Big Gay Closet

Does it matter more if he comes out, or if you do?

“There’s the assumption among gay people that if only this famous person came out, things would be better — and that’s never been the case,” said Eric Marcus, a chronicler of gay social issues, whose books on the subject include “Making History: The Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Equal Rights, 1945-1990.”

“The most significant effort any of us can make in moving the ball forward in terms of promoting awareness and acceptance of this issue is for those of us who are gay to come out to those closest to us,” he said. “It isn’t ultimately the celebrity that changes people’s minds, or the politician. It’s the individual, one on one.”

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation conducted a survey in late 2008 that looked at the reasons behind society’s evolving tolerance for gay people. It found that the reason cited most frequently by people who reported having more favorable views — by far — was knowing someone who is gay.

Seventy-nine percent of the survey’s respondents said that knowing someone who is gay contributed to their more positive opinions, compared with 34 percent who said seeing gay characters on television was a factor.
from the New York Times

I’ve often had a fantasy that everyone would turn some shade of pink related to their position on the Kinsey Scale. Pale white heteros to shocking pink homos. Even if it were just for a week, I think our fight would be over. People could not deny knowing or admiring any homosexuals if that highly paid action hero were to suddenly turn the color of a memorial day peony. Imagine how festive the CPAC convention could have been!

via You’re Outta Here! | Our Big Gayborhood.

Jester over at Our Big Gayborhood invites a discussion on whether it’s only right to out gay people.

Inspired by the recent stories of Roy Ashburn and Sean Hayes, Jester asks the question:

Do celebrities or other public figures have a responsibility to come out of the closet?

What do you think?

If the guy who spent eight years playing über-gay Jack on Will & Grace had his way, coy suggestions that he is of a certain proclivity (wink, wink) would be all he ever shared publicly on the topic of his sexuality. But nearly four years since the long-running sitcom ended, the 39-year-old not only is preparing to make his Broadway debut in the first revival of the 1968 musical Promises, Promises but also has agreed to his first interview with The Advocate.

Still, we should be clear on one thing: He’s not happy about sitting down with the magazine.

via Sean Hayes: I Am Who I Am | People | Advocate.com.

Sean Hayes has officially come out. My impression? I hate that the world makes it so weird for people to just say who they are. Nobody has to be a pioneer and not everybody was built to fight that fight. So — good for him for getting around to it, and good luck to him in the future.

That, and I never noticed how damn good looking he is.