Oh, stop the presses, everyone! You simply won’t believe the news: they’ve discovered a gay person working in showbiz!
According to The New York Post, which is always correct, some big celebrity is going to come out of the closet next week. (No, it’s not us. We checked.)
D Listed suggests it’s Anderson Cooper — do people still consider him in the closet? Or maybe Ryan Seacrest. Well, whoever it is, we’ll be yawning all through the hip hip hoorays.
Yes, yes, we know it’s very important for us to have visible role models, and for there to be attention on The Plight of the Gays, and for people to talk about how great being gay is. And the more out gay celebs we have, the better. But you’ll excuse us if we roll our eyes a bit when famous people finally work up the nerve to come out of the closet like they’ve just cured cancer.
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.
Yes, well done, you told people you’re gay, just like millions of teenagers do all the time under much more hazardous circumstances. Gay teens risk being kicked out of the house with no money or family or resources to turn to, but you, a powerful rich person, are so terribly wonderfully admirably brave. Here’s a Nobel Prize. Toss it in your vault with your millions of dollars that don’t care.
Jscott
So we yell for celebs to come out, but when they do we slam them for doing so? Hypocritical much?
Jeffree
I hope whomever it is comes out before May 21 — y’know the day of the Rapture being serialized across time-zones and getting followed on Twitter.
I’m going to say a small prayer that it’s someone unexpected, because nothing irks me more than having to get all righteous & say “Wait, who didn’t know ____ was gay?”
divkid
matt you seriously need to get laid.
fortunately for you i happen to find artificially worked-up grouchiness, ersatz self-righteousness very hot — so hit me up. xox
Tony
Has anyone checked the client list of the guy who handled the coming out of Chely Wright and Meredith Baxter? This sounds like the kind of build-up he likes.
jimstoic
How could it possibly be as HUGE an announcement as when Chely Wright came out last year?
Michael
Dude is there anything Queerty doesn’t bitch about? Whether you believe it or not it is HARD for Hollywood/Film/TV Stars to come out. It does have a direct connection to their livelihood whether you believe it or not. For every NPH there are a hundred TR Knight’s who simply just go away. So this person is doing a service to themselves and our community.
You bitch about Matthew Bomer – an OUT star for not being out enough then when someone does plan to go all the way with it, you get all snarky. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t with Queerty.
Mick
It won’t be Anderson, it never is.
ohplease
“For every NPH there are a hundred TR Knight’s who simply just go away.”
For every NPH there are a hundred thousand actors who don’t get the careers they think they should have. Knight isn’t classically handsome, particularly talented, a good interview, agressive in publicizing himself, or particularly beloved in the business. But I’m sure it’s his being gay that’s kept him from superstardom.
Rupert Everett has been whining this whine for ages. Supposedly, if only he wasn’t gay he’d be the next Tom Cruise or Will Smith (ironically), because, heaven knows, Rupert Everett is completely equipped to be a major movie star. The truth is that all the open gayness in the world won’t keep you from having a good career if you’ve got the goods for a good career.
All that being said, if there is a coming out next week, I’m sure it will be as surprising as Ricky Martin’s and as groundbreaking as Chely Wright’s. Don’t get me wrong; good for them. It’s good when anyone’s honest, but, if you’re really famous, we already have it figured out.
Cam
@ohplease:
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice!
Tessie Tura
@jimstoic: Chely Wright’s coming out was actually bigger than Chely Wright was.
John
I hope it’s a hot guy,nobody wants to see some fat ugly person come out.
ChiGuy76
Some very good points made in this thread. We bitch about celebrities when they stay in the closet and then we ridicule them when they do come out. It’s not surprising that so many decide to stay in or do the “I was always out in my private life” schtick when their careers nosedive.
Anyway, my first guess is Seann William Scott. He’s got the perfect publicity pitch. He just entered rehab a couple of months ago and he can say that finally being honest about himself is part of his recovery. Plus this would get some much needed free publicity for “American Reunion” which has had some lackluster coverage. Not to mention, some much needed free publicity for Mr. Scott whose career has of late also been lackluster.
My second guess would be Matt Bomer. He has already all but outed himself, especially with his morning TV appearance a few months ago when he mentions his three kids and his “great support network.” Ahem-No straight guy says that. They would say “great wife/girlfriend.” Anyway, he’s in perfect NPH situtation. He’s on a successful show and has just signed a multi-million dollar contract for the next season. Also, he can now say “I’m gay” when USA does their “I’m a character” promos over the summer.
For my last guess, I’m going with a lady since this is what happened last year at this time. I’ve heard rumors about Morena Baccarin for years now and since “V” has alas been cancelled (ABC is dead to me!!!!), maybe now would be the best time for her to come out.
Damien
“Yes, yes, we know it’s very important for us to have visible role models, and for there to be attention on The Plight of the Gays, and for people to talk about how great being gay is. And the more out gay celebs we have, the better.”
There you said it so I don’t have to. The rest of your exorbitant, bitching dribble of a post can be deleted.
craig
@jimstoic: If you check the blind item Queerty is referring to it says this is PR guy Howard Bragman’s publicity campaign, and yes that is the guy who brought us the hugely hyped Chely Wright outing.
The blind item didn’t say “big celebrity” and it didn’t say actor. It says prominent “TV personality”, which means it probably isn’t an actor or musician. It won’t be someone truly prominent since he/she hired Bragman. An actual star has their own publicity team who would handle it, and they wouldn’t need this kind of hype to drum up interest.
Set your expectations on “low”.
craig
@ChiGuy76: Seann William Scott’s whole career is based on frat boy comedy, most of it where big moments of humor are supposed to come from moments of his frat type character having to do something gay (reacting with horror to accidentally drinking spunk, disgustedly kissing another with disgust when women demand it as a price of a lesbian sex show, and all that). His career isn’t doing well, but I don’t think this is the kind of publicity that he would be looking for to juice it.
IAbuseGays
A few ground rules that I would like to establish.
(a) If you are going to claim to be “big,” you should be big at the time of coming out rather than previously big or wanting to be big or deluded about how big you are.
(b) Just once, I would like to actually be surprised by who is coming out rather than going, “yeah, we knew you were gay, but thanks for confirming.”
(c) Just once I would like to read a thread at Queerty where someone isn’t bitchin’ about Queerty. Honestly, I do not understand it. If you don’t like the content, don’t read it. How hard is that to do? You act as if someone has a gun pointed to your heads making you read this site. If there is such a gun being pointed at your head, blink hard twice- we will see it. I swear.
(d) Finally, just once I would like to read something about some star coming out in which someone along the thread expects us to sympathize with the star coming out as far as the need for the closet. In a world of “Kill the Gays” Bills and NOM, I am a little hard pressed to give a shit about protecting the closet of a star. I get their reasons for wanting to protect. I do not get our reasons for helping them.
Allen D.
I’d say that putting your career at risk is a big fucking deal. I agree with everyone else — damned if you don’t, and now apparently damned if you do. Fuck you, Matt.
TMikel
Yawn.
the crustybastard
Robin Roberts?
Jeffree
Betty White? ! ?
Hyhybt
Sure, you yawn now, but watch your tune change when you find out it’s Mel Gibson.
Scott B
@6 Michael – so true!
@12 Chiguy – agree as well except Matt has never really been totally in the closet and has more to lose than NPH. Matt is a better actor, far better looking and a leading man career ahead so hope he stays on his perfect gradual course.
Kieran
Why is there so much bitchy snark by some in the community against Anderson Cooper, but Fox News’ Shepherd Smith gets a pass for some reason? I hope both Anderson and Shepherd come out, but only when they’re ready.
Wayne Sunday
I personally hope that the celebrity about to come out is actor Kevin Spacey, one of my favorites. Everybody in Hollywood is certain that he is gay, and he has very little to lose by coming out at this point in his career. I’m not sure how it would enhance his career, but it would be very useful to a lot of younger actors who have admired his work.
Lazycrockett
I hope it not Anderson, I personally like his “fuck you queens, I don’t want to be your pride parade grand marshal attitude.”
Chipster
I predict the announcement will send most people scrambling to the internet to Google the alleged “personality”.
IAbuseGays
@Lazycrockett: if you believe that’s why he does what he does, then you are on fucking crack and need to be institutionalized.
IAbuseGays
@Kieran: LOL. Okaaaay. (a) Who hasn’t attacked Sheppard (b) How does one make up for the other?
IAbuseGays
@Scott B: And yet strangely NPH has a bigger career.
Adonis-of-Fire
OPRAH
craig
@IAbuseGays: Shepard very rarely gets mentioned much less attacked, even though he’s not out, he hosts a highly rated show on the most watched cable news network, and by working on FOX he’s part of advancing the right wing agenda.
Asking why one guy gets singled out all the time and other guys like Shep get passes isn’t saying one makes up for the other. It’s saying that the criticism should be spread around fairly instead of all heaped on one random dude.
Are human beings inherently sociopathic? (John from England)
@IAbuseGays:
And yeah, his publicist is Matt Bomer’s hubby! Interesting!!
Are human beings inherently sociopathic? (John from England)
@IAbuseGays:
Also,NPH is a child star….so not sure what you are on about? But guess you are all about the bottom line.
Personally, I wouldn’t have liked to be working since I was 5! And you damn right that better make me a BIGGER star!
Scott B
@29 for now if you count smurf movies and hosting gigs. Bomer will be huge in long run while NPH will always be an adult child star…
Cam
@Lazycrockett: said…
“I hope it not Anderson, I personally like his “fuck you queens, I don’t want to be your pride parade grand marshal attitude.”
_______________________
Spoken like a true victim of battered wife syndrome. Seriously, you sound like Celie in “The Color Purple” when her stepson asks her how to deal with his wife and she says “Beat Her”.
As for the rest of this. I agree with the posts that say I do hope it’s somebody I have actually heard of.
As for the people saying “Gays attack gays when they come out, so why should they?!”
No, gays don’t attack gays, what we don’t like are liars and hypocrits. The people that finally come out when their career is in the toilet, then pretend like they were always out are irritating to people who have been out at work all their lives.
If Anderson Cooper comes out and says “I just thought it was time”, then good for him! If he comes out and acts like Sean Hayes or DAvid Hyde Pierce, the fuck him.
As for who it is…Good luck to them, and welcome to your new life! 🙂
Anton
@John: Then stay in the closet asshole!
Gigi
I thought you were supposed to be LESS bitchy on your re-launch? That only lasted a couple of days.
Johnny J
@32 Simon is the best PR guy in the business with the hottest husband on earth!
Bill
It will be a current nobody or a washed up has been – always the case…
Lefty
I heard it’s Clifton Webb.
Shannon1981
I think anyone, celeb or not, who is closeted is a selfish coward. Also, waiting until your career is winding down to come out is nothing but a publicity stunt. Unless you live in a country where you’ll be jailed or killed, or you’re under DADT, being financially controlled, things like that…COME OUT OF THE CLOSET. The End.
Mark
@Shannon1981: Shannon, it’s not that easy for those of us of certain generations. Judging by your moniker here, you are of a different era. For those of us from the 50’s / 60’s, it is a HUGE deal and you have no clue what any of us have been through. Calling someone a selfish coward shows your level of immaturity. Each and every person has their own pace and their own time and way of coping. You are the one who is a coward by being shallow and callous in your post.
Shannon1981
@Mark: You don’t know what I’ve been through. Conversion Therapy. A family who will disown me the second I marry a woman. Six suicide attempts. Outed at 14 against my will. So yeah, I know its a huge fucking deal. And I am 30 years old dude. I’m no kid.
Closet cases shroud our community in shame and re enforce the idea that there is something wrong with being queer. Most of the reasons I hear for being closeted aren’t reasons at all. Simple fear. And where the fuck do you get off calling me a coward? Sounds like projection to me…I have the courage to be out and proud…those who don’t, well DON’T. That lack of courage, by the very definition, is cowardice. Pick up a dictionary.
David
Michelangelo Signorile announced on Friday’s show that he will be interviewing the newly out “TV personality” on Tuesday’s show. 5/17
Shannon1981
At any rate, can’t wait to see who it is, but won’t hold my breath on it being someone who we didn’t already know about.
Probably not a news figure- they can’t come out and maintain their claims of impartiality in this culture war. I’d be really surprised if it was Robin Roberts or Anderson Cooper.
Michael
@IAbuseGays:
Umm you are claiming someone else is on crack but your username implies that you are the one on crack.What the hell kind of disgusting username is that to begin with? What the hell were you thinking with that shit? Sheesh.
rocky
@43 sounds like you need some more help dude
Michael
@Shannon1981:
I agree completely the more these people HIDE the more blood is on their hands when innocent teens take their own lives.Sad but true the more these teens feel like others are too ashamed to come out and admit what they are the more ashamed THEY will also be and feel.
Positive role models and people who are proud of what they are are what these teens and kids need especially nowadays.Not cowards who hide for years no matter what their excuses they could actually make a difference if they would just be honest with themselves about what they are period. Ricky Martin for example hes shameful especially teasing about not being gay and not wanting to let down his female fans.
Whilst at the same time innocent kids and teenagers were taking their own lives at an alarming rate due to bullying feeling alone ostracized unwanted and unloved due to the simple fact that they were gay lesbian transgender or bisexual.
Its sad that we dont have enough brave people in this community who are proud of what they are and who they are as human beings.
The more these celebs hide the more it furthers what the bigots say about us : that we SHOULD stay closeted that we dont belong here and we are inferior to them because we are not straight like they are. Shameful in more ways then one .
Shannon1981
@Michael: What baffles me is these people have more money and clout than the average joe. That means that while, yes, they have more to lose, they also have it easier at the end of the day. Nobody is controlling them financially. They aren’t going to be homeless or anything like that because they come out. Their families might not like it, but they aren’t going to totally lose them, because THEY have the financial power rather than the other way around.
And with fame comes a certain responsibility as well. I am not saying they all need to be huge civil rights poster children if they don’t want, but the least they can do is show these kids who are bearing life long scars, or, worse, killing themselves, that it is great to be LGBT, and that you can lead just as good a life as heterosexuals.
That’s why I call it selfish. They care more about a movie deal as some strapping beacon of manliness than about possibly being the person to save some kid’s life.
craig
@Cam: The glass closeted celebrities like David Hyde Pierce have been out at work all their lives in the regular fashion. They are out to the people they work with and bosses. Putting out an announcement to a world full of people they haven’t met and don’t work with is helpful but it isn’t any accepted meaning of “coming out at work”.
mk
@Shannon1981: You obviously feel really strongly about this and really know the experience of gay kids growing up with worst kind of experiences in the worst kind of environments and empathize with them deeply. Not everyone is you. Gay celebrities like all of us will have their own experiences, backgrounds, causes they feel most deeply about, and life priorities that may not happen to match yours and lead them to the same insights and conclusions yours have.
There’s also huge competition and not a lot of room at the top of media and entertainment. In order to have a chance of getting there a person usually has to prioritize their career over everything or almost everything else and make lots of sacrifices and trade offs. People who aren’t willing or able to do that aren’t the ones who make it.
Shannon1981
@mk: Don’t get me wrong- I don’t condone outing people and the like. I get that others have bigger priorities. But I stand by many of those priorities being incredibly selfish. I’ve had so called ‘friends’ sell me out to be made to look like a liar to protect their own secrets. I have a hard time being around closet cases of any stripe, because I’ve been through the worst of the worst and still won’t let anyone force me into any closet. And if a career is more important than the lives of scared kids…that’s one fucked up set of priorities.
I personally don’t date closet cases because I won’t lie to anyone about who I am or who my girl is. I won’t out people, but I won’t lie to protect their secrets either, because the more people who keep that secret, the more shame we all have to bear. Besides, when we fight for rights, we fight for theirs too. How fair is it that they take the easy road when the rest of us are in the trenches, yet still reap the rewards? Not fair at all. Selfish and cowardly.
Hyhybt
But how do you define “closet case?” If everybody in your life knows, or at least everybody in your life enough to care, why does that apparently not count to you? Why must there be a public, formal declaration to complete strangers? Do YOU walk up to people you don’t know, shake their hand, and introduce yourself with “Hi, I’m gay” on a regular basis? Now, denying when asked is another matter…
Shannon1981
@Hyhybt: closet cases are people who actively deceive others- be it family,friends, co workers, their public…whoever. If there is anyone you have to lie to, you’re not out.
Hyhybt
Well and good… but then, who does, say, Anderson Cooper lie to? My understanding is that he does not claim to be straight; he only says he doesn’t want to talk about such things. Meanwhile, judging from what I think I’ve read on this site, he lives with the gay owner of a gay bar and makes no attempt to hide that.
I could, of course, be wrong about all that; if so, and if the error is one of substance, I’m sure you’ll correct me.
Shannon1981
I think in this case, there are shades of gray as far as deception goes. Ambiguously gay does not = out.
As for Anderson’s living situation- no idea. All I know is that he supposedly has a partner.
Tracey
@Shannon1981: Suggestion: get yourself a great show biz career as leading man or action hero star then YOU come out! NPH, Luke etc all great guys and actors but not leading men, action guys, or considered sexy by hollywood standards so not so tough for them to do the tacky People magazine out and proud BS. Also, the “blood on hands” remark is silly, no closeted star or news guy is responsible for a kid taking his or her life. Also, I suggest you practice what you preach and volunteer – looks like you have too much free time on your hands.
Shannon1981
@Tracey: LMAO. So angry! And I DO volunteer, I love charity work, thank you very much. I also go to school and work and this happens to be my only free day this week…so that is your mistake assuming I do nothing good for the community.
And every closet case in a position of influence is doing the community harm. Grow a pair and come out.
Hyhybt
All I know is what I’ve read on Queerty–and chances are good that I’m misremembering that. Still, though: not making a public announcement is not the same thing as hiding in the closet.
(and really, did anyone *ever* believe David Hyde Pierce was straight?)
mk
@Shannon1981: It’s hard to say just how selfish those priorities are because they involve a lot of self-sacrifice too and putting career ahead of things like relaxation and pleasurable time with loved ones. The work produced can also stuff the celebrity views as important and constructive. Putting that aside, it’s just a fact that it takes a very driven person who makes career priority number one to get to the top of those fields normally, so there shouldn’t really be all the wondering that goes on about why most gay celebrities tend to put career before doing their all for gay rights.
When you state your feelings, values and personal policies you keep explaining them as the consequence and lessons of your own very difficult personal life experiences. That’s what I was getting at before when I said not everyone is you. Other people’s different experiences will have formed their own particular mindframe and life lessons. Some of their experiences will not have produced the lesson that fighting is necessary, or what gay kids in really difficult environments go through, or that gay rights and being crystal clear about your sexuality should be considered paramount importance. Some of them instead will have had easier environments and/or were perceived as straight and took away the life lesson that it’s best to fit in, follow rules and keep your head down when it comes to sexuality because then everything goes just fine.
The free rider thing is always there in social issues. A person who has had experience with rape may feel specially motivated to volunteer at a rape shelter. The whole society benefits from the existence of that rape shelter, but some people will be spending time counselling there, some will just give some money to it when asked, and some will be at home watching TV with their money in their wallet doing nothing for it. That’s the way it goes. Awareness campaigns can help some in encouraging effort, but there are always going to be some people more invested in a particular cause than others.
Shannon1981
@mk: By default, because they are gay, using their influence to highlight the gay plight and do something about it should be a priority IMO. Irresponsible otherwise.
@Hyhybt: I understand someone like Anderson not announcing it, due to the news media’s obligation to report facts and nothing else. The credibility of that impartiality goes out the window with regards to gay rights the second they come out, because, they then have a very public dog in the fight. I don’t expect this person that is coming out to be a news media figure unless they are simultaneously announcing retirement. I understand it, but I don’t have to like it.
Closets are for clothes, no matter who you are IMO.
David Ehrenstein
@Shannon1981: That Anderson Cooper is gay is a fact dear.
That he “doesn’t want to talk about his personal life” is also a fact — as is he and Ben throwing beads from a float at Mardi Gra this year.
It’s truly annoying.
Shannon1981
@David Ehrenstein: Of course it’s a fact. But I doubt there will be a People Mag cover on it or anything like that. That’s what I mean when I say announcing it. Same with Robin Roberts. I think I read somewhere that she even went to a Fire Island weekend with her gf.
But they can’t get on their respective news shows or anywhere else and say “I’m gay.”
Ethan
Oh god the golden age club has arrived…And I bet it’s Truman Capote who is coming out. That will save us all and bring our cause to the forefront and end discrimination against the gay population. LOL
Eric83
I’m guessing Zachary Quinto, Although he doesn’t hid his partner and its pretty much common knowledge, Gawker recently ran a blind item gossip about a star from a 2009 smash hit scifi movie(star trek) wants to come out publicly but his PR people are trying to stop him.
CNN Viewer
It is a CNN anchor but it is NOT Anderson Cooper…
It is the handsome Don Lemmon who has a TELL-ALL bio coming out next week….
Did I win?? Did I win????
ChiGuy76
@CNN Viewer: Well, since Mr. Lemon has a book called “Transparent” coming out in June and it is standard MO for celebrities that release memoirs revealing that they’re gay to go on the talk show circuit first, I think you indeed win! Congrats CNN Viewer! Thank you for playing. Until next time…..:)
TomMc
@CNN Viewer: Maybe, though Lemon married Stephanie Ortiz in September 2009.
IAbuseGays
@craig: Except you are just making bare assertions that’s actually you lying to justify your beliefs. Its not true. But you believe its true. And that’s all that matters here.
IAbuseGays
@Are human beings inherently sociopathic? (John from England): I am talking about looking at their filmographies, where they are in their careers, etc. You know the objective shit that goes beyond how I feel or you eel. But hey, you are able to tell me how you feel, and in America any idiots gets to say whatever without any proof for their position whatsoever other than saying it.
IAbuseGays
@Scott B: I am sure you believe that. And if belief was facts I am sure that would matter.
IAbuseGays
@Cam: Agree absolutely. I actually can understand why a star may not want to come out. It does affect their careers. What I will never understand is the queens racing in to every conversation to defend the closet. I have no idea what’s in it for the posters here to defend the closet of some actor or famous person? Do you? They seem to think their lives may be are implicated I guess is the only thing I can think of.
IAbuseGays
@Shannon1981: It is a projection. The weak ones always try to defend the bad behavior because it justifies their own shitty choices. You sound like a really strong person to me. I can say I am happy to not have had your drama in life. I feel bad for you that you had to get through all o that. I am glad that it sounds like you are coming out on the other end in a better place maybe?
IAbuseGays
@Michael: My user name is meant to be ironic. But, then I would not expect someone like you to have a sense of humor.
IAbuseGays
@Shannon1981: By the way- there are a lot of people who agree with your view. Basically, the game that the queens here buy into is where the publicity machine out of Hollywood has turned what is cowardice into a badge of honor where the guys in the closet can claimed them are being attacked or their privacy invaded. The irony is that they will talk about every aspect of their private life except their sexual orientation. The other big issue with it is that it suggests that the mere status of being gay is something to be hidden. As has been pointed out repeatedy in rebuttal to the manipulative frame that coming out is agains tprivacy- straight people are already out about their sexual orientation. No one thinks of being straight as an issue of privacy. What they are really saying is not that they are afriad for privacy. they are afraid of the consequences of living in a homophobic society. One can may understand that. But its not courageous and its not to be looked up to. So , they must lie claiming all the bullshit they normally claim to cover up that fear.
craig
@IAbuseGays: WTF are you talk about? I’m not lying about anything. The definition of glass closeted has been widely established as a celebrity who is out in their life but hasn’t made a public declaration about it. That means they are out to the people they know including their co-workers and bosses. “Coming out at work” is normally understood to mean coming out to co-workers and bosses.
It’s fine to argue that they should make declarations, I’m not saying it isn’t, but it doesn’t make sense to say they should come out at work like the rest of us regular folk come out at work because they have already come out at work in the way regular folk normally do it.
IAbuseGays
@David Ehrenstein: I find your comment misses the point. What about Matt bomer who does not hide aspects of his personal lif eother than the gay part? Does your argument hold there? What about queen latifah talking explicitedly about being sexually abused as a kid, but not about the fact she’s a lesbian. It is also a false statement to claim that knowing someone’s sexual orietnation is to know the personal details of his life. I know his family is wealthy. does that mean I know how he views life or who is friends are? I know Beyonce Knowles is straight. I know who she’s dating. I don’t know the details of her life. I really wish people would start being honest. Its simply fear of what society will think of being gay rather than privacy which motivates this. The dishonesty comes in when one fogs upt that reality with all this bs that when one compares to straight people or compares what the stars in the closet are willing to say otherwise- does not hold up as a general rule. The key is whether its a general rule. Do you think the argument of the closet holds up for Matt Bomer or Latifah? What about Rosie ODonnel who regularly talked about every aspect of her persona life except who she was in a relationship with. Bomer has in fact discussed his kids amongst other things.
craig
@TomMc: Do you have any evidence of the marriage? There’s nothing on his wiki page. I’ve never seen Don refer to a wife on air, he doesn’t wear a wedding band as far I’ve seen, I’ve heard lots of times that he’s gay, and he definitely comes across as gay.
Maybe you were told he was married to a woman by a fan who doesn’t want to acknowledge he’s gay?
IAbuseGays
@craig: (a) your first comment was to say that one is not talking about shep when others clearly are discussing his sexual orientation. that’s lie number one. (b) lie number 2 is where you try to use that argument as a piggy back to claim that this then means what exactly? that anderson off limits. this is actually not so much a lie as anemotional manipulation. why exactly must we not discuss both? (c) The other bit of the lie is to take two people- one of who has less pull than the other as far as star wattage to ask why are peo discussing the bigger star more than the insignficant one.
Of course, I am not even getting into how this makes the argument in favor of the closet stronger in terms of your argument. The truth is that it doesn’t.
And your latest argument is pathetic. They aren’t coming otu in the middle of a factory where they are likely to be beat up. They are coming out in the press where they are likely to make less money than the huge sums of money they already worth. To pretend and conflate all of this is the same illustrates why gay wealthy queens should not be in charged of the movement. You can’t be serious with that sort of argument.
IAbuseGays
Oh, and if you have not figured it out- I do not buy into the argument that the risk factor is the same as far as the courage it takes to come out wealthy as it does for others who have take real chances to put their lives on the line.
As I say above- I can understand why soemone may not want to come out for financial reasons. That does not mean I am going to turn their desire for more money into a virtue. In this case, given the civil rights battle- its actually really pretty bad. it says to some kid out there- you know what- even if you are wealhty and safe- its still not okay to be out and gay. You should stay in the close. In fact, there will be those who tell you that its the right thing to do always. Guaranteeing there are more Sheps, or worse yet Ken Melhmans. not less.
Shannon1981
@IAbuseGays: Thank you. I am in a great place emotionally, for the most part. Made peace with the fact that you can’t change bigots, but we CAN work to not let their prejudice control our lives…
I realize that coming out is a very personal decision. I’d never out anyone, but I won’t lie for them either. That is probably why the most I am to someone deep in a closet is a mentor/an on-the-way-out tool. Anything else would involve lying and hiding.
And as for Anderson or anyone else being off limits- nothing doing.When you enter the world of celebrity, you run the risk of the whole world knowing everything about you and then some- including sexual orientation.
And it always seems the people who are the most cowardly about this are the ones who have the least reason to be. I’m kind of glad I went through all I did though. I might not be so adamant about helping gay kids and forcing people to tolerate our existence if I’d had an easier life.
IAbuseGays
@Shannon1981: I am not a believer in outing people either. But, I also do not, as you have said, feel its my job to protect their closet or to make them feel what they are doing is virtuous. There’s nothing good about saying I am staying in the close to be more wealthy or a bigger star than I already am. That’s what w are discussing here.
If this were a kid who didn’t have any money, I would say something different. I would say be safe first. If this was a person who couldn’t financially survive without that job and it would leave them on the street. I would say be safe. Etc. So, this is not a one size fit all view here. I get circumstances matter.
What I have a problem with the is the idea that even under these circumstances where clearly what the star has to lose is simply not the same as what others will lose in terms of their lives. Yet, and this is the important part- these people with more to lose are the one’s who are coming out. And on top of that you, you got people like Kevin Spacey actually arguing he’s being “bullied” in the same way as the kids who committed suicide are- it just reduces the whole situation to absurdity.
VictorG
I hope it’s Anderson Cooper…finally! Just to get that off his chest. Sadly, there are still so many closeted public figures, here’s hoping things will change within my lifetime.
BTW, welcome back Queerty, I missed you and am so happy that you’re back. This site helps make spirited “discussions” like the one above possible, and I find reading the comments as well as your articles enlightening.
Matthew Rettenmund
This is such an obnoxiously snarky post I wish Queerty would go away again, ugh. It’s so unhelpful that when high-profile come out—which doesn’t cure cancer but which does help remind the world that being gay is quite common and shouldn’t be punishable by beatings or death—we have a high-profile gay site basically telling them to save their breath and stay in.
Frederick
Oprah?
Shannon1981
@IAbuseGays: You’re right. In fact, in safe zone training, they tell you to not advise people in potentially risky situations to come out; quite the opposite in fact, until they are financially secure with a safe place to go.
But these celebs are a different kettle of tripe entirely. They are on a whole other plane from the rest of us. If Anderson Cooper has to take early retirement, he ain’t gonna starve. He’ll just have more time to spend at Gay Day or wherever he gets his gay fix.For the rest of us…not so much.
Bill W
@Matthew Rettenmund: I can’t see the snark that you see. There’s nothing saying “Stay in” – it’s just saying we’re not gonna throw you a parade for being in until advantageous for you to be out. Come out, please. But next time, be out from the beginning and don’t duck behind “I don’t want to talk about it”
Ethan
It’s none of our feccen business you tired old queens…
IAbuseGays
@Shannon1981: In I believe it was 2000, I read a book called the Mayor of Castro Street, which at the time, was an important book for me to read. It is about Harvey Milk. The book paints him as an imperfect man with a lot of flaws, but he was not lacking in courage. One of the more interesting dynamics in the book is his interaction with the wealthy old queens. The wealthy old queens wanted him to go slow, and, essentially keep the community in the closet. They were advantaged by the status quo. In other words, what you are seeing now, the reaction of the wealthy is not new. It has always been the case that some part of a minority community like gay people is trying to maintain the status quo. The power of the closet over our lives, even with those who can come out, but don’t, is a kind of status quo. I say that this is not unique- that it’s related to minority groups- because black civil rights leaders faced the same things with blacks in the upper class- some of whom didn’t want to rock the boat. This was with even more on the line with Jim Crow. The lesson there is that there will always be people who for their own selfish needs with rationalize their decision to maintain the status quo. That courage is rare. I don’t blame the stars per se for not coming out. Coming out will affect their careers. But it is a reinforcement of the status quo. I am not certain, as I have said, what we get out of protecting their closet other than reinforcing the status quo. And, I am sure as hell do not understand trying to push their vices as virtues. But, I can’t be bothered by this too much. Its as old as anyone struggling for equality that there will be some who try to benefit from the status quo, and, indeed, the Anderson Coopers, Sheps, and whoever, will be there partaking of any rights that everyone who had to come out creates. This is also inevitable. I just don’t want to celebrate them doing that.
IAbuseGays
@Ethan: I don’t know anyone under 40 who uses the term tired old queens.
Ethan
Do you live on here all day you sad person – FYI 28 hrs old in NYC and plenty under 40 use the term although I don’t know many guys over 35. You need to seriously get a life and let others live theirs as they see fit. Seriously, re-read your posts.
Mick
Rachel Maddow, Thomas Roberts and Jeffrey Kofman (on ABC) don’t seem to be having any trouble being out news anchors/reporters. What’s stopping the others?
Jeff Kofman is quite the hunk too.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeffrey-Kofman/204587335286
IAbuseGays
@Ethan:(a) You are either lying about your age or you are the most pathetic 28 year old that I have ever met. I am going with you are lying. (b) How much time do you think it takes to respond to some of you idiots?
Shannon1981
@IAbuseGays: I won’t celebrate that either..and I need to read that book.
IAbuseGays
@Mick: The people rushing to the defense of the closet are no longer arguing that the careers will be dead. They have subtly morphed the argument to “They won’t be a Brad Pitt or George Clooney” if they come out. Everyone knows its possible to have a career now. There are just too many examples that illustrate the argument no longer flies. So, the target has been moved over the years to “You can’t be Brad Pitt” by the Hollywood PR machine that people here buy into.
TheRealAdam
@Frederick: No. It’s Oprah’s vagina maid, Gayle.
Daniel
@Jscott:
I absolutely agree! This isn’t about it being a news worthy thing. it’s someone’s personal bravery to face the criticism in their world. We all went through it one way or another under different circumstances and environments. I chose to come out at 19 when I was at least in a position to take care of myself…but it wasn’t about that. I never had to nor did anyone else. Being homosexual isn’t a choice but identifying yourself as gay is. Coming out is about solidifying your personal identity. WE SHOULD BE PROUD!
Jeff R
Kudos Matthew Rettenmund! It is a snarky piece. Mr. Rettenmund also makes a very valid point about the value of famous people coming out vis a vis Matt Baume’s self-rightious indignation.
I find Matt Baume’s piece to be hypocritical and self-serving. Queerty uses a photo of Anderson Cooper to generate interest, controversy and a score of comments. Why not use a photo shopped collage of Anderson, Robin, Sam, et.al., toss in a few of the allegedly closeted actors like Quinto, Bomer, Parsons, Pace, Spacey, et.al. – preferably shirtless, sexy and salacious? It would probably quadruple the number of comments.
Does anyone really believe that the Queerty writers are so naive and stupid that they believe that someone as high profile as Anderson Cooper and some of the other network/cable names being suggested is going to use Howard Bragman?!? These individuals have access to the best PR people in LA and NYC, as do most of the allegedly closeted actors/musicians scrutinized by Queerty from time to time. They have signed contracts with their employers, who presumably would have some input into the same. Howard Bragman?!? Does anyone really believe that they think that it’s going to be someone with a high profile, especially given Bragman’s track record? Why bother feeding into Bragman’s BS unless they’re going to take him down a notch? Mr. Baume should know better. Alas, that’s not the point. Baume’s trying to create a tempest in a teapot. Stir the shit.
I think Baume should have written an insightful review of Mr. Bragman’s past lame celebrity outings – not terribly impressive -discussed his representation of anti- LGBT clients in the past, and skewered Bragman’s use of “celebrities” coming out to enhance his own profile while diminishing the usefulness of the same when the celebrity coming out is in fact a current celebrity with some career gravitus. Baume could also have prepared Queerty’s more naive readers for another ho-hum coming out of some nonentity/has been/wannabe/Who?/Who cares? in the next week. Best, JeffR
IAbuseGays
@Jeff R: all that about a photo.
Zeus
@Lazycrockett: even though he acts like a queen by being obsessed with the real housewives.
craig
@IAbuseGays: You are vomiting up a load of nonsense. You need to actually read the comments you are alleging to describe and look up the definition of the word “lie” before applying it to things.
(a) your first comment was to say that one is not talking about shep when others clearly are discussing his sexual orientation. that’s lie number one.
Read my comment. I said “Shepard very rarely gets mentioned much less attacked”. That is absolutely true. He very rarely gets outed or criticized by the gay media or forum commenters. The only way Shep came up on this thread was by Kieran rightly bringing up the fact Shep gets a pass all the time. You tried to shut Kieran down by asking who hasn’t attacked Shep. Uh…almost no one has attacked Shep, maybe 1% of the people who have attacked Anderson over the years.
(b) lie number 2 is where you try to use that argument as a piggy back to claim that this then means what exactly? that anderson off limits. this is actually not so much a lie as anemotional manipulation. why exactly must we not discuss both?
That is the opposite of what I said. I said “the criticism should be spread around fairly instead of all heaped on one random dude”. That means exactly that both should be discussed, along with all the rest of them. One guy should not be singled out for nearly all the criticism while all the others doing the same thing or worse get a free pass and ignored.
(c) The other bit of the lie is to take two people- one of who has less pull than the other as far as star wattage to ask why are peo discussing the bigger star more than the insignficant one.
As I already said Shepard is on the more popular cable news network. His show is FOX’s flagship news program. He has bigger ratings than Anderson and he is on a more highly rated network than CNN. Big media like Esquire Magazine, Playboy and the New York Times have done personal interviews and profiles of Shep.
The years of intense obsession with Anderson and years of near total ignoring of Shep is not proportional with their comparative fame or success. Shep has never gotten even close to a tenth of the criticism Anderson does, but his fame and success level are not far different from Anderson’s. Anderson has more glamor than Shep but Shep has been a major player at his network for longer and has always had done better in terms of viewership. Shep is also part of the right wing machine, which you’d think would call for some extra criticism seeing how the right wing works hard against gay rights.
And your latest argument is pathetic. They aren’t coming otu in the middle of a factory where they are likely to be beat up. They are coming out in the press where they are likely to make less money than the huge sums of money they already worth. To pretend and conflate all of this is the same illustrates why gay wealthy queens should not be in charged of the movement.
I didn’t conflate coming out to the press with coming out to a factory. Again, I did the opposite. I said that coming out to the press and coming out to people in the workplace are two different things. “Coming out at work” means coming out to the people you work with and work for, whether those people are in a factory, an office, a road crew, a TV studio, a hospital or whatever. So celebrities who have come out to the people they work with and work for have already come out at work. Obviously they can be criticized for not coming out to the public as well, but it does not make sense to complain as the poster I was replying to did that they have not come out at work like regular people do.
rrr
@IAbuseGays: After all the blabbing you’ve done on this article you are in no position to get bitchy about someone else being wordy. Jeff’s post was sharp and it is more succinct than what you’ve been posting.
franklin
Harvey Levin? but i think he already came out.
Bennie
This time next week we will all be saying – “who is that?” or “I thought he/she was dead?”
TomMc
@craig: Fair enough.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_someone_confirm_if_Don_Lemon_he_is_married_he's_wearing_a_ring_now
AND
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_is_don_lemon_married_to
Scott
@Hyhybt:
re: Mel Gibson
NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! I don’t want him on our team. You mean Randy Rainbow wasn’t kidding about dating him?
Elloreigh
Count me in the “damned if you don’t, damned if you do” column. Just because a person has fame and fortune to cushion their landing, that doesn’t necessarily mean coming out is easier for them; it only means they might land on their feet instead of on the street. Notice I said “might”.
People generally don’t achieve fame and fortune by being out. They do so based on their skill, talent, connections and to be honest, often times a fair amount of good luck.
No one has an obligation to be out to the public, regardless of how famous they are. No one owes you that knowledge. That said, I don’t believe we have to worship at anyone’s feet just because they’ve come out, either. On the other hand, I find the snark to be in poor taste.
Let’s not pretend that it isn’t a big deal when celebs come out given our continuing marginalization, but let’s also not make more of it than it really is.
Here’s my message to the celeb coming out:
Yes, it’s great that you’re (finally) out. Whether or not you’re a role model will depend upon how you conduct yourself hereafter. No resting on your laurels. No, I don’t find you braver than anyone else for coming out, just because you may think you have more to lose. Everyone’s story is their own, and your public coming out is merely symbolic of the kind of bravery exhibited by the many who do so without the fame and fortune attached to their name. Don’t let it go to your head.
What I’d really like to see is a world where coming out isn’t a big deal; where there is no need for announcements; where people are just able to be out without the public praise and condemnation for it. We may never truly get there, but we’re closer now than we’ve ever been within my lifetime.
Elloreigh
One last item: Coming out as a career boost? Cynical for people to assume that, and worse when it’s the truth.
I doubt any celeb believes it will singlehandedly breathe new life into a faltering career. But a bump for their status = getting noticed = opportunity potentially comes knocking?
Yeah, I can see someone doing it for that reason, but I’m not going to presume to know anyone’s personal motives. And how sad would it be for someone to try that and then discover it didn’t work for them (because they didn’t have the talent, skill and connections to take full advantage of that bump)?
IAbuseGays
@rrr: I would answer you, but I have no idea what you are saying. You people get nuttier and nuttier.
IAbuseGays
@craig: I stopped reading 2 sentences in. You are doing too much parsing. You are essentially doing the change the subject and navel gazing that happens too much when someone disagrees with someone online. Waste of my time. The truth is Shep is talked about. You admit as much. So the whole deflection by you is a waste of time.
IAbuseGays
@Elloreigh: We are not obligated to keep their closets. Until you and the rest of the apologists stop implicitly whining that we are. You will never get it.
IAbuseGays
It is interesting to read the comments that keep moving the ball to justify the status quo of protecting the closet- which is what the media and the gay community does. After all these people could not be in the closet without us.
I also think its interesting because the ball always moves to something to justify it to a higher standard. first, it’s that they can’t have any career. Now the essential spin is that they can not have the biggest career. Now the new spin is they can’t get started being out.
Each time, the argument changes so that anyone disagreeing with the apologist has more to prove, or it becomes more complicated to prove them wrong if one even accepts their underlying premise as important, and the apologist has less to other than say “see that star doesn’t count.”
So, if I included a list with the kid from Glee or others who have come out at the start of their careers? Well that does not count because they are not “big”
None of that is now proof in rebuttal because you have set up a fake hurdle that means that no matter what- the closet is justified.
Jonathan
Wow, I’ve been out for 25 years and after reading the hysterical psycho babble I think I would stay in the closet at this stage if I thought I had to join this narrow, bitter, jugdemental community.
Mike
My guess is its Shaun T from hip hop abs infomercial.
IAbuseGays
Saying the closet is not a virtue is hysterics.
Johnathan saying he’s been out 25 years and would have stayed in the closet is not?
Gotcha.
I think we know whose photo would be in the dictionary under the drama queen , Jonathan.
Elloreigh
@IAbuseGays: @IAbuseGays:
You said: “We are not obligated to keep their closets. Until you and the rest of the apologists stop implicitly whining that we are. You will never get it.”
Is it your opinion that you are entitled to knowledge of a person’s orientation merely because they’re a celebrity? Do you think you’re entitled to know everyone’s orientation?
Is it your opinion that knowledge of another’s orientation obligates you to out them, without any thought for the consequences, and without any respect for their autonomy, privacy and dignity?
I certainly won’t apologize for believing that people have a right to come out on their own terms. That doesn’t mean I’m going to shed any tears when some bigoted politician or anti-gay activist finds themselves outed. For lack of a better term, I would call that karmic justice. But to out someone just because they have fame? What’s the point of that? A sort of envy-inspired revenge, perhaps?
Make no mistake: I hold the opinion that the comfort of the closet is not worth its other costs. That’s why I’m out. But I hardly think it’s my place (or yours) to tell other people what value they should place on being in vs. being out. While I won’t help anyone stay in their closet by lying for them, I’m not going to broadcast the information just because I value being out more than they apparently do.
There is no “implicit whining” going on here. It’s not really even about the closet, but about whether people have a right to control their own direction in life, to the extent that any person can. If such a concept is completely alien to you, I consider that your failing, not mine.
Shannon1981
@Jonathan: We aren’t narrow. Bitter? We have every right. And all humans are judgmental to one degree or another. Unavoidable.
And I hope you aren’t serious about going back into the closet.
Hyhybt
@Elloreigh: Amen!
Shannon1981
@Elloreigh: I think what people defending the closet fail to realize is that when someone is closeted, their life WILL involve lots of lying on not only their own part, but the parts of those who know the truth. I think its a pretty heavy burden to ask someone to bear, and it is one I personally won’t bear. I refuse. I think that is what IAbuseGays is trying to say.
@IAbuseGays please correct me if I am putting words into your mouth.
Scott
@Elloreigh: Amen II. Simply none of my business to tell someone else what to do. You can have the opinioon that they should be out, but petty name calling and demands just perpetuates the bad bitchy stereotypes that plague our community and keep us divided.
IAbuseGays
@Elloreigh: The real issue here is that you and others keep shifting the burden of what’s being discussed.
I don’t believe for one second you don’t discuss straight stars and what they do in their private lives. So, its not privacy you are protecting. Its the closet.
IAbuseGays
@Elloreigh: Another simple comparison- both Matt Bomer and Queen Latifah talk extensively about their private lives. The later discussing her sexual abuse as a child. So, even they do not believe what you are peddling other than how your argument serves them as far as keeping the closet as sacrosanct. I am searching for, and will not likely get, a bit of honesty here. Do you think that they are really concerned with privacy while Bomer discusses his kids or when Latifah discusses sexual abuse. In the case of the former, you would think he would want to keep the fact he has kids- to protect the kids- as private as possible. Yet he doesn’t. Why? Because he knows it helps his image. This isn’t theory. its common sense about PR and how it works.
IAbuseGays
@Elloreigh: And if you still don’t get it:
its not my job to protect the closet of a star. This is not the circumstances of some kid who will be kicked out on the street or a person who will lose all income if the fact they are gay i s known. This is a case of a star saying “well you shouldn’t discuss it becuase I want to be bigger than I am now.” That also is how this has morphed. It used to be that the argument was that they could have no career. Now that’s changed to reflect once again justifying the closet. It is no longer “I can’ get work” it’s I can’t be the top of the industry.
IAbuseGays
@Shannon1981: Exactly. It is not my job to protect them or to avoid conversations etc. That’s too much work that I don’t even do for straight stars.
I get why they would want me to say that it is, but I do not get the people coming on here defending their argument that I should have to do this. I understand the stars wanting to protect their closets better than I understand the folks rushing on here to protect the star’s closet for them.
Shannon1981
Either they talk about their personal lives or they don’t. If Queen Latifah can discuss sexual abuse, then what the hell is so difficult about saying she’s gay? I’ll tell you what. The latter has the potential to make her lose fans which potentially= losing money/becoming washed up.
Truly
I read these dissertations with both amusement and pity.I find that those with little sphere of influence in their personal lives are the most likely to preach to others on blogs.My only hope is that they do this with the full realization that they are just voicing their opinions to the few that read and comment on the postings and have zero influence over how these evil ‘closeted’ journalists and entertainers will actually chart the course of thier lives and careers.
Shannon1981
@IAbuseGays: The only closets I have ever protected are those of kids using safe zones I worked in. And so it shall stay. Some movie star? Nah. No way.
IAbuseGays
Truly:
a. By your logic, if you discuss something with someone- unless everyone else in society is listening specifically to you and the person to whom you are talking- then that conversation has no value. Even if that conversation is occurring between other people discussing it separately from you. That’s on its face leads to absurdity.
b. You are posting on this site. Given your logic, no one should pay attention or care what you have said here.
IAbuseGays
Shannon
I think you understand me. Celebrity stuff is fluff. We discuss it because its a small amusement to discuss it. But what turns it semi-serious for me is the social morays being pushed on me for wanting to discuss diverting entertainment. I simply don’t think its my job to protect their closet. If others want to pretend this is some kind of deep discussion about privacy, it is on them to explain to me the double standards by both the stars and the press around them. Something are not private, but this is. If I am going to have to self edit myself- I need to know why.
Shannon1981
@Truly: I don’t think anyone here is laboring under the delusion that movie stars spend time on trashy gay blogs, or care what we say about them. We are here for entertainment…or at least I am, can’t speak for anyone else…and to make internet pals/debate, maybe even learn something new if we are lucky. And you are here, and bothered to comment, so that puts your into the same category of people you are ragging on.
David Ehrenstein
@IAbuseGays: I don’t understand the fascination with Matt Bomer I find on the gay sites. He’s not a very interesting actor and I doubt that th general public could pick him out of a line-up.
Unlike Anderson Cooper.
Both are closeted.
(That’s the cue for those of you who claim “Matt Bomer has ALWAYS been out” to start screaming.)
David Ehrenstein
@craig: Shepard Smith was outed by the film “Outrage,” and his presence at West Village piano bars has been noted by Michel Musto for years.
David Ehrenstein
@IAbuseGays: Now that’s really interesting about Dana Owens. It’s perfectly OK for her to talk about sexual abouse, but for her to say she’s actually had a sexual life that she;s enjoyed — well that would destroy her career.
JD Allora
@David Ehrenstein: I guess maybe it’s a demographic thing.Older people may be currently unfamiliar with Matt,the millions that watch his show each week skew 18-39,beats CBS Good Wife and ABC offering weekly in the key age group.But they will learn of him no doubt.He is truly one of the better younger actors, classy guy and obviously his looks are generally unparalleled.He plays sexy straight better than most straight actors.His career promise certainly goes well beyond the current crop of in/out actors.
IAbuseGays
@JD Allora:
Reality check:
“The premiere of USA’s White Collar was down a tick to a 1.3 adults 18-49 rating from it’s September summer finale’s 1.4 and 3.810 million viewers from the summer finale’s 4.715 million, but that seemed likely considering the recent winter season performance of ”
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/01/20/tuesday-cable-ratings-white-collar-premiere-the-game-lights-out-tosh-0-down-teen-mom-southland-up-more/79406/
Here’s Glee and Modern Family with gay characters
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/05/10/tv-ratings-broadcast-top-25-american-idol-the-voice-modern-family-dancing-with-the-stars-ncis-top-week-33-viewing/92076/
THe Good Wife
The Good Wife posted a 2.0 (18-49) rating and just over million viewers at 10 – down 0.4 (17%) vs. the last episode.
http://insidetvratings.com/2011/05/11/nielsen-tv-rating/tuesday-ratings-the-good-wife-the-voice-down-glee-raising-hope-up/
Which is really manipulative by the poster because THe Good Wife is not even the same type of show as White Collar.
Let’s compare White Collar to a similar type of action show. Say NCIS since both White Collar and NCIS are procedurals:
NCIS – 17.85 million viewers – 3.7 (18-49) rating
Or Body of Proof, with a female lead rather than a supposedly straight male lead:
Body of Proof – 10.25 million viewers – 2.0 (18-49) rating
Took 5 minutes.
IAbuseGays
“The premiere of USA’s White Collar was down a tick to a 1.3 adults 18-49 rating from it’s September summer finale’s 1.4 and 3.810 million viewers from the summer finale’s 4.715 million, but that seemed likely considering the recent winter season performance of ”
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.c…..ore/79406/
Here’s Glee and Modern Family with gay characters
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.c…..ing/92076/
THe Good Wife
The Good Wife posted a 2.0 (18-49) rating and just over million viewers at 10 – down 0.4 (17%) vs. the last episode.
http://insidetvratings.com/201…..g-hope-up/
Which is really manipulative by the poster because THe Good Wife is not even the same type of show as White Collar.
Let’s compare White Collar to a similar type of action show. Say NCIS since both White Collar and NCIS are procedurals:
NCIS – 17.85 million viewers – 3.7 (18-49) rating
Or Body of Proof, with a female lead rather than a supposedly straight male lead:
Body of Proof – 10.25 million viewers – 2.0 (18-49) rating
IAbuseGays
@David Ehrenstein: I see this as entertainment. None of them are particularly interesting other than to take my attention away from the real work I am doing while I am on the computer. People are telling me that I can’t gossip, so I won’t know why considering the supposed interest in privacy seems highly selective. I agree, however, that Bomer is not that big a deal. He’s only big because a lot of gay men find him attractive. So that makes him big in their minds.
IAbuseGays
@David Ehrenstein:Shep is also included as I remember in the OUt Magazine list of gay peo along with Cooper, but hey, its true cause Craig says its true.
jason
Note how all these liberal commentators on TV like to talk about gay issues but none of them wants to admit to being gay. Not even Anderson Cooper.
Liberals are the biggest phonies, bigots etc etc.
IAbuseGays
anyone trying to turn this into a liberal versus conservative issue is an idiot.
Hyhybt
@jason: Since you say “all”… surely it’s possible that the reason at least SOME of them don’t “admit” to being gay is that they’re straight? Or are you asserting that only gay people could ever possibly report on, speak about, etc gay issues?
paul f
It’s NEWT!!!! Not only is he coming out of the closet, he’s switching parties too! After three marrages to women he’s decided to bat for the other team and not go through that “nasty” marrage stuff ever again. You guys guessed it was a Hollywood style celebrity instead of a POLITICAL celeb. (I liked the Mel Gibson guess too) LOL
HellsCook
@David: OK, if they’re going on Signorile for their big press announcement, then is probably like, somebody who once played “Asian Guy in Coffee Shop” on EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND.
Franklyn
Think it might have to do with this – http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/business/media/16anchor.html?_r=1
Damien
@Franklyn: Hmmm, so I guess there it is! It’s Don Lemon from CNN.
Viktor
LMAO I love you all. <3
DeGuyz in Mississippi
With those mentioned in the story, I never thought about it one way or another. Even with people around me. Having said that, The best of the best are in the mix so it’s good to have them on the team.
justnow
Why is Anderson’s pic up?
Guys… he is not going to come out
Tool Time
@IAbuseGays: LMAO-‘I see this as entertainment. None of them are particularly interesting other than to take my attention away from the real work I am doing while I am on the computer.’ I guess let’s hope you are not an air traffic controller or do any work of real importance.
CNN Viewer
@ChiGuy76:
Thanks for playing with me! We should do it again sometime soon.
IAbuseGays
@Tool Time: I am doing tedious research on my business that’s necessary, but not exactly the most interesting thing in the world to do. So, while I don’t fit the gay stereotype of the person who never seems to have a job or is working- but some how magically have money- I hope to have money from my business. What are you doing in the meanwhile other than visiting here?
matt baume
Commenters Craig and MK both have the same IP address, which could mean that they’re two people who share a computer or it could mean that someone’s sockpuppeting.
So, just a reminder: don’t sockpuppet.
Hyhybt
…or even two people who, though on separate computers, share an internet connection. Though the other is more likely… assuming it to be true. But posting publicly about someone’s IP address doesn’t seem like the sort of thing someone working at Queerty would do… and how would anybody else have that information?
matt baume
@Hyhybt: It is definitely something we would do!
Hyhybt
A change for the better, then, whatever anyone else may say 🙂
Elloreigh
@IAbuseGays: You said:
“I don’t believe for one second you don’t discuss straight stars and what they do in their private lives.”
I have a life of my own, thank you. I really don’t give two sh*ts what someone else does in their private life, straight or gay. I can think of any number of things I’d rather discuss. Just because I’m gay, that doesn’t mean I’m obsessed with actors or their private lives.
Elloreigh
@IAbuseGays: “Another simple comparison- both Matt Bomer and Queen Latifah talk extensively about their private lives.”
So? Am I supposed to care? I don’t.
“The later discussing her sexual abuse as a child. So, even they do not believe what you are peddling other than how your argument serves them as far as keeping the closet as sacrosanct.”
??? 1) I don’t think that either of these people knows I exists, much less cares what I’m allegedly ‘peddling’ (and I’ll note here that you don’t actually define what it’s supposed to be).
I never said the closet was “sacrosanct”. All I can conclude from the above statements is that you’re just using my name to engage in an argument with some sort of straw man, because they have nothing at all to do with anything I’ve said.
“I am searching for, and will not likely get, a bit of honesty here.”
I’m not to blame for what you blind yourself to and merely claim to seek.
“Do you think that they are really concerned with privacy while Bomer discusses his kids or when Latifah discusses sexual abuse. In the case of the former, you would think he would want to keep the fact he has kids- to protect the kids- as private as possible. Yet he doesn’t. Why? Because he knows it helps his image. This isn’t theory. its common sense about PR and how it works.”
Your point being? Where did you get the ridiculous notion that I don’t understand PR and how stars try to carefully control their public image?
Are either of these people gay? I don’t know. More to the point – neither do you, unless you’re personally acquainted with them.
Now, how about answering those questions I posed earlier: Do you believe you have a right to know a celebrity’s orientation? If so, what makes you think you’re entitled to that knowledge? The fact that they talk about other personal stuff? The fact that they’re in the public eye?
You’re right – I don’t get it. I don’t get why you care about other people’s personal lives, what they do in private, etc. As far as I’m concerned, actors are actors, and beyond their job as entertainers, they owe us nothing. They don’t owe you the details of their personal lives beyond what they care to share. And if you want to argue that it’s all about crafting a public image, I’m certainly not going to dispute that, since I’m not in a position to know their personal motivation.
The real issue is that you seem to have mistaken me for someone who would give a damn.
Elloreigh
@IAbuseGays: “its not my job to protect the closet of a star.”
Not your job to kick in its door, either.
“This is not the circumstances of some kid who will be kicked out on the street or a person who will lose all income if the fact they are gay i s known. This is a case of a star saying “well you shouldn’t discuss it becuase I want to be bigger than I am now.” That also is how this has morphed. It used to be that the argument was that they could have no career. Now that’s changed to reflect once again justifying the closet. It is no longer “I can’ get work” it’s I can’t be the top of the industry.”
I suppose you’re entitled to your opinion, but let’s not pretend that you’re omniscient and would therefore have personal, factual knowledge of every celebrity’s reasons for not publicly coming out. I rather doubt that this is the only reason, or that it’s a reason they all share in common. You seem to think that we’re just supposed to take your word for it, as if you’re some kind of expert/psychic/God gifted with an insight that no one else has.
Notice what I’m not saying – that you’re dead wrong about their reasons – because I don’t necessarily think you are wrong. What I do glean from all of this is that you think yourself superior and in a position to pass judgment on anyone else’ personal circumstances. Who died and made you Lord God Emperor of anything?
Elloreigh
@IAbuseGays: “anyone trying to turn this into a liberal versus conservative issue is an idiot.”
Well at least there’s something we can agree on.
Elloreigh
@Shannon1981: “I think what people defending the closet fail to realize…:
Let’s stop right there. I am not defending the closet. If I’m defending anything, it’s the right of every individual to manage their own life according to their own values.
I find it depressing that we live in a society where people feel they have to choose the closet over the freedom to be themselves, but that’s the reality.
On the other hand, I take issue with the characterization of the closet in absolute terms – that a person is either completely out to everyone, or else they’re closeted. For many people it’s a matter of degrees. Some are out to close friends, but not family. Some are out to their immediate family, but not extended family. Some are out to friends and family, but not to coworkers. Some of us are out to everyone that matters, and not exactly trying to hide it from those who don’t. Are we obligated to broadcast it to every person we encounter if we’re to be considered out and not closeted? Ridiculous.
The basic argument underlying all of this is that celebrities should be held to a different standard – that they can’t be considered ‘out’ unless they’ve announced it publicly. Their friends, family and the people they work with may all know, but we label them closeted if they haven’t announced it to the rest of us – to people who they don’t personally know, and have no interest in knowing. We demand that they put their careers (or advancement within those careers) on the line by telling us about their orientation – as if it were the most important thing about them. Then we snark at them, whether they do or don’t. We think they owe us the information, that they owe a debt to the gay community to be a role model, etc.
It’s very evident from the comments in this forum that some members of the public have an inflated sense of entitlement. OK, so maybe some celeb hasn’t come out because they think it will hurt their image and thereby their career. Who are any of you to demand of them that they come out publicly to the likes of you? And why do you even care?
Fine, so they aren’t in the same position as some kid whose afraid of getting kicked out of the house by his bigoted parents. So what? Why does that obligate the person who has fame and fortune to publicly come out? Why get your knickers in a twist if they don’t?
Let me put it this way: I’m not going to divulge every detail of my life to a bunch of strangers on the Internet. What makes the life of a celebrity any different? What obligates them to tell you everything you’d like to know, versus what they care to make known (even if the latter is about improving their public image)?
Will satisfying answers to any of my questions be forthcoming. I seriously doubt it.
IAbuseGays
@Elloreigh: If you can not demonstrate that the stars in fact think like you (that their private lives are sacrosanct to the point of actually keeping non-gay related aspects of their lives private), then you are just bullshitting .
You don’t get to dismiss my argument by saying you don’t care because it goes to the heart of your claim that you are not just some old queen stuck on protecting the closet.
I got to thank you. You did what I expected. Dismissed the argument as unimportant to you. Thus proving the point about protecting the closet rather than privacy. And yeah, if you are going to argue that closet should be protected and harsh my enjoyment with gossiping, then you better be prepared to actually defend it rather than whine about someone thinking they are superior to you. I don’t need to be superior to you to recognize bullshit. The fact that I am is only a product of reasoning skills.
A.Hagag
what’s the big deal to be a gay ?? i guess its not a problem anymore in 2011
ShowMeGuy
The check-out counter rags predict OPRAH will come out on her very last episode.
IzzyLuna
Well, it IS harder for a celeb to come out because on top of the “normal” coming out to family, friends, etc. they have an entire career on the line with the public being the decision maker, so it can be a bit tougher.
So, if they come out, sure, let’s celebrate. Why not?
Matt…I agree with the first comment. I think you need to get laid, dude. Chill out a bit. You’re acting like a queen who’s been out since she was 11 years old and bitter when others haven’t followed your lead.
Esprix
So who came out?