I think you guys are missing an end-tag for the bold you used in some of the names in the second paragraph here -- it's making all the text from there down on the page bold as well.

I think you are either for gossip or against it. You can't be for certain kinds of gossip and not for other kinds of gossip, in my opinion. Why should gay rumors be any different than drug-use or marital infidelity rumors?

As long as "outing" is viewed as some kind of torture or punishment, it reinforces the negative perceptions of being gay...

These so-called celebrities, most of whom have contributed nothing more to popular culture than a few shakes of their unseemly asses, cannot have it both ways. One cannot seek "fame" without paying the price of having people talk about you--that's the nature of fame. I am also extra tired of obviously hetero megacelebrities bitching about how they have no privacy--they should have gotten jobs as grocery clerks or computer programmers if they don't like all the attention an eight-figure-per-turdo-movie paycheck generates. They are all complete bores, and deserve to be ignored if anything--their sex lives are as pointless as their nonexistent "talent."

You may want to check out a thoughtful piece by Rachel Giese, http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/closet.html

When individuals profit from fame and celebrity and enjoy the benefits of a public position in popular culture, they have the power to easily do good and to do bad. They can irresponsibly abuse that power or they can have to decency to use it for good.

Of most importance, they can and do influence the behavior of children when it comes to family life, drugs, alcohol, violence, etc. When gay celebrities support the closet and live in secrecy and shame and fear, they do great harm to gay children and teens. They teach our kids to be afraid, to be ashamed and to hate themselves. Should celebrities be outed? With a vengeance.

Ever human has some right to privacy. However, when one becomes a celebrity or a politician, one has to trade in some of that right. Should we care what happens in their bedroom? Probably not. But, to echo Richard, if their silence or vitriol show kids/grown-ups/other impressionable people that not only is homosexuality bad, but homos are bad, then the hypocrisy needs to be exposed. Neil Patrick Harris: never in the closet that I knew. T. R. Knight: I don't think anyone knew his name until he came out. Lance: definitely should have come out sooner.

Jessica H. Christ! When are people going to stop quoting the empty suits at GLAAD who haven't positively contributed anything to our community in years! When is someone going to point out to Damon Romine how fucking stupid the tautology of his frequently repeated, "While this kind of gossip and speculation about a celebrity's orientation might lead some people to come out of the closet, it may drive others even further in" is? Memo to Romine: Professional Asswipe, how far "in" does it matter they are to our betterment if they're still in at all? And, what in Yma Sumac's name does that mean anyway? Are you suggesting such gossip might force the poor dears to get married? Sire children? Start running down out gays with their Mercedes? Become another Log Cabin Repuglican loghead? Stop showing up at any of your three annual circle jerks?

If you had any honor you would get a job you can do for an organization that is doing something. When it comes to living up to your charter, GLAAD is to the gay community what Bush was to New Orleans post Katrina.

I was bored, and happened upon this thread. It's cute. I don't care about most of it- except the last person. To compare this shit to Katrina shows you have some fucked up priorities. Yeah, human suffering that leaves over a thousand people dead. Random gay gossip. Same thing. I see what you mean now. Next time show some fucking decorum yourself, and don't make such obscene comparisons. Peace, and have a lovely day.

I was bored, and happened upon this thread. It's cute. I don't care about most of it- except the last person. To compare this shit to Katrina shows you have some fucked up priorities. Yeah, human suffering that leaves over a thousand people dead. Random gay gossip. Same thing. I see what you mean now. Next time show some fucking decorum yourself, and don't make such obscene comparisons. Peace, and have a lovely day.