
Forbes magazine on the other hand, has named Perez Hilton the No. 1 Web Celeb two years in a row now and with a website that averages 4.5 million U.S. visitors a month, it's no wonder his site is also a top 500 website.
A 2006 report by the Pew Hispanic Center reports that Latinos comprise 14% of the U.S. adult population and about half of this growing group (56%) goes online. By comparison, 71% of non-Hispanic whites and 60% of non-Hispanic blacks use the internet. However, a new report by the same org suggests that from 2006 to 2008, internet use among Latino adults rose by 10 percentage points, from 54% to 64%.
Perhaps the commenters on Perez Hilton's own site put it best:
Jaded, comment #3 wrote, "I can't believe that they gave you Hispanic of the Year for being nasty, bitchy, and mean and perpetuating eating disorders in women and children."
Laury, comment #61 wrote, "What does it say about society when we give recognition to a man who makes a career out of humiliating and bullying people? If I were you I woudn't be so proud Perez."
Hamdiaz, comment #61 wrote, "I am hispanic and i'm HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY offended they'd award you with a cover on hispanic magazine naming you "hispanic of the year." you've made a career of talking shit about people who don't deserve it, outing closeted gays who haven't even publicly come out yet, bashing those gays who HAVEN'T outed themselves, being a hypocrite... i could go on. you are a terrible role model and your story is not at all inspiring."
Consider who Lavandeira beat out:
• Justice Sonia Sotomayor - 1st Latina Supreme Court Justice. Need I say more? Sotomayor grew up in the housing projects of New York, went on to achieve her American dream and was nominated to serve in the Nation's highest court. She endured a grueling nomination process where her "wise Latina" comment was so rhetorically dissected she was accused of reverse racism. Whatever that means.
• Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis - 1st Latina to hold the post. She fiercely campaigned for Hillary Clinton and then fiercely campaigned for Barack Obama and was rewarded. As the daughter of union members, the 4-term Congresswoman has been a champion of worker's rights and an unapologetic supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act (otherwise known as Card Check), a bill that would allow workers to organize with a lot more ease.
• Astronaut Jose Hernandez - Otherwise known on the Twitter-sphere as @Astro_Jose, this former child migrant farm worker went on to receive a Masters degree in electrical engineering and become one of a handful of Hispanic/Latino astronauts to go into space. He was the first to tweet in both English & Spanish, a first for him, and a first for NASA. He also took a Raiders flag to space. Don't mess with the Raider Nation.
• Comedian George Lopez - Completely selling out the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas with his HBO Special "Tall, Dark and Chicano," GLo, became the first Latino to host a late-night talk show and in its first week, Lopez Tonight averaged 1.6 million viewers and outdelivered the season-to-date averages for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Last Call with Carson Daly. In addition, it outdelivered the season-to-date average for Late Show with David Letterman and the series premiere of The Wanda Sykes Show among adults 18-34.
• Conductor Gustavo Dudamel - At 28, the youngest of any of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Music Directors, Dudamel is hailed as a worldwide sensation and one of the most exciting conductors of our time. Dudamel exemplifies charisma and talent. His artistic flair and excitement have rejuvenated chamber orchestra and opera and has sold out Walt Disney Concert Hall for months to come.
My nominations are largely based on the influence, contributions and change that these individuals have contributed to our society. They inspire the best in us, be it through education, achievement, success, and natural talents. They go beyond being hated by Hollywood for being a notorious gossiper.
Oh well, maybe next year Sonia!
What do you think? Who would you have named as 2009 Hispanic of the Year?
