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Two Gay Guys: The Closeted Celebrity EditionIt's time for yet another edition of Two Gay Guys starring moi and my better half, Brent. In this week's edition we discuss Jodie Foster who is out promoting The Brave One, her new flick which hits screens this Friday. We ponder Jodie's willingness to discuss Americans' tendency toward violence, the fact she is an atheist, her friendship with Mel Gibson, and even her kids, all while refusing to mention if she shares her life with anyone romantically.
This edition also features our first guest dropping by to chat with us. I can't tell you his name as he's a closeted gay celebrity — who ironically insists he isn't closeted! Inspired by his visit, we decide that we've had it with closeted celebrities and blow the door off of Hollywood's closet. That's right — we name names! It's an audacious step to take, but someone has to do it! But for those who loved our Brokeback Mountain reenactment (that's the guy locked up in the Missouri mental institution who thinks we're destined to be together forever) we bring you a few choice lines from The Silence of the Lambs. Get embed code here. Submitted by on Wed, 2007-09-12 15:36. |
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“My life is an open book,
“My life is an open book, I’m just not going to read it to you”, priceless. Ugh, every time she says something like “I don’t mind people reporting on my life” or whatever it was she said, the reporter should just start talking in that Nell twin language to counter her ridiculousness.
LMAO
I nearly got into an argument with my roommate...
...about this whole issue. We were gossiping about a certain (2005 Oscar-nominated for Best Supporting and recent AfterElton Hot 100 chart-topping) actor and whether he was about to come out; my roommate flat out said, "His career will be over."
I disagreed. "We don't know that."
"Yes, it would be over."
"I don't think so, but, regardless, we really don't know."
It's never happened where an A-list actor has come out of the closet; sure, we've had some supporting actors and TV actors come out, but to date we haven't had a movie leading man come out at the height of his career. We have no way to measure it; maybe I'm just an eternal optimist, but I would imagine the first one to do so--assuming the coming out isn't associated with some kind of scandal--would actually be regarded with a certain respect and admiration, even from the str8 audience.
I agree with Joseph
I agree with Joseph totally. I had this argument with a homophobic bitch on IMDB over Wentworth Miller's sexual orientation, and she'd always dodge me whenever I stated a fact.
She insists that no A-list actor would remain A-list after coming out, I insist that it's because no A-list actor has ever come out when he's relevant. I don't see how a movie star should fear being out when Elton John has long since proven that you can be openly gay and have a hugely successful music career, and Ellen Degeneres proved that you can be out and have a successful television career. If Elton and Ellen proved you could be out in music and television, whose to say a huge movie star coming out wouldn't do the same thing?
Not just Ellen and Elton
omg
This is the funniest yet...I can't stop laughing. You guys crack me up in that video. :)
KC
Maintainer of Luke MacFarlane OnlineHey there...
You two goofballs.... I really do enjoy hearing what you have to say. (Just remember, when it comes to fades/dissolves/jump cuts, less is more.) I wanted to suggest a couple of weeks ago, if you don't want to do long takes, just cut in a few inserts showing the item about which you are talking...
Hey Mr Brent, how about a little talk about books? I've been thinking about YA gay literature. I want to hear what you have to say on the topic!
And regarding Jodie Foster.. well... I have to say that she really is one of the most gifted and most intelligent actresses working today. Still, in some way I never warmed up to her. Somehow she does not have that extra special something that an actress like Sandra Bullock has---which is to say, I'd like to hang with Sandra, because she seems like she would be a lot of fun!
Anyway, cheers...
You'll have to talk with the director about
Ha!
*cough* passive aggressive *cough*
Read my books! Explore "Brent's Brain" at http://www.brenthartinger.com
Oh My god!Michael! You and
Oh My god!
Michael! You and the closeted celebrity have similar shirts!
Funny
regarding Ian, I actually
regarding Ian, I actually mentioned her in the argument with that homophobic (well, she says she's not, but words speak louder than actions at times) person on the Wentworth forum, citing his popularity in LOTR and X-Men and she tried to counter it by saying that he never gets lead roles, therefore he "doesn't matter" and that LOTR and X-Men would've been hits with or without him.
I think what we need is an openly gay equivilent of Brad Pitt, George Clooney or Tom Hanks to get people to realize being gay is not a career killer.
I hate to admit it but...
You guys are funny. Corny but funny.
Really bad teeth. LOL
You hate to admit it? I am so
''Closeted Gay Celebrity''?
Gee, that looked like the Unknown Comic to me. Whatever became of him? ... For the record, that line (''My life is an open book. I'm just not going to read it to you'') is actually a quote by David Hyde Pierce, before he came out.
"Before he came out"?!?!
He already WAS out! He's been out all along! Or so HE says.
(It's possible we were mocking Mr. Hyde Pierce.)
Read my books! Explore "Brent's Brain" at http://www.brenthartinger.com
To Come Out Or Not To Come Out
that is the question, and there is no right answer! Coming out is a topic that every GLBT needs to address. I am in a special situation due to my HIV status, I get to come out twice in my lifetime (Yippee!). I actually found it much harder to tell my family that I was HIV+ then that I was gay (1990 for the latter, 1995 for the former) mainly because I knew I would be causing them a lot of pain (I told them the same day I found out, might as well rip that bandage off quickly).
When I joined AfterElton a few weeks ago I had to make a decision. Should I reveal my HIV+ status? What business was it of anybodys? The answer to the second question was none! To me though that was not the point. I am not ashamed of being HIV+, it is a medical condition not a moral one. Furthermore, there is a certain amount of stigma in the gay community about HIV+ people, a lot of gays would rather party on then admit there is a terrible disease lurking out there, I wanted to confront that ostrich like attitude. Finally I wanted to help the next generation of gays about a safer, healthier approach to life, to make them think about what risks they are willing to take in getting laid. One person in particular has listened to my story and I am appreciative of that.
So to Jodie Foster and all the other closeted movie stars, rock stars, athletic stars, you are right it is nobody's business, but just think what good you could do with your fame if you said "F**K IT THAT IS NOT THE POINT!" If a minnow like me can do it so can you.
Cheers
JBE
Sexual Health
It is extremely important to tell gay men about sexual health. Often times we do not recieve that education in school, I know I didn't. Gay men have to be their strongest advocates.
HIV/ AIDS Basic Information
HIV/ AIDS Resource Center
How HIV tests work
Sexual Health Resource Guide
Back to the 70's
is how I feel somedays when I interact with the gay community these days. Recreational drugs seem to be more popular then ever, barebacking videos are exploding in popularity, and I am thinking, "did the 1980's AIDS crisis not happen"? "Is HIV just an inconvenience"? The answer to both questions of course is a resounding NO.
For gay people like myself the 1980's was a very traumatic time. One year a person would look fine, the next year they would be dying in an AIDS hospice. For young gay people out there in AfterElton country, imagine this, take your five closest gay friends, then think about how you would feel if four of them died in the next two years. For some gay people that is what happened between 1981 and the mid-90's before new treatments came along.
The treatments have been a blessing for all people with HIV (including myself, my viral load has been undetectable for as long as I can remember) but they are very expensive (for me $15,000+ in after tax dollars, fortunately I have insurance at work). They also have side-effects (for me mild depression and insomnia) that result in having to take more drugs! Furthermore, nobody knows what impact on the body taking these HIV medications has in the long run, they are still too new.
So take my advice YOU DO NOT WANT THIS DISEASE! Read the links so kindly provided by Evan, think about what you are willing to do sexually. I personally found it easier to live with celibacy then with HIV!
Cheers
JBE
New HIV Study
Ironically, after I posted my message I read an article about why HIV is so prevalant in the gay male community. The study found gay men had no more riskier sexual behavior than straight people yet found two causes as to why HIV spreads easily in the gay male community. Anal tissue is more prone to damage making it more likely to contract the virus. The study also found gay men change roles from being the insertive to the receptive (or visa versa) partner. This spread the disease even more.
HIV Study
Unprotected Oral Sex
is probably another reason as well Evan. Without going into gory details about my sexual practices in my pre-HIV days, I think there is a good chance that is how I contracted the disease. If I knew then what I know now (e.g. pre-cum has as high if not higher concentration of the virus as cum) I might have acted a bit differently.
I hope I did not give the impression to young people that they should become monks in my comment about celibacy, I was just stating a fact. I am an unusual gay person in that emotional attractions to men quite often preceed the sexual. I have even developed crushes on men I did not initially find attractive. I used to go through long periods of celibacy in my 20's (and not notice the absence of sex). The Brian Kinney character in QAF is the polar opposite of me!
What I am trying to convey to young gays (and older ones as well) is educate yourself about safer sex, and try and figure out what you are comfortable doing. A significant number of young gays feel pressured to sleep around so they can relate better to others in the community.
Finally I would encourage all young gays to volunteer for youth outreach programs or youth counselling lines. The gay organizations (e.g. in Toronto ACT (AIDS Committee of Toronto)) are always looking for people in their teens and twenties to help their peers. After all in Toronto around 50% of new HIV infections among gay men were in the under 25 age group, a tragedy if there ever was one.
Cheers
JBE
Barebacking videos
I have seen them and I have never had unprotected anal sex. I think the problem in the gay community is lack of responsibility and maturity. And the whole controversy about bareback videos is part of that. If gay men are supposed to be so immature that seeing strangers having unprotected sex on a DVD or video makes us throw away our condoms, then there's not much hope for us, is there?
The culture of the gay community needs to grow up. Taking away videos won't change that.
I agree that
certain segments of the gay community need to act responsibly and grow up and I certainly would not suggest taking away gay adult videos. My concern is the mix messaging young gays are getting from seeing these videos. It makes the safer sex message that much harder to sell. Even more disturbing is when you here porn stars say the reason they do barebacking is that they do not believe HIV leads to AIDS! That really is disturbing.
Cheers
JBE
A couple comments and observations....
First of all, I am thankful for both JBE and Evan. The education I have received about being an out and about gay male in the last month or so that I have been on this site has been incredible. I am so thankful for everyone I have had the chance to interact with on this site. You are guys are incredible!
JBE and I have shared many messages about gay sexual health and avoiding HIV and what being positive means and how to be safe while still enjoying the sexual side of things. I appreciate his willingness to share from his experience so that others may not have to go through what he's gone through. Ok so sucking on flavored latex may not be as great as chocolate syrup on the real thing, but hey, if it keeps you negative and healthy, it's not such a bad thing.
And Evan with his 'ever at the ready' library of relevant articles, I feel like I can now teach a course on life and the gay man. In fact it did help me get an A on a Psychology paper. "How does being gay compound the psychological pressure of college?" My prof asked me if I could use my paper for his doctoral thesis. I said as long as I get an A he can use it for anything he wants! :) But I digress....
The point is, these two guys along with virtually everyone that posts on this site has come to terms with their sexuality. And while it was really rough for many and maybe not so rough for some of us, we have already bridged that gulf. But that gulf is different for everyone. For me, with rather liberal, very understanding parents, it wasn't so bad. For others with extremely conservative and traditional families, friends and occupations it maybe a much greater canyon with unknown depths.
While I agree with Jonathan that an A-lister like Jody Foster coming out could have an incredible affect on the gay community and the country as a whole, I also can see her side of the issue. What an incredible risk it might be to her career. I saw the interview that Wentworth Miller gave and he said that to act IS his life. He never wanted to do anything else and he can't see himself being happy doing anything else. That's an incredible risk to take, possibly never being able to act again or at least not at the level you once did. I'm no so sure that I would want to risk it. I like to think of myself as a very giving, and unselfish person, but taking a step that could ruin a career I've worked my entire life to achieve. That's a lot to ask of anyone, even Jody Foster.
GREAT job on the Vblog guys. You crack me up! Who was that masked man? :)
Justin
Wow
you have not posted in a while but you sure made up for lost time! Thank you for listening to my story and I hope you and others can learn from it. To me the positive impact one can have on others (especially those in ones' community) are amongst the greatest rewards life has to offer.
I understand where you come from regarding stars coming out, I guess in certain areas though the negative impact is exaggerated (especially movies and TV). Unfortunately, sports is a different story. I guess my view is who is going to be the GLBT equivalent of a Jackie Robinson or Ray Charles, a trailblazer, because without them we are stuck! Being Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transexual is nothing to be ashamed of and should not have any impact on one's job performance (I know I am preaching to the converted here) the more we are invisible the greater creedence we give to the view that we are ashamed of who we are and would rather be straight.
Finally, what job allows you to pose half-naked for a picture (unless this is a residence room)? I am not complaining mind you!
Cheers
JBE
That's a HOME office silly...
Although that would be a nice perk, not having to wear a shirt in the office. I hate putting clothes on when I don't have to.
Justin
I knew that
just wondered if I could get you to react to my teasing, and I got my answer, yes!
Cheers
JBE
Welcome back
Glad to see you posting again. Your contributions to our discussions have been missed. I'm also glad to see someone else shares my sentiments concerning chocolate syrup LOL. Like the new pic too.
P.S. Go ahead and ship me some snow and I'll box up a month's worth of 100 degree heat and humidity for ya just in time for Christmas :D
"It's your will against mine and you will lose." Clint Eastwood - Heartbreak Ridge
I'll send it next day air
Since I'm sure it would get lost and then melt. So how much would snow be worth to insure? :) It's good to have a few minutes to comment again. I was feeling repressed with having so much studying and school work to do that I couldn't get on here and keep up with all of the great articles.
Take care Celtic!
Justin
Too personal?
It seems that this becomes a privacy issue a lot more with gay celebs than with straight ones.
One Reason
is that when someone of note makes his/her homosexuality known, many times they cease to be just an actor, a singer or whatever and become "that gay actor" or "that gay singer". You never see the media referring to Brad Pitt as "that straight actor". People seem to want to focus on their sexuality rather than their accomplishments. Granted it is nice to have gay role models, but do we admire them because of their sexuality or for their contributions to society?
"It's your will against mine and you will lose." Clint Eastwood - Heartbreak Ridge
Unfortunately for Minorities
that is the price they pay for being themselves, Jackie Robinson was known as a "Negro" baseball player, not a baseball player. Gays are in a peculiar position because they are not obvious and can blend in to general society. This invisibility though can cause no end of grief not only for the individual but for the gay community as a whole.
I personally could not care a flying f**k whether any celebrities come out of the closet. They can stay buried in the closet under six feet of dirty clothes for all I care, because I am very comfortable with who I am, and quite happy that I am gay. However, for younger gays in this celebrity obssessed culture of ours, it would be great if more were out of the closet. Gay kids growing up today when criticized about their sexual orientation, could retort "yeah but so-and-so is gay". At the present time they cannot do that except for a few exceptions (e.g. Ellen DeGeneres). It is especially difficult for young gay jocks because they have no out gay role models that are presently playing a pro sport (despite there being persistent rumours about a significant # of gay pro athletes).
Cheers
JBE