In an interview with E Online's Marc Malkin, Janet Jackson talks about her support for gay marriage, about looking forward to receiving the GLAAD Vanguard Award from Ellen DeGeneres, and about her devastation over the murder of 15-year-old Lawrence King.

Marc Malkin: Why do you think you're getting the Vanguard Award from GLAAD?
Janet Jackson: I think it's because of the work I have done related to AIDS, and also just the support that I've given them throughout the years. I'm excited.

MM: I actually think Ellen may have a little crush on you. You two had a great rapport when you were on her show.
JJ: I absolutely adore here. She's smart. She's funny. She's fun to be around. I really enjoy her. She's very talented.

MM: It's kind of amazing that when Ellen came out of the closet her sitcom was canceled, but now she's back on top—one of our biggest stars.
JJ: I'm so happy she did do that, because someone had to take that stance...For her to be so courageous and something came out of it much bigger and much better and really positive. It was a shame that they canceled her show once she did that. That's ridiculous...

MM: When did you first realize you were a gay icon?
JJ: I never thought of myself as that, and it never even crossed my mind when people started calling me icon and legend and all this other stuff. I remember I was over in Europe and I called my boyfriend [music megaproducer Jermaine Dupri] once because they had introduced me on a show as a legend, and I said, "You know they introduced me as 'the legendary Janet Jackson', " and he said, "You are." [Laughs.] I never thought of that or looked at myself in that way. But I'll wear the title. I'll own it.

MM: You've said it doesn't bother you if someone says you're gay or bisexual. So if you were, who would be your top three girl crushes?
JJ: I don't know if I have three. I think I would pick Alicia Keys, for sure. I think she's wonderful.

MM: Do you remember the first time someone told you there are rumors out there that you're gay?
JJ: I don't remember the first time, but it's been forever. Someone once said to me, "Doesn't that bother you?" And I was like, Why should it bother me?

MM: What would you do if your boyfriend came home one day and said, "Honey, I've got something to tell you—I'm gay"?
JJ: I'd be upset because I want to be with him [Laughs.]. It's so funny because I joke with him that it drives me crazy to be a girl sometimes, so in my next life I'm going to come back as a guy and [he's] going to be my bitch. But if he liked guys, I would be crushed because I would want to be with him.

MM: The AIDS epidemic started and then we were at the height of it when you started to hit the big time with albums like Rhythm Nation and Control. Do you remember when you first heard about the disease? Was it when you started losing friends?
JJ: I lost a lot of friends. Friends from the show Fame who I had danced with, some of the kids from Nasty, some of the kids who danced with my brothers who I knew. Makeup artists. I lost a lot of friends to AIDS and one who I absolutely adored so much. His name was Jose, and we worked a lot together in Europe. He would put these eyelashes on me that he would make from real hair. His sister would cut her hair so he could make these eyelashes. They were the most beautiful things. He was so much fun to be with. I had heard he was sick and he was passing, and it was just so sad. It's so sad.

MM: Let's talk about gay marriage...
JJ: I think it should be legalized. I think it's about finding your soul mate. It's finding that person you connect with. But most people don't get it right. Look at me! The thing is, I don't know if I ever will or won't get married again. I'm very happy where I am. I just think I jinx marriages, but that's not going to stop me from loving.

MM: You appeared in a PSA to combat hate crimes that was produced after 15-year-old Lawrence King was murdered in February because he was gay. Why was that so important to you?
JJ: That broke my heart. He was finally coming into his own and being himself and being OK with who he was. He was feeling good about that and not living in this shell and pretending to be someone else. He was letting all of that go and saying, "This is me." But being murdered for being who you are, for being real—we were crushed by that.

Last update: 04-23-2008 00:23