why do high profile gay men have to be dragged out of the closet in the us?

Question

eg, Lance Bass, Neil Patric Harris, Chad Allen. In the uk there are a number of hot talented guys who are out. eg Alistair Appleton, Jeremey Sheffield, David Paisley.

Answer 1

Because in the US, we value people's privacy. I tend to believe that anyone who outs another should get at least life in prison. If you want to advance the gay cause, imprison everyone who outs gays and puts them in harms way.

If someone wants to keep their sexual practices to themselves, they should have that right, and anyone violating that right needs to be punished and punished severely. It seems that those going around outing people would stop after losing enough teeth, but being reprobates, they don't care who they drag down, just long as everyone doesn't talk about their gayness. If someone is going around saying someone is gay, that is a sure sign that they are either gay or sexually immoral in their own lives.

Answer 2

In the U.S. for high profile person to come out is literally the end of their career.

Guys who are considered "heartthrobs" by female fans would lose almost all of that fanbase.

Example: George Michael was at the top of the music charts when he got caught in a men's room. His popularity then dropped like a stone. He still sings/makes records but he is no longer a "household' name.

Neil Patrick Harris will start feeling the effects of being outed once his current TV show "How I Met Your Mother" ends. Right now he plays a "womanizer" on the show. People will continue to believe him playing a straight guy as long as the show airs. When it ends it will be almost impossible for him to get a "straight" role in anything no matter how straight acting he is.

What has Chad Allen done recently? Barely anything.

Answer 3

The simple answer is that America is still not a very gay-friendly place. True that more Americans are at least more open-minded about gays now than before, but most still do not approve. Any high profile person who's livelihood depends on public opinion is putting himself or herself at risk by telling people that he/she is gay because it is a fast way to find yourself out of a job. If you are a Hollywood celebrity, coming out is pretty much a hit or miss. It made a few famous people more famous, but it has ruined far more careers.

Look at the movie Brokeback Mountain, there were many cinema owners who refused to screen that movie, and the distributors had to go from city to city to beg for a showing. And, even when you think about the lives of everyday people, just look at the US military. Far more gay servicemen and women are being kicked out now than before the infamous 'dont ask, don't tell, don't pursue' policy was implemented.

Gender also makes a big difference because the public is far more accepting (or forgiving, if you will) of lesbians than it is of gay men. All really depends on how much risk the high profile person is willing to take. Many of the gay celebrities in the days of old Hollywood had to hide their sexuality out of necessity because their careers simply would not have survived the scandal. In many ways, the situation is still the same because once you come out people will talk about your 'gayness' instead of your talent. If you're a singer you might get away with it, but if you're a movie actor you're definitely not going to get as many good offers as you did before.

Answer 4

It's the Victorian Effect. A holdover from Puritan thinking, both exports of your nation that took hold here. Not all high profile gay men are closeted. Consider Barney Frank, Congressman from Massachusetts. Out there, in the public eye, and he keeps getting voted in.

Answer 5

In America is still seems to be a black mark for you to be high profile and gay... They get pulled out and shown to the public, because people want role models, good examples, and just to prove that gay people are everywhere. I think celebs don't want to come out a lot, as they are brain washed into thinking they will lose a lot of their fan base. As they want to appeal to like 13 y/o girls, at least boy bands seem to have that type of motive... But still they hide as to not lose their fans... It's really sad. However we are all supportive of them when they come out, but I've noticed that the community gets really mad when they are gay, but deny it... :)

Answer 6

I don't know about this Allen fellow but Bass and Harris as I recall came out on their own.

It's only now becoming acceptable to come out, so they're starting.

Answer 7

Many have said it well here already. It's fear. Too bad too. I love our gay stars. David Hyde Pierce just came out. God Bless Him!

I am absolutely proud to have him in our ranks. I think he said it best a few years ago when asked about his sexual orientation. He said, "I live my life as an open book, but doesn't mean I have to read the pages aloud to you."

Answer 8

in politics their oposition does it because they think it will harm their standpoint. and infact, unfortunately with the shortsightedness of many americans it does.

as for non-political famous people, its the paparazi thinking it can be a great story. jaelousy from co-workers or societies 'want' for juicy details.

If you ever get famous, its just best to admit from the start that you are gay.

Answer 9

Because America, as horribly f'd up as it is right now, does still attempt to hold to some sort of resemblance of that this once great nation was founded upon.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, the entire world is not so accepting of things outside of the "norm"