Big Gay Closet

Lesbian actress Amber Heard has said people in her profession are dissuaded from coming out in Hollywood and end up becoming part of a “detrimental lie”.The Rum Diary star told Women’s Health magazine: “You can’t respect yourself if you’re afraid to be who you are. It requires bravery to do something no one else around you is doing.“But the risk was outweighed by the possibility of playing into this horribly detrimental lie that some in Hollywood perpetuate.”

via Amber Heard: Staying in the closet in Hollywood is a “horribly detrimental lie” – PinkNews.co.uk.

Glee star Jane Lynch said that she was unsure when, if ever, gay actors would land romantic leading roles because of the profit imperative in the film industry.

Lynch expressed her doubts in an interview with AfterElton.com that was picked up by outlets including The Hollywood Reporter.

“I don’t know when or if that will ever happen,” said the lesbian actress, according to THR. “…This is a business of projection and desiring people from afar … so there has got to be some truth to it, in terms of, ‘I could see myself with that person.’ Because the leading man and lady are the person we want them to fall in love with, and most of the audience is straight. So for right now, we can only use straight actors.”

Jane Lynch Doubts Lead Roles for Gay Actors | News | The Advocate.

This is kind of weird. I mean, all Jane Lynch has to do is look across the set at two of her openly gay co-stars who are regularly stalked (and one was once held hostage in an elevator by young women) to see that people will still become infatuated with an actor who is not perceived as available to them.

Maybe that’s all new. Bring on the future, and let’s stop letting the stupid past ruin everything.

Should young gay performers still keep their sexuality a secret?

It’s part of the game. If you’re going to be a romantic idol and try to get every teenage girl to love you, then you’d be an ass to come out and say you’re gay. That’s why Ricky Martin was so smart — he did what he did, he made his millions, and then he said, “Guess what, everybody? I’m gay, I’m having this life, and here are my children.” It didn’t matter anymore because he didn’t have to bring in 16-year-old girls.

Since we’re getting into Newsweek territory here, did you buy Sean Hayes as a romantic lead in Promises, Promises?

I thought he was adorable. What’s there to buy? It’s a musical, for God’s sake. We already know the plot, we know they get together in the end, and there’s singing and dancing. What, we’re looking for reality here? It’s so stupid.

What do you make of the cadre of female comics who have come out as lesbians later in their careers?

Well, with comedians it doesn’t mean a damn thing, because there’s not the same romantic thing involved there. No single guy ever had Ellen DeGeneres’s or Rosie O’Donnell’s picture up on the wall and thought, Maybe one day I’ll meet her and she’ll marry me. No one cares what a comedian is. All you’re thinking about is if they’re going to make you laugh.

It’s not too late in life for you to come out, Joan.

I’ll probably do it right before my new show comes out. You should only come out when you need the publicity.

Read more: Joan Rivers Better Work | Film | Advocate.com.