Celebs Talk

What some of the big names said during Echo interviews in 2011.

What Celebrities Said in 2011

A look back at some of Echo's interviews with well-known names

When celebrities are promoting an appearance, show or album of interest to the LGBT community, it's not uncommon for them to talk to Echo. Here's a look back on some of our biggest celebrity interviews for the past year.

For a cover story in advance of her appearance at the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner in Phoenix, actress Ana Ortiz, best known for her role on Ugly Betty, talked about the gay Latino community.

"It's important to come out and use that Latin voice. Being gay in the Latin community is such a mixed connotation. We're perceived as this macho culture. There's a huge gay community."

Actor Charlie David was a cover subject when his movie, Judas Kiss, had its premiere at the Phoenix Film Festival.

"The LGBT audience is smart. We are politically minded and forward thinking. Our entertainment needs to reflect that."

Singer/actress Betty Buckley talked to Echo before she brought her show to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

"I think the LGBT community is more open and authentic as to who they really are, because in our society they've had to really claim themselves, so I think that authenticity is at essence what they're about."

Gay icon Lynda Carter, best known as TV's Wonder Woman, was interviewed for a cover story after she was the first celebrity grand marshal for April's Phoenix Pride parade.

"If you believe in God, then you have to believe that he intended to make people the way they are."

Blake Lewis, runner-up on season six of American Idol, talked about why he's popular as a performer at Pride festivals before he headlined the 2011 Phoenix Pride.

"I have a really amazing fan base in the gay community. I think I have a sex appeal that draws many gay boys to my show."

Before tennis legend Billie Jean King came to Phoenix to accept the Arizona Foundation for Women's Sandra Day O'Connor Award, she talked to Echo.

"I have empathy for all. I was straight, I was bisexual and I was gay. The only thing I haven't been is transsexual."

For a story previewing San Diego Pride, comedian Margaret Cho talked about why she enjoys performing at the festivals.

"I love performing at Pride festivals because it's me performing for the people that I love, and my family and my community. The work that I do is what I can contribute to the celebration. I just want to go to every single Pride celebration there is, everywhere they are."

Actor Freddy Smith, who also played a gay role on 90210, talked about his role as Sonny Kiriakis, the first gay character on the daytime soap Days of Our Lives.

"It's a lot of fun to be able to put work into roles. I've drawn from my life and my friends' lives, and that's why I appreciate having a role like this. I understand what people are going through and I want to be able to shed light on what's going on in society."

Dario Singer Dario was promoting headlining at Tucson Pride when he became the subject of a cover story.

"I love my gay audience. For some reason, whenever I do (Pride) shows, the response is a lot different. Everyone is so alive. They love music. The energy is a lot different. They show you a lot of love."

Broadway actress/dancer/singer Bebe Neuwirth, also known as Lilith on the Cheers and Frasier TV shows, was interviewed before she brought her show to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

"Sometimes, when (same-sex) couples come and tell me they just got married and that they wanted to come see me in a show, I find that extremely moving, because marriage for anyone is a big deal. To be included in the celebration of that means a lot to me."

Singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge talked about performing in the Broadway show American Idiot in a cover story before she did a show in the Valley.

"I have a deep love of Broadway. My gay gene is definitely in the Barbra Streisand and Broadway stuff. I love it."

Echo writers who interviewed celebrities this year quoted here include Neil Cohen, Megan Wadding, Cait Brennan, Laura Latzko, Melissa Myers, Kurt Niece and Glenn Gullickson.

Jessica Wild

Drag Race Stars Beat a Path to Phoenix

Phoenix has a vibrant drag scene, which perhaps makes the city a popular destination for queens who have been featured on Logo TV's RuPaul's Drag Race.

Here are what three Drag Race alums told Echo before they made appearances in the Valley.

Jessica Wild talked about how the show has helped the art of drag, before performing with Juju Bee, another former Drag Race contestant, at the Mister and Miss Phoenix Gay Pride pageant.

Raja "RuPaul's Drag Race ... opens a lot of doors to everyone who dedicates themselves to this art and helps others to understand that this is more than just putting on some make-up."

Raja, who won the third season of Drag Race, was interviewed for a cover story before coming to Phoenix for a show.

BeBe Zahara Benet "I used drag to pull myself out of my shyness. My insecurities were hidden behind makeup. Drag was a catalyst to making me a more secure person."

BeBe Zahara Benet, winner of the first season of Drag Race, was interviewed before coming to town to perform at the Rainbows Festival.

"In drag, everything is larger than life. It's all fantasy. We take you to a different place. But at the end of the day, we are just artists."