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Photos From the Scene: Inauguration Day

The entertainment industry moves east to D.C. for Barack Obama's inauguration. Advocate.com catches stars including Oprah, Denzel Washington, and Beyoncé.
An Advocate.com exclusive posted January 20, 2009
Photos From the Scene: Inauguration Day

A sea of people, many of them starting their journey as early as 4 in the morning, spilled into the National Mall from directions north, south, east and west to watch Barack Obama become the 44th President of the United States. But over an hour before the President raised his right hand, those from America’s other power base -- the entertainment industry -- moved into place to catch their piece of history. Advocate.com was up front and center to capture some of the biggest names in the business as they claimed their front-row seats to the swearing in.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z mingled with Sean "Diddy" Combs. Oprah swept in with her service detail to cries from the crowd. And Caroline Kennedy, the perfect blend of star power and politics, chatted graciously with passersby.

Make no mistake, though -- Barack Obama has quickly moved beyond political stardom to becoming a full-fledged commodity. Even as some street vendors sold legitimate souvenirs like Obama pins, magnets, T-shirts and even hand puppets, others simply attached his name to whatever they were peddling.

“Getch your Obama water and nuts here,” shouted one man. Water and nuts? And apparently D.C. yoga studios are now capitalizing on Barack’s Obamaessance, as evidenced by the Ohm-bama poster at the end of this photo collage (yes, seeing is believing).

Barack, apparently, is a one-man commercial phenom -- selling like hotcakes even as the rest of the nation’s business withers on the vine. And today, millions of people watched with wonder, hoped beyond reason, and said a little prayer that the new commander-in-chief could sell America on itself again.

INAUGURATION BEYONCE X555 (KERRY ELEVELD) | ADVOCATE.COM
Beyoncé Knowles

INAUGURATION PUFFY SEAN COMBS X555 (KERRY ELEVELD) | ADVOCATE.COM
Sean "Diddy" Combs

 

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Keywords:  Barack Obama 
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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: anthony
    Date posted: 2009-01-25 1:14 PM
    Hometown: dublin ireland

    Comment:

    it's also worth saying that the male celebs you show have been involved in rather bad commets about gay people over their careers, I personally do not like Beyonce, as she's just another Mariah, Whitney whine, she resides in a rap world that is extremly homophobic, ... but hay, where was Ellen, anthony


  • Name: Michael Hanna-Fein
    Date posted: 2009-01-25 1:25 AM
    Hometown: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Comment:

    Hugh, I agree with you completely. I have been a subscriber to the Advocate for over 30 years, and I have noticed that for the past couple of years at least, it has become a bit too celebrity conscious for my liking. I too would have preferred to see some gay leaders, and some of the "ordinary" Americans and people from other countries who traveled to Washington, DC to witness this historic event.


  • Name: Hugh
    Date posted: 2009-01-22 9:28 PM
    Hometown: Providence, RI

    Comment:

    Those are your photos from inauguration? A bunch of celebs? Where are the gay and lesbian leaders? Or just your average folks who traveled to DC to see history made? LGBT families who appreciate the significance of this momentous day. I can see pictures of Beyonce and Jay-Z any day, anywhere. Very disappointing...


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