People News
By Stone Martindale Nov 4, 2006, 16:08 GMT
Perez Hilton outs more celebrity gays in media
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Older Talkback
If a celebrity is in the closet, isn't it possible that their family doesn't know either? Maybe they don't want to anger their family, same reason non-celebrities don't tell anyone. What business is it of anyone else's what your sexual orientation is?
Everyone is making good arguments for why it is a good idea to come out. However, this does not justify FORCING people to come out whether they want to or not. It's not anyone else's business or responsibility to out someone else. Having a general discussion about why it is a bad idea or dangerous or whatever to remain in the closet is useful, and maybe it will encourage more people to be more forthcoming about their sexuality, but it's no one else's responsibility to force someone to do something they don't want to do. Saying that you would have been happier if you were outed when you were 20 rather than be closeted for 20 years is unfairly placing the blame on other people. No one was stopping you from coming out except your religion, as you mentioned (this is in reply to a specific post). Whether someone else did it for you by teasing you or you did it on your own in order to be honest, it's still coming out of the closet. Also being in the closet can mean many things. Not everyone who is in the closet gets married and has kids. Some people date secretly, etc. They don't lead double lives, they just don't announce their sexuality to the world. It just depends, I would think.
Wentworth Miller isnt gay.
Quite frankly when you enter the arena of public life, you voluntarily give up your privacy for fame and fortune. When you become a role model you need to live up to that role honestly, or the press will catch you in your deceptions, whatever they may be.
When you are a male star taking your 'personal trainer' on weekend trips to Mexico, the press is going to call you out, just the same as whether that 'trainer' is a male or female.
You want that spotlight, you better accept all that goes with it. As a celebrity, your life doesn't end with the $20 million paycheck and the red carpet premier.
The arguments for coming out are powerful, but sexuality and lifestyle is a private matter and it should be up to the individual to 'come out' when they are ready. Perez Hilton may write an entertaining column, but there is an underlying cruelty when he forces gays to openly acknowledge that they are gay when they are not ready. Then, when he has done so, he gloats. This is right? This is honest? This is moral?
The entertainment field tends to attract gays. Having worked in it (radio/tv), I would estimate about 50 percent of the folks I worked with were gay. Very few were out to the public. However, internally, we all knew who was gay and who wasn't. It was not a big deal. I think this is the way it probably is for most actors and actresses--the folks they work with know them and know their orientation. They are accepted for who they are in their main environment. When they are ready for their public to know, they will come out. Who gives any of us the right to tell a gay artist, entertainer, politician, musician, Joe next door, that they HAVE to come out and be a moral poster boy/girl for gays everywhere!???
I'm not married, never have been and never plan to be even tho I'm heterosexual. Many folks have thought that I am gay. Does it bother me? No. Have I been treated differently? No. I don't go around talking about who I'm having sex with, who I'm dating, what we are doing, my private life is just that. Why should a gay person be denied the same privilege of privacy? Why should a gay person be a poster boy/girl for militant gays like Perez? I say each person is entitled to their privacy as long as they are not hurting others. And each person should be allowed to come out when they are ready.
It's NOT RIGHT to 'out' someone. It should be up to them and them alone. Anyone who does this is not caring for that person, is being a gossip monger who only thinks of they're selfish interest over the other persons privacy. How hurtful and adholescent.
And why are some weighing human beings on they're sexual preference anyway? Does that determine a human being, what sex they sleep with, come on! How childish. I value a human being on they're character and what and who they are and what they contribute to society and those around me. Not if they like innies or outties.
Grow up and be responsible. See beyond your own selfishness and want to gossip and let people live they're lives as they will. There are far more important and valued things in this world than tattle tail-ing on something as personal choice as this. If your so into being free... then let those others choose they're own freedom, why should you then??
Heterosexuality is considered the 'norm' for sexual orientation so with that cultural and political blessings comes 'privilege,” just as privilege comes with being white and male. Heteros can display their sexuality openingly without fear of discrimination, recrimination, or worst. Is it right? The answer would be most definitely, no. But, it is the world we live in.
A multitude could come out of the closet and some things will never change. There may be less overt discrimination and some battles will be won. However, the real war of total acceptance will probably never be won, it least, not in my lifetime or my grandchildren's. It is sad but probably true.
The vilification of and discrimination against gays will continue unless there is a cultural shift in peoples thinking, in the definition of what is 'normal' and what is not.
I support gays who wish to come out and those who wish to remain closeted. I find it intellectually dishonest of gays who feel they have the right to 'out' someone because of their political agendas or their political holy crusades. And how is this any different than some proselytizing minister who condemns gays and denies them their 'rights' because of his political agenda or holy crusade?
Celebrities work to entertain us through whatever art form they choose but they do not owe the public their lives. Being a celebrity DOES NOT make you fair game for every innuendo or mean-spirited attack that anymore wishes to heap upon you at his or her leisure. Yeah, even celebrities are quaranteed rights and equal protection under the Constitution.
Perez Hilton, is not on a holy crusade nor is he a political activist. He is a gossip blogger who knows this is a hot button issue that will attract people to his blog. The more hits he gets on his blog the more he can charge for his advertisements. Economics 101, folks not Political Science 101.
First of all, about this 'list'... it is not ok to spread lies about people. WHAT the lie is, isn't the point. It's just not cool. Period. That 'celebrities' have to put up with blogging pigs like this perez idiot and tabloids who purposely make up stories in the name of MONEY and greed under the guise of free speach is disgusting to me. There are names on that list who are most definately straight(Wentworth Miller and Clay Aiken just to name two). It makes me furious that malicious people like 'perez' are being allowed to lie and mis-characterize people in this way. In the case of 'perez', it's to garner more hits to his blog, thus he is able to charge advertisers more. I also think he has some sort of deal worked out with the tabloids, whereby they sort of 'feed' each other. It's sickening. Please don't buy tabloids. Please don't visit 'gossip' blogs. They're both filled with lies and are just using your morbid curiousity for their own financial gain. They will say and do ANYTHING, no matter how malicious and false it is, to get the public's attention! They're hateful and hurtful with ZERO conscience. They're not only hurtful to 'famous' people, but also to society. Lets try being kind to each other. Lets refuse to accept mis-information and fabricated 'stories' that use REAL people's names, all for some sort of sick entertainment! What is going on in these dark corners of the 'media' is absolutely horrifying and unacceptable! Lets put an end to it. please.
About 'outing' gay people... it needs to stop. This is my opinion... it's not homophobic, it's just my honest opinion. I think men sodomizing each other is disgusting. Alot of people think so. That's WHY this behavior is in the 'closet' in the first place. In my opinion it needs to stay in the closet. I can't help it, my view of these people changes when they reveal their behavior. What they're doing is not natural. You need look no farther than sixth grade health class to know what nature intended as 'normal', healthy behavior. Boy's sperm meets girl's egg. End of story. Anything else is depraved behavior. Of course it's up to the individual to choose their behavior. Yes, I believe for the vast majority of males who sodomize each other, it's a CHOICE they make. The people I consider 'born gay', the gay community refers to as 'transgendered'(basically, a woman trapped in a man's body or vice-versa). For transgendered people, it's not their choice and I absolutely accept and embrace them without queston or bias. For those not transgendered, I think it's a conscious lifestyle choice they've made, and it's based on perverse sexual urges which most 'normal' people can control and know to be wrong. In other words, for an out of control sexual addict... who better to have non-stop loose and free sex with, than someone who also thinks with their penis. So. They make their choice, and if they also choose(whether voluntarily or by force) to broadcast their private sexual behavior, then they will also have to live with the reaction of the public.
I guess this post is kinda old...but whatever, I'm going to share anyway.
I completely agree with those of you who have said that 'outing' is wrong, sexuality is a private issue, etc.
And those of you who disagree...I don't know...I have a lot of trouble thinking that you have any kind of credibility, or that you should have any say in the matter at all. Its difficult (if not impossible) for me to believe that any of you in favor of outing people have ever been in a situation where coming out would be an issue. I don't mean to stereotype here...but in my experience the only people who are in favor of outing people are gay men/women who: (a) are blatantly gay (that is to say, *so* obviously gay that there wouldn't be any point in denying it), or (b) come from exceptionally open-minded families, so it was never difficult for them to come out.
And if anybody wants to question my credibility: My boyfriend is one of these people. He comes from a very open minded family, and has been out to them (and the rest of the world) since he was 14. I, on the other hand, come from a fairly conservative family, and have therefore only come out to my parents (in addition to my close friends). I haven't been able to build up the courage to tell the rest of my (extended) family...and not because I think that they *would* have a negative reaction...but because I don't know how they would react. I'm sure that they would accept it...maybe even embrace it...but the uncertainty is just too great to bring it up just yet.
It bothers me that people like Perez Hilton have a complete disregard for situations like mine. While I can see where he's coming from in terms of his 'celebrities are public figures' argument, I would just like some acknowledgement of the fact that its not easy for some people to come out. And to act like its 'no big deal' is arrogant, ignorant, and insensitive.
Do I wish that homosexuality could be a non-issue? Absolutely. But I think that outing people is only going to breed more fear, rather than bring about acceptance.
Leslie Siegel has said this a million times about Perez Hilton ... Why doesn't he use his real name like Leslie Siegel does? I think he is capitalizing on something that is private but he should stick to other forms of media because he is not the blogger queen we see him as... His last name means Laundry room, so what does that say! I know he says he is gay, but still, he should not be nasty and they should throw his butt in jail like his alter ego name Paris Hilton because you cannot steal photos and gossip from other sources without permission, but he can still have freedom of speech, but wouldn't most want to hear what Leslie Siegel might have to say? Probably not! Please spare Leslie Siegel any bad comments!
There is no other way for Homosexuals and their female colleagues lesbian and others the so call love in the flesh. To live in peace and enjoy equal status with the so call straight people. First and foremost you have to get rid of the Bible, yes! in that book it predicts your doom, makes no difference how you interpret or translate the strong language in the Bible, it will always come back to hunt you. That includes all Gays or straight people who transgress against the law.
Get together and try to convince the legal system, the Book is a hate Book and it keeps your kind or your people from the pursued of happiness, so stated in the US Constitution. Convince the US Supreme Court to Ban publication and a crime to possess the Book with a prison term.
The Russian kicked God from the soviet Union for 75 years, and it came back to hunt them. You might convince some of the people some of the time but you will never convince all the people all the time....Try to Get rid of the Bible or your life style is doomed my friend!!
There are many reasons for queer or bisexual celebrities to be open about their sexuality. First and foremost is because they are ROLE MODELS who we respect, admire and mimic.
Secondly, because of the continuing hate crimes, fear, discrimination and lack of civil rights that non-celebrities queer people deal with everyday. Those include the denial of the right to marry who they love, lack of equality in state and federal tax laws, lack of the right to adopt a child and create a family, etc...
Does anyone remember Matthew Sheppard, the young man who was beaten to death for propositioning two homophobic men? Rather than take his flirtation as a compliment, they chose to hammer the life out of him and tie him fence at the side of a road, for everyone to see. A few months ago, 14yo Lawrence King was shot in the head and murdered while at school for being queer.
Leaders, teachers and celebrities guide our definition of what is or isn't acceptable in society as we grow from infants into adulthood. If these people whom we admire so much were to all come out, it might educate others. It might make those who live in fear or ignorance of sexual diversity open their minds and hearts enough to see that love and affection of ANY KIND is acceptable and needed for the happiness of everyone on this planet. Im working on a documentary film which strive to convey this message: www.faeriefilm.com
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