Big Gay Following: Chelsea Handler

Comedian and former Mormon Chelsea Handler is a fan of the gays -- but she’s no Tori Spelling.

By Brandon Voss

A shorter version of this story appeared in The Advocate December 3, 2008

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 Lately recently 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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Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Name: Spikewebbe
Date posted: 2009-04-21 10:42 PM
Hometown: Boston, MA

Comment:

I came across Chelsea's show by accident a few months ago. I'd heard about her a while ago. I keep meaning to check out her show again but keep forgetting since I have a five thousand channels on my TV and I'm usually watching sports or some movie on HBO. Anyway, she was funny, edgy. I didn't know if her show was a spoof or not. Anyway, I wonder when she'll have her own show on HBO or Showtime, so she can REALLY be outrageous, like Bill Maher. In the mean time I'll have to check my TV listings to find out when the hell her show is on. She's pretty hot looking too. Yeah, Black people are usually late, it's called CPT--as in Colored People Time. Hey, don't bash me; I'm a Black male. Seriously.

Name: matthew
Date posted: 2009-03-10 7:46 PM
Hometown: kendallville

Comment:

i am a fan of chelsea latly and i am for peoples rights and im democrat (mildly) but i think that some times people get to offended if you dont like her or she ofends you then dont whatch her or listen to her be the bigger person dont keep edging it on. i dont think shes a hateful person but some times we need to laugh at our selfs i mean we do it to other people and groups of people BUT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR SELF YOU GET OFFENDED BUT YET YOU THINK ITS OK TO LAUGH AT OTHERS why cant you you laugh at your self too im over wait and i know its no ware close to being gay but i laugh at other things and people and when people laugh at over wait people i laugh along too, I THINK THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE JELOUSE OF HER BECUASE THEY CANT BE HER AND DO THE THINGS THAT SHE DOSE so grow up and get a life shes only human like the rest of us!!!!!!

Name: Jake LaValle
Date posted: 2008-12-12 12:57 AM
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Comment:

Chelsea is a COMEDIAN!! Her job is to be brutally honest and push buttons or say things that most of us think but are afraid to say out loud. If you spent time watching her show, you'd know that she's is the best advocate for self assured, assertive women. She never makes fun of people who are up front and honest about themselves but when someone says: I'm in love with a woman and I'm having sex with her but I'm not a lesbian... well.. it's open season... and it should be. Senator Craig said the same thing and everyone crucified him (rightfully so). Why is it not OK to crucify Lindsay for the same absurd comment? As far as the "catty gay" comment, she's not trying to "uphold gender stereotypes"...she herself breaks a lot of female stereotypes everyday. Her point is that the fact that you're gay does not mean you have to imitate women; which is something that many young gay men do. I agree with her.

Name: Rosario
Date posted: 2008-12-06 2:18 AM
Hometown: Los Angeles

Comment:

Chelsea can be funny-but I Kathy does it better and with more heart. As to Lohan: Can people stop with the pseudo freudian pschycologizing/judging, please? Who cares if she is into women as a whole, or just into one woman (love makes you sexually attracted to someone - a lot of people have had relationships with those they usually wouldnt look twice at). They seem happy, so can we stop making such a big deal about her sexuality – its not like she’s doing the TommyGirl deception act. The girl is all of 22 and apparently its not acceptable unless she proclaims herself a full on gay. And yet people like Ellen and Wanda Sykes who didn't come out before their 30-40 are being annointed to saintlike status? Not to mention the countless others in hollywood who are lurking around in the closet and yet people chose to hate on Lohan? It must be hard to be in your first open same-sex relationship and try to deal with your feelings whilst everyone around you is sticking their oar in.

Name: Colleen
Date posted: 2008-12-05 2:10 AM
Hometown: New York

Comment:

I think Chelsea is hilarious! We can all sit here and say that what she says about Lindsey is mean, but honestly haven't we all thought it? She just has the guts to say it. I don't think in any way Chelsea is trying to undermined bisexually or even Lindsey's relationship, she is making fun of how culture is so concerned with it. I think that Lindsey is doing more damage to herself by denying the significance of the relationship. I mean, it took her 2 years to admit to the relationship and now she won't say she is lesbian/bi. I don't think she truly says anything to offend people, I think she’s making fun of the fact that things get blown out of proportion. I don't think she is a woman-hater either. She caters to an audience! I think we all need to remember that she is a comedian, and the Advocate knew what she is like! I love her show and I am glad to see this interview. It’s unwise to be rude to any of our "true" allies in a time when we’re fighting more than ever for our rights!

Name: Daniel Dawson
Date posted: 2008-12-05 12:44 AM
Hometown: San Diego

Comment:

Chelsea is one of those straight girls that loves gay men but hates on gay women. Its really weird to witness, I mean what is that all about? Similar to Perez Hilton, a gay man who bashes gay women on a regular basis on his silly blog. Its evident in both of them referring consistently to Sam Ronson as a man and as gender confused. That is not funny or especially original. Its just manifesting stereotypes that people should have moved beyond in 2008. I don't know if this shouldn't have been printed but it is a definetly a low point and one of the dumbest posts I have read on this site for awhile. And black people are late-I mean who is "black people"? Is that one unison group? Like the "white people" and the "asians"?

Name: heather roberts
Date posted: 2008-12-04 5:49 PM
Hometown: paramount,ca.

Comment:

Honestly, can no one take a joke anymore or just take a step back before they say something. she is a comedian and the advocate knows what it was getting into when they interviewed her. this is her act. as for her remarks about lindsay, i think there right on point. i think she is really just aimless right now.. not to dimish her relationship with sam. and like chelsa said, it it works for them, than good for them. i also would like to know where they got that she was a woman hater from this article. and why is it that when someone doesn't like a person they have to attack her phsical apperance. how elementary is that. its like saying, "i don't like you, your boring and have big teeth".... whats the point of that comment....

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