My question is this - What do you think of middle-aged celebrity gays waiting for so long to declare their sexuality publically?
Is it a matter of convenience, contrivance or courage?
2007-07-23 00:05:04 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
What business is it of anyone's whether someone is gay or not? Ian Mckellan came out because of Margaret Thatcher's anti-homosexual laws. He felt, rightly, that a respected celebrity would add some weight to the protest. Before that all his friends, family and colleagues knew he was gay and he never denied it, it just wasn't necessary to be on the front page of the tabloids.
In Australia, Justice Michael Kirby, a High Court Judge, came out by acknowledging his partner of many years in his entry in Who's Who. he felt that he had every right to do this. Nothing changed except more people knew about it and the homophobes attacked with slurs, lies and innuendo.
If people want you to know they are gay they will tell you. Most gay people live their lives happily with friends and family aware of their sexuality but they don't need to scream it from the rooftops.
Ian Mckellan is a great actor who has brought pleasure to millions in his roles on stage and screen. He came out publicly because he saw a need to do so - and congratulations to him for doing it.
2007-07-23 00:19:43 · answer #1 · answered by tentofield 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Sir Ian came out when he felt it was appropriate for him. He has also been very vocal about wanting other actors to come out, but he has not outed any, he respects their privacy, as we all should.
WHY does who a person sleeps with have any relation to who they are as an actor?
WHY is it our business who sleeps with whom?
If you think Ian came out too late you need rethink your supposition. He was very brave to make a public statement on his sexuality. Many actors find work slips away, look at the leading man turned cartoon voice Rupert Everett...he had a very promising career, came out, and we all cheered, then tried a few more Leading Man roles...and the people stayed away in droves...even the gays.
We insist they tell us who they sleep with...why?
Why not be more concerned with how they treat the world and what they give back? Why is Paris Hilton so interesting to people? She has never done anything for anyone but Paris Hilton. Society, as a whole, needs to get a grip on what is really important.
2007-07-23 07:33:59 · answer #2 · answered by Glenn P 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
For Sir Ian McKellen, coming out was more a matter of courage than contrivance. He came out at a time when negative stereotypes still floated around. For celebrities, coming out is often more difficult for fear of loss of fan base, loss of work. Stephen Gately, who came out before a possible ouster by an unscrupulous tabloid reporter, risked his entire career when he did so. George Michael's ouster was even more demeaning to him. If a celebrity decides to come out, it is not because he or she does it for convenience's sake, but because they have the courage to face possible estrangement from their audiences.
2007-07-23 09:04:02 · answer #3 · answered by Gaymes Last Orchestra 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it takes an immense amount of bravery for anyone to come out of the closet. More so when you in the public eye. It could be that he was just sick of hiding and had reached a point in his life where he wanted to "come out".
2007-07-23 07:20:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
I think it's courage....
considering the time in which he was a young man, anyone who was homosexual was forced to be in the closet. while the bigotry still exists today, back then....no one could be "out."
2007-07-23 07:59:07 · answer #5 · answered by redcatt63 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋