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So, now we yawn when a celebrity comes out. . . .

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Yesterday, our reader TGC alerted me to this piece on Queerty which reminded me that I had neglected to write a planned post on Matt Bomer’s coming out:

As the cover story in last week’s Entertainment Weekly reinforced, it’s a different world out there for gay celebrities: We’ve seen Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto and Jim Parsons come out to little or no controversyHeck, even American Idol and The Voice alum Frenchie Davis just came out in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

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The basic point I had intended to make was, well, how little controversy such comings-out excite nowadays.  When Ellen De Generes came out in 1997, it made the cover of Time magazine.  And interestingly, she’s become more of a pop culture presence since publicly identifying as a lesbian.  And by and large, Americans like this out-lesbian.  Her sexuality hasn’t hurt her image.

It is, I believe, a good sign for gay people that today, we pretty much yawn when a celebrity comes out.

Comments

  1. Unless they are a Republican, conservative, or religious right.

    Actually, there should be more declared Hollywood gays since it matters at least to themselves. Otherwise, they are stewing in their own hypocrisy.

  7. I do not understand when a lot of those people claim they want to be recognized for their ‘artistic’ value and not for side-matters (being gay). Yet they are all over magazines talking exclusively about their gay life. Nobody remembers a Ricky Martin song from the past decade but surely everybody knows about his current sexuality and children had via surrogacy. Or they’ve forgotten him entirely, which is still the point I am trying to make.

    Some heterosexuals do not pimp their wives/children/private life/family all over the place, but this is a kind of ‘equality’ the gays are not interested in, since narcissism, self-celebration and especially political activism is paramount.

    Yawn is because of that, after all if you cannot make people talk about your talent (or presumed one) there is always the safe old route of talking about anything else that has nothing to do with work or artistic merit and subsequently complain that you are always asked about your sexuality because people are so backward, bigoted and the unwashed masses just don’t understand. I frankly scratch my head at this mindset, but I guess the default comment by the urbane and sophisticated gays is that I am homophobe.

    As for ‘facilitating’ gay acceptance, personally, I’ve never been so irritated by homosexuality since when those self-proclaimed celebrities started parading it around like a badge of honor (always matched with the pre-emptive victimhood card) actively silencing opponents with questionable means, antagonizing anything that could eventually lead to a middle ground and degrading women, motherhood and the traditional couple.

    I guess whatever floats your boat…

  8. I noticed that when gays come out, their careers are already over. Ricky Martin has disappeared, so has Clay Aikens, and Lance Bass.

    Maybe some do survive like Ellen Degeneres, but she has worked on her image unlike Rosie O’Donnell, who only buried it.

  9. I noticed that when gays come out, their careers are already over. Ricky Martin has disappeared, so has Clay Aikens, and Lance Bass.

    That’s an interesting point. Although, Ellen imploded (as I recall) but now she’s back. And then there’s Bomer who seems to be taking off. Unless they work a love scene into White Collar with the short, creepy looking dude, he’s done.

  11. White Collar is a show on USA. This guy who is/was a major thief now helps the FBI.

    It’s bad news when I’m the one with the answers re: entertainment. I’m usually the last to know.

  12. Whoops! Forgot to mention that Bomer is the main actor in White Collar. He grew up in Spring, TX. He’s also starring in this movie Magic Mike which, as far as I know, is about male strippers.

  13. There are still actors living in the closet today, because they’re concerned about their image and the future of their career. I’m not interested in outing celebrities. That’s not the point of my comments.

    Quinto, Bomer, Patrick Harris, Parsons are all young, talented (and white) television actors who also do supporting work in film. None of them are going to be opening a major Hollywood film anytime soon, not that they care to.

    It’s an important distinction to be made. Yes, we’re kind of post-sex in some respects. But, not really in others.

  16. Yeah, but Matthew McCona-whatever is in it and he looks like a train wreck (sounds like one too) as it is. May have to take a pass or wait till it’s el freebo.

  19. Not sure if you would consider it “Hollywood”, but Pat Benetar and Neil Gerardo have been married to each other for, what, 25 years? BTW, Great show if you get the chance to see them. She really does have an amazing voice, and her hubby is one hell of a guitar player / musician.

  20. @ #13

    So you don’t consider ‘Star Trek’ a major Hollywood film? And while the first with the new cast was before Quinto’s coming out (I believe,) there is another in the works. He may not be Kirk, but Spock was a very major character.

  21. I am kind of surprised he just now came out. I thought he already was out.

    Either way I do think coming out now is generally not a death sentence to a career unless the person is already marginal in the business (many actors fall in and out of favor and for a variety or reasons).

    But if an actor is talented, and has wide appeal then I think their career is probably safe.

  22. UPDATE:

    Quinto posted a new blog on his website Sunday morning to discuss why he decided to come out as a gay man.

    “When I found out that Jamey Rodemeyer killed himself — I felt deeply troubled,” Quinto writes. “But when I found out that Jamey Rodemeyer had made an ‘It Gets Better’ video only months before taking his own life — I felt indescribable despair.”

    Quinto, who also made an “It Gets Better” video (see below), says Rodemeyer’s death made him decide to speak up in public.

    “In light of Jamey’s death — it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it — is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality. Our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered citizen of this country.”

    He continues, “I believe in the power of intention to change the landscape of our society — and it is my intention to live an authentic life of compassion and integrity and action.”
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/16/zachary-quinto-comes-out-gay_n_1013815.html

  23. Ricky Martin has not disappeared at all. He starring in Evita on Broadway 6 nights a week. We were in NYC looking at apartments in May and saw the show. Glad we did, he was great!

  26. #20 > Sorry I wasn’t more clear, Jason. Character actor is different than leading man. We can act all blase, as BDB does in this post, about gay actors in Hollywood once someone of Tom Cruise or Will Smith’s stature comes out and continues to open films. That’s a huge leap. Until then, there is still a closet and it is far from completely open as BDB is insinuating in his post (or outright ignores), if you read between the lines.

    Yes, coming out is not longer a big deal for SOME actors. Others, who haven’t, with much higher profiles (and more riding on their careers), obviously, it would be a huge deal.

    Rusty, thanks for sharing those quotes. Impetus is a key factor here. You remind us of the importance of keeping perspective and taking context into the situation. Thank you.

  27. I saw the magazine in the bookstore & was bored looking at it. Being openly gay is a “cerebral non-event” today. Well, except for the closeted gay guys.