So here’s a cute little discussion about whether Hollywood studios can legally keep actors and actresses in the closet. And the very easy answer is: Yes, yes they can.
It’s called a “morals clause,” and most stars of television series and even some movies have them. Often, for heterosexual actors, this just means “No getting arrested for beating your wife,” although you’ve got to wonder what Charlie Sheen’s morals clause looks like then. For gay actors, however, maintaining a certain public image can be spelled out in legalese before, say, Matt Bomer signs on to star on USA’s White Collar.
Leslie Gornstein writes at E!: “I talked to an array of people for this story, ranging from well-sourced gossip columnists to top-flight attorneys. And none of them flat-out denied that such contracts exist. In fact, at least one source tells me they do exist, but not necessarily in the explicit way you might think they do. From what I am able to gather, a contract between an agency and an actor may dodge the exact issue of ‘coming out.’ But it might ban other sorts of telltale activities.”
While employers may not be able to wield such control over full-time employees, movie studios are considered independent contractors, and they could argue that portraying a hetero image is crucial to a successful business transaction. Studios can exclude white actors if the role calls for a black actor, and while public acknowledgment of one’s sexuality takes place off screen, we’d love to see studio make the case that public perception is as equally important as what happens in front of the camera.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
John (CA)
Movie studios are racist, sexist, and homophobic. They don’t even try to hide it most of the time. Hollywood has always ignored California’s anti-discrimination laws. Everyone – politicians, judges, the public itself – lets them get away with it too because they bring in a lot of money. That’s the way it works in America.
mike from hollywood
Jeez, this whole article is just BS. Don’t you do any homework at all before printing this sh**?
1. While “morals” clauses certainly exist, being a gay (even if the studio, network, or production company thinks otherwise) is not a breach of such a clause. And even the most conservative bosses wouldn’t dare try to enforce it for fear of massive negative headlines and boycotts.
If some actor claims they lost their contract because of it, they’re probably trying to save to save face over some other breach of their of contract – like bad acting, drugs, domestic abuse … and did I mention bad acting?
2. What is your major malfunction with Matt Bomer? As everyone/anyone within two degrees of separation from Matt Bomer knows, he has in the past and present lived his life as an open gay man. The fact the he’s not inviting the public into his sex life doesn’t mean he’s in the closet, it means he doesn’t think IT’S ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS. AND HE’S CORRECT, IT ISN’T…
CooperComeOUt
Bomer needs to grow a pair of real balls and come out.
Marcus
@mike from hollywood:
Well, you lost me when you made the ridiculous claim that Matt Bomer is openly gay–he isn’t.
He also has a long-term boyfriend and not one, but THREE children, and he’s not open about that either.
BTW, studio execs enforce all kinds of things that would be PR nightmares if made public.
Do they still do it? Yes.
alan brickman
Mike from Hollywood is incredibly naive!!…While you can’t be fired for being gay during your current role….you just won’t get another one….
Clem
I really find it hard to believe that if some really big star came out they’d never work again, e.g., Hugh Jackman
SSCHIEFRSHA
@Clem: Blame the Jews who run Hollywood but then again they only want BANKABLE stars and queer ones DO NOT attract as much audiences. It’s just business! Until the rules change, this is the way it MUST be.
mk
@Clem: It always seems to me the Hollywood closet is more of a product of executives and the business than actors themselves. Gay actors take all the pressure and heat over it from both executives and the public, though.
Executives, especially the gay ones, should grow some balls and take some risks of their own by starting to hire out gay actors a lot more and promoting them as exciting up and coming stars.
CONVERSATION CHAMBER
A morals clause can absolutely keep celebrities closeted. This is *especially* true of sports stars. When some studio or team signs a actor or player, they are creating an image, a “product,” and the signee is agreeing to cultivating that image. If the corporation decides that the ‘star’ did something to contradict the image that they are trying to sell, then there’s gonna be trouble, and the star in question probably wouldn’t have much legal recourse…since THEY agreed to it when they jotted their signature on the contract. That’s why they call it “signing your life away.”
Mark
LOL Hugh Jackman is an open secret but he is not foolish enough to admit to his manager being his partner. I’m sure he loves his wife and children and that’s great. It’s too bad coming out would mean calling all of that a lie to most people and I can appreciate that it isn’t one. What would be the point of him sharing who else he sleeps with if he and his wife already have an arrangement?
hester
I still think Bomer and Jackman should be out. They will be good role models to the younger generation. I am sure they will be more respected afterward. I will.
Most of the people won’t care either way. I am speaking as a straight woman who finds men more attractive if they can just own it up and take it as a man, including being who they really are. I find Ricky Martin sexier after he comes out.
I just hope the media will be more protective of people’s private lives after they come out.
WalkderDC
@ No. 2 · mike from hollywood
You are an idiot. Nobody is trying to pry into Matt Bomers sex life anymore than we care whether Jessica Simpson likes having her nipples tugged or prefers getting eaten out. There is a difference between sexuality and sex life but the fact that you don’t know that shows that you have complete bought in to Hollywoods homophobia, you are a sad example.
I don’t care what happens to Matt Bomer in bed, but he should have the balls to do what ever other person does, thank their boyfriend, girlfriend or wife at an award, bring a date to a restuarnt, hold hands in public and so on.
Your statement on morals clauses is bullshit and anybody who is from Hollywood would really know this. When you are told verbally by your publicist that if you come out they will fire you, it doesn’t need to be in writing now does it? However, there are morals clauses that state things as vaguely as “Something that would upset a large number of the potential audience”. And the studios say that homosexuality fits in with that. Maybe you just have never gotten a big enough job that you would know that.
AS for Matt Bomer being out…yeah, so was Ricky Marten 10 years ago huh?
JamesLA
Queerty must be in need of some additional advertising revenue: Solution – run a bogus Bomer post to generate site hits and a few hundred comments, most from the same 4 or 5 queerty regulars who bs back and forth with gibberish. Would be fine if this was ‘new’ news and queerty was actually relevant, but queerty is not so it’s actually kind of tragic. The business end of h’wood is quite homophobic and Mr. B is managing his career perfectly at this point. With his talent and looks he is headed for better than ensemble roles, gay roles, theater, award show presenting, etc.
DC Dave
I guess being the most gorgeous man in show biz has is drawbacks – a monthly q-post to drum up ratings.Why don’t we see regular speculation posts and gay morale outrage at the countless other actors in this similar situation – Zack, Zach, Queen L, Kelly, Lee P, Tom, John T., Wil S. etc.?
Queerty is obsessed with Jarret Barrios. ZZZ. (John from England)
@mk: @hester:
You would think so but look at MK’s point which is so apt. Also I’ve been saying this when Queerty were acting like creeps about this Bomer thing and it became too personal so I stopped commenting.
But the bottom line is that this guy is a product. A product that make sa lot of money for the studio, pr agency, writers, directors etc anyone who has invested in making the product a star
And as MK says’ to top it off you havea bunch of major self hating probably gay short not so hot jewish executives who ran the place and they’ll be damned if anyone is ever going to live a life not riddled with major issues and self esteem issues.
I remember watching this really good doc about how agents hate their stars and have this really weird love/hate relationship because a lot of them wanted to be actors/actresses/singers but were not cute enough.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
How many of the agents, producers, directors, etc. who create these clauses and “persuade” the actors to sign them are themselves Gay? What a bunch of disgusting scumbags! They are no better than the Gay politicians who vote against Gay marriage and equal rights. Supressing and denying the rights of your own, for financial gain. Every single one of them should be outed as loudly and publicly as possible….
jason
Here we are complaining about the Religious Right trying to suppress us yet here in our own backyard are the people who are supposed to be our friends – ie Hollywood – stabbing us in the back. Doesn’t it make you sick?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Hollywood is about the marketing of heterosexual fantasy. The allowances for us gays have been minimal and sparse. Hollywood doesn’t really like us.
Perhaps what we should do is embark on a campaign to bring down Hollywood. A coalition between us gays and the Christians who refer to it as Hollyweird – now that would be a powerful coalition.
jason
I truly believe that we in the gay community have the power to bring down Hollywood. We can start by putting homophobia-enabling studio heads on a black-list. Pin their names up in every gay bar in town. If we don’t know who they are now, we’ll eventually find out.
Same goes for the agents who represent the actors. Let’s find their names and ring them up. Let’s ask them what their position is regarding homophobia. We know that the heterosexual illusion is their cash cow but we certainly aren’t going to put up with the active suppression of the homosexual actor.
Sarah
I think a lot of it has to do with each’s perception of ‘out’ vs. ‘private’.On occasion see he and his family out at Gelsons,Coffee Bean etc. = quite public for years.If you want to attack the system,that’s great but don’t attack people working hard trying to establish a career.Would love to see Matt soar in his career and then a ‘by the way’ public comment when he is at his peak.Since he appears to be such a good guy to begin with,he would make a great ‘out’ actor when his time is right.
mike from hollywood
sorry guys, I stand by my comments, with no apologies.
to Marcus:
You claim that it is “ridiculous” that Matt Bomer is openly gay and then state that Bomer has a long-term BF. I would argue the reason you know about Matt’s long-term BF is because they’ve never tried to hide it.
As for the “THREE” (what’s up with the CAPS?) kids, how does that possibly relate to being in the closet? Lots of gay guys have kids, for all kinds of different reasons.
to WalkderDC:
I’m not an idiot. Hollywood is literally and figuratively a very small town, as I’m sure you know. I am friends with many gay actors, as well as other industry-employed gays/lesbians, and many, many, of them are both very very open and very very successful.
And you’re simply wrong about the morals clauses. I’ve had the unfortunate acquaintance of many of homophobic assholes in all aspects of this industry, and trust me, they know (and yes, sometimes hate) the lines they simply cannot cross these days.
Sure, some gays and lesbians in the industry feel, accurately, that coming out will hurt their careers. But this is true in almost every profession, and reason for this kind of fear is homophobia in general, not morals clauses.
Your problem seems to be that guys like Matt Bomer don’t live by your specific definition “out” and “open.”
(PS – Publicists are like every other leech in this industry, they don’t want their client to do anything – bad movies, coming out, divorce, drugs, affairs, DUI’s, and the list goes on – that might hurt their own income. It’s called “branding” and they never want to see their clients go “off-brand.)
Mike in Asheville, nee "in Brooklyn"
@No. 7 · SSCHIEFRSHA
WOW. At the time I am writing this, over 3100 people viewed this post, and yet only 5 people gave a “Thumbs Down” to this outrageous anti semite and his grotesque anti semitic bullshit. And 2 people actually gave this shithead “Thumbs Ups”.
The gay/lesbian community has a long way to go within its own ranks with its own bigots, racists, anti semites, xenophobics; our very own versions of Teabaggers.
Great, the Catholic Church blames the “gays” for their pedophiles; the the LGBT blames the “Jews” for keeping us in the closet? WTF. Not being Jewish, I guess my time will come when someone wants to blame the Dutch/Hindu/Welsh/Hungarian mongrels like me.
Cam
No. 20 · mike from hollywood
to WalkderDC:
I’m not an idiot. Hollywood is literally and figuratively a very small town, as I’m sure you know. I am friends with many gay actors, as well as other industry-employed gays/lesbians, and many, many, of them are both very very open and very very successful.
___________________
Mike, people are not “Open” when their entire job is all about image and publity, and yet while everybody else is talking about their relationships to get space in PEOPLE magazine, they are keeping quiet or lying about it. I know that it doesn’t fit in with your beliefs, but I swear I think of these people as colaborators. They are like the woman (Phyllis Schafley) and the women of the Mormon church that fought against the Equal Rights Amendment, they are like the blacks that thought that the people pushing for civil rights were obnoxious and pushy. I’m sorry, but they are actually getting treated better than the hetro stars. Hell, Every hetro star gets every aspect of their life reported on. But hey, the gossip mags either completely lay off the closeted stars through agreemetns with studios or publicists, or they actually print the phony press releases that publicists put out connecting their gay clients with other opposit sex gay clients.
Nobody can tell me that when the magazines were reporting that Michelle Rodriguez was supposedly dating Vin Diesel that they weren’t laughing in the room as they were putting that little gem in print.
Spence
I figured it’s about time for the monthly silly queerty post on this hotty that actually has brains and talent, so once again I will say his personal life is none of our business.Live your own life people, he doesn’t owe us anything but to do his acting job well which he does very well…
Cam
No. 23 · Spence
I figured it’s about time for the monthly silly queerty post on this hotty that actually has brains and talent, so once again I will say his personal life is none of our business.Live your own life people, he doesn’t owe us anything but to do his acting job well which he does very well…
_________________________
Sure, and why should the black person in 1950 who had a decent job and enough money to live have given a shit about their brothers and sisters who were living hand to mouth, didn’t have their lives and were being held down. Of course not, as long as this guy is comfortable, then why should he care that he is supporting a bigoted corrupt system? Please explain to me how he is any different than John McCains gay chief of staf who supports the work of somebody holding the community down?
mike from hollywood
@Cam:
Cam, you’re not wrong, but neither are you right. It’s the problem with generalizations.
Let’s look at actor David Hyde Pierce and writer Brian Hargrove, David’s partner/husband of 20+ years.
When he was a struggling actor, working hard for the occasional bit part (remember “Crossing Delancey”?), he and Brian lived their lives openly.
From a hand-to-mouth existence in small apt in Hollywood to big-time careers, they never retreated to the closet, were always seen (as are Matt Bomer and his partner) together, whether at big charity events or small local restaurants.
That the media chose not to report on this or publish photos of them is in no way their fault.
Yet, as David’s fame grew, so did ravenous and outrageous (attempted) intrusions into their personal/private lives. David was criticized for not being as “out” as a lot of people wanted him to be. Yet he and Brian always lived openly and with integrity, even when choosing maintain a certain degree of personal privacy.
While there are certainly collaborators in the biz, to label guys like Brian and David “collaborators” would be cruel, insulting, and inaccurate.
I wouldn’t label anyone with such a cruel term without knowing their whole story. And we need to remember that these guys are entitled to a private lives, as are all of us.
Cam
@No. 25 · mike from hollywood said…
“Yet, as David’s fame grew, so did ravenous and outrageous (attempted) intrusions into their personal/private lives. David was criticized for not being as “out” as a lot of people wanted him to be. Yet he and Brian always lived openly and with integrity, even when choosing maintain a certain degree of personal privacy.”
_____________________________________________
You are trying to parse words to fit within the homophobic definitions of hollywood. If David was so “Out” at the time, then why di he feel the need to “Come Out” recently? He was a star of a long running immensly popular series. Additionally, if he was “Out” then why was the fact that a minor character on the show being gay trumpeted all across the press? If Pierce was so “Out” then wouldn’t the reports that the actor playing the character of “Bulldog” was gay, been merely a sidenote to the fact that one of the four leads in the series was himself gay?
You sated that “”Yet, as David’s fame grew, so did ravenous and outrageous (attempted) intrusions into their personal/private lives.”
And how is this different than what every single straight actor goes through? You can use hyperbole all you want, but if David and his partner were a happy monogomous couple, then explain exactly where the danger was in doing an interview? Why is it ok for Kelsey Grammer and his wife to go on TV and talk about the fact that she has breast implants and suffers from irritable bowel syndrom, and yet somehow asking David Hyde Pierce to admit that he is in a relationship is a “Ravenous and Outrageous” attack on his privacy? It’s only outrageous if the person is a self hating closet case. The fact that the mainstreem press/gossip magazines etc… NEVER ran a profile on him as gay, even though as you state it was well known would put the lie to your words that the press was intrusive. If they were, they would have outed him.
David Ehrenstein
What a crappy silly article. “Contrxts”? It is to laugh. As the closet crumbles phobes and KAPOS stuggle mightily to glue it together.
Well it won’t work.
mike from hollywood
@Cam:
I guess we disagree on what “out” means. David didn’t recently come out, he’s always been out. You simply don’t approve of the way, and the timing, in which he’s publicly handled his personal life and the timing thereof.
“Ravenous and outrageous” refers to finding out that the press and so-called fans have been going through your mail, have been sneaking into your back yard, have taken pictures of your young kids at their schools and published them without your approval, etc etc.
In the end, it doesn’t matter why David and Brian, who are indeed a happy couple who believe in monogamy, never gave the interview you wanted to see. It’s their lives, it’s their choice.
To me, you sound like someone who has come to believe that someone’s fame somehow entitles you to judge their personal decisions. I don’t think that’s fair or right.
Kelsey may choose to to discuss breast implants and irritable bowel syndrome on The View (or wherever, glad I missed it, wherever is was!)
Dan Butler (Bulldog) has actually joked that he came out as gay as a career move, and that he’s actually straight.
The point being, from the Starbucks barrista to the movie star, everyone should be able to operate their personal life on their own terms, not yours.*
* The big exception in my mind are closeted homophobes – public or private persons alike – who are actively and publicly fighting against gay equality.
mike from hollywood
one more thing, then I actually have to do some work that pays!
To the same extent that there are a bunch of homophobes in Hollywood, there is also, thank god, the Velvet Mafia …. and many gay/lesbian people in the industry have been given their ‘big break’ because of it. (Ask Matt Bomer!)
If nothing else, let us remember to stick together.
Cam
No. 28 · mike from hollywood
@Cam:
I guess we disagree on what “out” means. David didn’t recently come out, he’s always been out. You simply don’t approve of the way, and the timing, in which he’s publicly handled his personal life and the timing thereof.
___________________________
You see Mike, this is where you lose credibility, the following is from an After Elton article from 2007….
“”A publicist for David Hyde Pierce yesterday confirmed for AfterElton.com that Pierce is gay and in a long term relationship with Brian Hargrove, a writer/producer/director in Hollywood. Speculation had long swirled around the actor who found fame playing Niles Crane for twelve years on the long running sitcom Frasier.
Pierce had frequently been asked about his private life, but always declined to discuss it. In an interview in the fall of 1993, a reporter for Emmy Magazine asked Pierce about the issue and was told, “Basically, I don’t talk about my personal life.” That was the stance he continued to adhere to over the years.””
So no, he wasn’t out. And additionally, you can claim that the press etc.. was supposedly going through his trash, but again, isn’t it funny that he was supposedly so “Out” and yet the “Ravenous” press never once published a story about he and his boyfriend.
Cam
No. 29 · mike from hollywood
one more thing, then I actually have to do some work that pays!
To the same extent that there are a bunch of homophobes in Hollywood, there is also, thank god, the Velvet Mafia …. and many gay/lesbian people in the industry have been given their ‘big break’ because of it. (Ask Matt Bomer!)
___________________________
How nice that there is a tight little cabal of collaborators, willing to give a boy toy a break as long as he doesn’t rock the boat by doing something so horrible as being open and honest about who he is. Whew! What a relief!
AxelDC
Are actors “married” if they refuse to make their marriages public knowledge?
Patrick
So glad Cam is here with so much time on his hands to tell all of us as well as all of hollywood how we should behave and conform.What would we do without him?Name calling people in show business and repsonders to this site you don’t know from adam is so juvenile.Good thing no one of any importance in the biz actually takes to heart any of the hateful silly rants on this site.Maybe he should volunteer or something to fill the void.
Cam
No. 33 · Patrick
So glad Cam is here with so much time on his hands to tell all of us as well as all of hollywood how we should behave and conform.What would we do without him?Name calling people in show business and repsonders to this site you don’t know from adam is so juvenile.Good thing no one of any importance in the biz actually takes to heart any of the hateful silly rants on this site.Maybe he should volunteer or something to fill the void.
___________________________
The typical bitter response of somebody who’s view of themselves takes a beating when confronted by the real world. No, by all means Patrick, go back to your little dinner party and congratulate each other on just how “Out” you are, as you hide your sexuality, duck questions, and talk about your mythical girlfriends. Leave the real activity to the people like Lt. Choi and people protesting Congress, or perhaps to groups like HRC if you believe that their efforts work. Have no fear, others will go out get your rights and make the world a better place for you. Far be it for anybody from Hollywood to do anything more than continually congratulate themselves over nothing.
mike from hollywood
@Cam:
wow, Cam, settle down a bit.
the “Velvet Mafia” is a collective term, not some “tight little cabal” … it’s all of us, looking out for each other.
The “mafia” is those of us – some a step or two further up the ladder, some of us who are at the top of ladder – who are reaching a hand back.
It’s making sure that a kid who wants to be a PA gets a shot; that film school grads get their work looked at for a film festival; it’s introducing a would-be actor to a would-be director and to a would-be screenplay writer and hoping something magic happens; it’s recognizing that all of us at one point or another may lose an opportunity because we’re gay/lesbian, and then trying to find a way to overcome the odds.
Live and let live, dude.
Cam
No. 35 · mike from hollywood
@Cam:
wow, Cam, settle down a bit.
the “Velvet Mafia” is a collective term, not some “tight little cabal” … it’s all of us, looking out for each other.
The “mafia” is those of us – some a step or two further up the ladder, some of us who are at the top of ladder – who are reaching a hand back.
It’s making sure that a kid who wants to be a PA gets a shot; that film school grads get their work looked at for a film festival; it’s introducing a would-be actor to a would-be director and to a would-be screenplay writer and hoping something magic happens; it’s recognizing that all of us at one point or another may lose an opportunity because we’re gay/lesbian, and then trying to find a way to overcome the odds.
_______________________________
And perhaps overcoming those odds wouldn’t still be so difficult if a few of you had had the balls to come out instead of being grateful that you get to work in the house instead of out in the fields.
Pickles
If Matt Bomer is gay and if he came out, the gay community and media would still bitch about how it’s “not interesting” and “everybody already knew” and “what’s the point” just like they have with Ricky Martin and Sean Hayes. Yes Sean Hayes was bitchy and bitter but he had a point. Folks want the announcement it seems just so they can then rip whomever the celebrity is apart for making the announcement.
I don’t get it, when someone in Hollywood is known to be gay and is living an out, non-bearded, non-closeted life but doesn’t do a public announcement everyone says they are closeted and claims they need to come out publicly and announce it in some publication or interview.
Then when they actually DO announce it, everyone get’s bitchy about the fact that they didn’t do it soon enough or it’s old news or who cares or “why do they need to make a big deal about it”
I mean Ricky Martin got a standing ovation at the Billboard awards for his bravery and as a show of support for doing something that folks claim he didn’t need to do because it was soo obvious that he was gay but then the same gay medial mocked and ridiculed him for not doing so earlier in his career.
The issue applies to lots of gay celebs I think.
It makes no sense.
Cam
No. 37 · Pickles
If Matt Bomer is gay and if he came out, the gay community and media would still bitch about how it’s “not interesting” and “everybody already knew” and “what’s the point” just like they have with Ricky Martin and Sean Hayes. Yes Sean Hayes was bitchy and bitter but he had a point. Folks want the announcement it seems just so they can then rip whomever the celebrity is apart for making the announcement.
I don’t get it, when someone in Hollywood is known to be gay and is living an out, non-bearded, non-closeted life but doesn’t do a public announcement everyone says they are closeted and claims they need to come out publicly and announce it in some publication or interview.
Then when they actually DO announce it, everyone get’s bitchy about the fact that they didn’t do it soon enough or it’s old news or who cares or “why do they need to make a big deal about it”
I mean Ricky Martin got a standing ovation at the Billboard awards for his bravery and as a show of support for doing something that folks claim he didn’t need to do because it was soo obvious that he was gay but then the same gay medial mocked and ridiculed him for not doing so earlier in his career.
The issue applies to lots of gay celebs I think.
It makes no sense.
____________________________-
Oh please, I was wondering when one of you would try the old “But if they came out the gay community wouldn’t support them anyways….
Yeah, because the gay community sure doesn’t suuport Ellen or Neil Patrick Harris do we? Even Clay Aiken is speaking at HRC events. They are not living non-bearded non-closetred lives when they act ashamed about who they are and hide the people most important in their lives. Ricky Martin was boring because he came out ten years after nobody in the U.S. remembered him. If Matt Bomer came out with a current show in TV, the gay community would jump up to support the guy. But again, say whatever you have to to make youself feel better about being part of the problem.
jason
This notion of a “morals clause” bugs me. The homosexual orientation is not a moral issue. I can justify a morals clause being applied to a homosexual actor who has sex with strangers in dark parks, but certainly not to the homosexual orientation per se.
It appears this “morals clause” is being applied by Hollywood to something that is not a moral issue (ie the homosexual orientation). If so, it’s time to name the people who are engaging in this overt homophobia, including the actors themselves who sign such contracts.
B
No. 21 · Mike in Asheville, nee “in Brooklyn” wrote, “@No. 7 · SSCHIEFRSHA WOW. At the time I am writing this, over 3100 people viewed this post, and yet only 5 people gave a “Thumbs Down” to this outrageous anti semite and his grotesque anti semitic bullshit.”
Well, what do you expect to see happening when QUEERTY hides a post after a small number of negative comments about it? Most of those 3100 people probably didn’t bother to view No. 7 (of course, after you mentioned it, probably a few more have as the number of negative ratings is currently up to 12).
Geoff
I like Matt,he’s a great actor.Like many millions of others,I enjoy his show and he is obviously nice to look at to boot.I was drawn to this post via a google.Upon reading through the comments,I drew the attention of my loving partner of many years to the comments – he is a psychologist.He initially laughed at many of the fire and brimstone posts.He did however become serious and said those most critical here should be not be giving advice so freely since much of it is inappropriate as coming out is one of the most deeply personal things a gay person has to accomplish in life.To each his own timeline.Food for thought.
Joey O'H
Matt Bomer is pretty much out! He and his partner have kids. When he’s asked he dosen’t deny it. He does not deny being gay nor does he announce it. Why is it so important that celebs like Anderson Cooper and Matt Bomer come out publicly? They are basically out. They are out with their partners, photographed on the streets. Reported on websites such as Queerty. They wish not to speak about their personal lives in public. Hell, straight celebs do that now. So, what’s the difference?
We know they are in the glass closet, they don’t hide it. I’m not a fan of pushing someone out of the closet. I still remember what is what like for me and I had to do it when I was ready and on my terms.
Joey O'H
And how do we know Hugh Jackman is really gay? Open secret? Open secret to who? Who here really knows that Jackman and his business partner are lovers?
WalkderDC
I see the publicists had all of their temps come on here to type out the typical defenses of hollywoods homophobia.
Oh, they’re actually out! They um, just haven’t told anybody.
Well, it’s all about their privacy, you know, it’s nobodys business that they do gross things like go home to a partner of several years.
Please, give me a break.
Sam K
Matt is so fine,what he does in his personal life is moot…
Marcus
@Joey O’H:
Wow. I work in entertainment, and Hugh & I have mutual friends, unbeknownst to him, mind you, and we all know he’s gay gay gay.
It was hardly a secret when he and the business partner starting wearing matching rings and it was even less when Hugh moved the partner into his house. The partner goes on vacations with him and everything.
DJR
Nothing like a post of this stud to get a bunch of old queens in a lather, so fun to watch, thanks Q.
SSCHIEFRSHA
@Marcus: You are dribbling vilifications out of the corners of your mouth! Where are Jackman’s Legal Counselors? Be CAREFUL who you slander. Do they not require employees within such close proximity to sign confidentiality agreements anymore?
Marcus
@SSCHIEFRSHA:
I’m just going to assume you’re joking and move on. LOL
Peter Saxe
The problem with all of this is, that the status of being a homosexual is not a morals issue legally. It’s one thing if someone rapes someone or commits an actual crime.
Do these contracts define what a morals violation is? Now that the Supreme Court has struck down all sodomy laws, homosexuality, or any homosexual acts are no longer illegal…
Eventually, an actor is going to be penalized by a morals clause and take the issue to court and then we will see the end of these things… Plus, I don’t really think the studios want to be seen as being homophobic..
Soupy
Jeez, I’m glad I’m not pretty enough to be a leading man. We character actors can be as out as we want!
mystic
Everyone is discussing homophobia in Hollywood as if that is the only form of discrimination in this country.I emigrated to the US and became a plastic surgeon in the 60s.No one told me that
the medical business in America was homophobic but I sure found out that it was. I recall scrubbing as a surgical resident
with my director of plastic surgery in Manhattan long ago and not realising I was gay, he badmouthed another plastic surgeon for being “fay” and boasted that he had never ever approved him for being qualified to get his Board exams, even though the other surgeon was a highly competent. The director had enormous influence since he also was on the committee for the board examinations. Being young and vulnerable then, I kept this secret which I regret to this day.
He f* well had blackballed the guy who died several years later, I suspect related to depression. I consider homophobia almost a national attribute. Americans don’t like to be told they are discriminatory but they are amongst the most bigoted and racist nations on earth.Just ask any black. It’s not just about money.
Hollywood is just so overt because it is so public.
Amy
Are you all f*cking stupid?
If Matt Bomer decided to come out shouting ‘I’m gay! I’m gay!’ he’d lose like, what, half of his female demographic?
No woman wants to fantasize about a gay man = if the studios want to target the female demographic, they will hire a straight/closeted actor.
Simple.
Why didn’t they just do this in the first place? I think the fact that Matt Bomer’s queer is an open secret at this stage — I know no one’s game enough to say it, but being gay and out in Hollywood IS a surefire way to irreparably damage one’s career. Sorry.
Marcus
@Amy:
Being gay and out has hardly hurt ANYONE who has come out in the Entertainment Industry except Cheryl Wright and you know it.
Bomer’s gayness is hardly a secret. Start typing his name on Google all it’s “matt bomer gay, matt bomer boyfriend.” People know and don’t care. YOU might care, and his publicist might as well, doesn’t mean the rest of the world does.
Jean luc Capri
Yes Matt Bomer lacks testicular fortitude. I have been urgimg him to come out, but his boyfriend and PR executive Simon Halls, is not allowing him to do so. Matt however has been open about his three children, but not how he got them. As apart of his new hetero immage, he has been posing and singing with a lot of women lately. But as the old Italian saying goes “L’abito no fa il monaco” = “Clothes don’t make u a monk!”
Stace
Unfortunately, progessive ideals don’t translate into ratings. Or read as “normal” to middle america. Yes its wrong. Yes if he’s gay, he should do whatever the hell he wants without reprisal, but unless you’re an interesting but ultimately “harmless” lesbian, american culture is both offended and frightened of you. Do what you can in your personal life to change it. Don’t rely on spineless tv actors. Or watch them!
Jean Luc Capri
Stace, unfortunately is right! Actors who rely on their physiognomics assets to captivate audience (female in this instance), rather then their actings talents, do need to keep thier sexuall orientation to themselves, for fear of losing ratings and leading acting roles.
Matt Bomer, takes advantages of his fans physiognomic proclevities for sure, but his uncertainty about his acting assets, impells him to stay in the closet. Actors with “mature” acting career are more willing to come in the open.
Dr. JL Capri of the Ann and Bonier Founadtions, commissioned a study and survey in exactly this topic. The results are astounding and give veracity to the entertaining ecutives that it is best to keep you homosexuality furtive.
We will post results of this survey on this topic soon.
Abientot
Dr. JL Capri
Bomer
If he is willing to sign a contract that prohibits him from coming out publicly during the contract period, who gives a shit? That is his business (literally, it is his living). He is more than free to walk away from such an agreement, whether implicit or explicit in the contract, and he likely chose to accept. If that’s what he wants, good for him. I would like to think that we are past the point when it is mandatory to wear the pink triangle in public.
Jean Luc Capri
@ Bomer et all
My understanding is that actor are not willing to sign up for such a contract, they are coreced to do it!
The issue is not the demand for gays to wear a pink trinagle, no one is asking it, what we are demanding is to put an end such kind of discriminations. Matt Bomer, confident of acting skills, was willing to keep his sexual orientation open, he was precluded to so by such a contract.
It basically comes down to the old asage “Im willing to pay any price for an egg but I need to knwo if the egg is rotten.” This is the basis of commercial and consumer law in the USA
My recent survey conducted by the Ann& Bonier Foundations revealed that 39% of Matt Bomer fans were heartobroken once we reveled to the respondets that he was gay and in a relationship with a man! 19% were some what dissapointed and the rest didn’t give a shit!
Charge whatever you want for the egg mate, but people need to know and have the right to know of its fresheness!
jean luc capri
Are gay actors in leading roles, wiiling to sing a contract with the big entertaining houses hiding their sexual orientations?
Our understanding is that actors are not willing to sign up for such a contract, they are coerced to do so!
The issue here is not the demand for gays actors to wear a pink trinagle, no one is asking for it. What we at the Ann& Bonier Foundations are asking, is to put an end to such kind of discriminations based on sexual orientation. The particular actor who was used for this survey was confident of his acting skills, he was willing to keep his sexual orientation open. He was precluded to so by such a contract.
The big enterteining companies are deceiving consumers, in practice, by depriving them of the true sexual orientation of a particular actor playing a leading role!
It basically comes down to the old asage “I’m willing to pay any price for an egg but I need to know if the egg is rotten.” This is the basis of commercial and consumer law in the USA and in the whole English speaking world!
The recent survey conducted by the Ann& Bonier Foundations revealed that 39% of this particular actor’s fans were heartobroken, once it was reveled to the respondents that the actor in question was gay and (Oh my God!) in a satdy relationship with a man! 19% were some what dissapointed and the rest didn’t give a shit!
Charge whatever you want for the egg mate, but people need to know and have the right to know of its fresheness!
Per Dr. Jean Luc Jeanluc Capri
All Copyrights Reserved
jean luc capri
Im dedicating this poem to all my gay friends!
Why suppress your palpitating feeling?
It deprives the life of any meanings
Remove that façade on your faces
Open yourself with courage and grace
Let us not be intimidated by fear,
Nor be deterred by the collective sneer
For the rewards are lasting and intense
Love’s endurance will conquer the immense
Hide you not, remove that irrelevant veil
Expose your physiognomic without a plaque
Courage is the antibody that will prevail
It’ll forever kill the homophobic plague
Dr. Jean Luc Capri
All Copyrights Reserved
ShowMeGuy
Funny how the bosses in the *make believe* business do not understand the concept of *acting*.
Here I was thinking that actors in a role are just doing their job……as ACTORS. Who they are in real life has nothing to do with the acting roles they play in movies and tv.
That dude in a wheelchair on GLEE….wait for it…..isn’t really crippled. He can stand and walk. He’s just acting like a character who is wheelchair mobile.
mystic9121
If he wanted to appear in Hollwood movies, Rahm Emmanuel would have to sign a contract that he does not appear in point shoes in a tutu, and he has refused claiming he never goes anywhere without being en pointe!! That’s why he left the White House–distracting everyone in his tutu pirouetting to and from the Oval Office.
Clementine
What a flipping JOKE! How much did Smutville studios pay ya’ll for this one? Sine when did Smutville have one ounce of concern to express any need for morality? If it weren’t for Smutville’s FALSE continual degradation and perverted image of mankind, your “homosexual agenda” would still be on Haite street scratching (and probably licking) it’s ass trying to figure out how on earth they can replace all their dead from AIDS?
Morals, huh! What an absolute flippin JOKE!
Yes, this proves it, SMUTVILE IS DEFINITELY partnering with vilest of entities to make sure and continue its weakening of the United States in every perverted way they can.
jeanluc capri
@clementine
Your comments are a perversion from the average tolerant US citizen. Indeed, the United States is weakened by ignorant,uneducated, sanctimonious, and norrowminded people like you!
Barbara
I am straight, think Matt is the most gorgeous man on tv, have known he was gay since the beginning of White Collar, did not know he had a beautiful singing voice until a few months ago, and who cares, he is still eye candy.
notmydrugofchoice
Just be kind, I would volunteer to keep a couple of gay actors in my closet
Paul Lynde
@John (CA): Agreed. Great example was BB Mountain. Ain’t no way those fat, old men in Hollywood would ever let a masterpiece like BBMountain win Best Picture. And so , it didnt.
Rich O'Neil
Of course you can’t come out as a gay leading man and expect to have a career-not yet anyway. To think so is hopelessly naive. Look at Justin Timberlake-who is recently doing some roantic leads-if he aint gay-neither am I.
Terry Jackson
@Mike in Asheville, nee “in Brooklyn”:
I understand what you’re saying, but I’ve gotten used to reading through and past the anti-Semitic remarks involving Hollwood’s elite. When you read a remark, it’s always best to employ the principal of charity, which means to decide for yourself that you will interpret any remark in the most positive manner possible. In this case, nothing anti-Semitic was said. The commenter wanted to make a point of singling out those who are in charge. For the most part, it is true that Jews are in charge of Hollywood; this is, of course, only if you want to point to one group. If there is another pre-eminent group holding more power in Hollywood than Jews, what group is it? Finally, as a self-admitted gentile, you might not know that referring to a group of Jews as “Jews” is in no way offensive. A group of Jewish people are, indeed, Jews.
So, if one person decides that those running Hollywood should be held accountable for what goes on in Hollywood, that’s fair, isn’t it? And if those people tend to be Jews, it would stand to reason that Hollywood Jews are to blame for the sorts of contracts that keep actors from being able to live their lives out and proud, right?
I understand if you want to live in a PC world where people can’t say anything that might offend others. However, that sort of world would be a dangerous one; we should be able to call out those in power who make decisions that take power away from others. Instead of getting upset about such a statement, maybe the correct action needs to be that we, as a group, determine whether or not powerful Hollywood Jews are sending their talent down a path of self-hatred that can lead to dependence on drugs and family building that is deemed necessary to hold together a lie they’ve been told must be maintained in order to build a successful and long-lasting career?
[email protected]
Darzan
….there’s something that really ought to be mentioned here. Although I agree with some of these other comments I need to point out that the bulk of Hollywood studio bosses are the actual homosexuals themselves!
You see; we’re meant to feel that there is such unfairness in the movie business, ie: don’t tell people just as you start a career, it’s fatal. Or if you announce you’re gay and you’re already a famous actor!!! IT’S CURTAINS!
The strange part is the gay world does not sell, in the Film industry, full stop. Sadly the world still is in fear of homosexuality. Men feel threaten by it and women scorn it because it doesn’t involve them. This society is really extremely sexist and certain people are liars saying life has got better for gays. It looks as if things have got better but have they??
Little Kiwi
I’ve never understood the “if people know you’re gay then women won’t fantasize about you anymore” excuses.
I mean, do these women out there think that they have a chance with george clooney, because he’s straight? him being gay (sigh, i wish, right?) wouldn’t be the reason they have no chance with him – him being george clooney and them being fat middle-americans in the check-out line of the local Piggly-Wiggly is what would stop them from being together.
“oh, no! He’s gay! Now I can’t love him anymore!” whatever. makes no sense.
that said, these contracts are indeed real. i used to host a youth program and was told by a producer to “lose my lisp”.
“I don’t have a lisp,” I replied. “You know what I mean…”, he said.
So I showed up to work the next week in leather pants. you can’t keep me down, dudes.
Robert in NYC
David Hyde-Pierce is hardly box office, not a movie actor. Ruper Everett, like him or not, was right on the money when he called out Hollywood on institutionalized homophobia because that’s just what it is and what it’s always been and what it will always be, unless the younger generation of actors speak up en masse and demand an end to this nonsense. Maybe if it concentrated more on quality than on box office appeal and the crap it’s been churning out with mediocre actors, then maybe it will change. I’ve seen better quality material on PBS than anything out of Hollywood which is all about money and NO substance, just fantasy and shock value with an appeal to a largely hetero audience only. Hollywood is not known for producing anything of value, credibility or reality, let alone create anything that makes people “think” for a change.