Comedian and former Mormon Chelsea Handler is a fan of the gays -- but she’s no Tori Spelling.
Her second book, Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea, may have topped the New York Times best-seller list, but when it comes to gay men, Chelsea Handler prefers bottoms. The brassy star of E!’s late-night chat show Chelsea Lately certainly had a bunch at her beck and call this year as Queen of West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnaval and as host of November’s Out 100 gala in New York City. Here, the 33-year-old New Jersey native encourages stereotypes, Lindsay’s sapphic romance, and overturning Proposition 8.
How do you explain your strong connection with the gay community?
I’m like a gay man trapped in a woman’s body, and that’s exactly why the gays and I get along so well. We have the same attitude, which is “fuck everybody and let’s say exactly what we think.” I understand somebody who doesn’t exactly fit in, somebody who’s struggled or felt embarrassed, ashamed, or not confident in who they are. Growing up, I got tortured and made fun of, but that makes you a lot stronger. And now, obviously, I’m very popular.
When did you first feel love from gays?
When I had sex with my first gay man. It was pretty quick and painless, but I definitely felt it. [Laughs] I was never some fruit fly hanging around with a bunch of gay guys. I always just loved gay people. Now I definitely have friends and people on staff who are gay, but I don’t only hang around gay people. It’s not like I’m trying to be Tori Spelling -- on many levels.
Long before Paris Hilton was searching for a BFF, you interviewed potential gay besties on your previous E! series, The Chelsea Handler Show. What qualities do you look for in a gay pal?
I like bottoms. [Laughs] I don’t like catty gay guys who are like, “She did this and that,” and act like women. It’s like, You’re still a man. Act like a man.
Chelsea Latelyrecently featured an all-gay discussion panel with comics Scott Thompson and Guy Branum, plus singer Justin Tranter. How did it compare to a regular panel?
We did a theme week with a redheaded panel, a black panel, and a fat-ass panel, but “gay day” was definitely the best. Gay people just have a better sense of humor. The kindred spirit thing also lies there.
With which gay celebrity would you most like to grab a drink?
I’m not as much into gay celebrities as I am just into gay people. I like how effusive they are. They’re more fun to be around, they laugh harder, they cry louder, and they do everything with a little more oomph. I grew up in a Jewish family, so there wasn’t a lot of emotion running around.
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