One of the most frustrating interviews I’ve ever read was Nathan Lane’s coming out interview in The Advocate. It was after the Matthew Sheppard murder (looong after Birdcage) and he felt like it was his responsibility to come out. What rubbed me the wrong way was his response to why he didn’t officially come out before. He said something along the lines of, “I thought everyone already knew.”
I have a bad feeling that is where we’re going with Jodie Foster. I’m not outing the woman. Out took care of that earlier this summer. I should first say that the money she’s thrown at the problem of gay suicide is commendable. But in an interview with More magazine, Foster talks about raising her kids and makes it sound like she’s doing it all by herself, life-partner be damned.
Every once in a while I’ll have one of those days when I’ve fed the fish, cleaned 10 poops from the patio, taken the cat to the vet, sewn my son’s stupid karate stars on until my fingers bleed and made sure that he has everything, and he wakes up and goes, ‘Oh, what’s for breakfast?’ He doesn’t know, and why should he? Right?
The magazine does try to get personal, but Jodie came prepared.
My life is my life. I’m not going to change my life for anybody. I don’t have any problems with it. I just don’t talk about my health, my dad, who I voted for or what I think of the death penalty, because that would be trivializing my life, selling it for a magazine.
Yes, Jodie, because there is no other value in stating you are a proud lesbian but to sell magazines. Worthless. Oh, and consider this comment from Foster on her distaste for plastic surgery.
I’d rather have (someone) comment about who I am than about something that identifies me as being ashamed of who I am.
And what would you be ashamed of …
2 Comments
I must differ with your opinion. There is no reason for a gay or lesbian to be ashamed of who he/she is and how they live. But, it is their business. If they choose to come out to be a role model, that is their choice and no different than someone talking about a personal issue in order to bring attention to that issue. It is not a responsibility. No one asks a heterosexual to declare themselves and I doubt that anyone would LIKE it if people were running around digging into their garbage to find out about their lives.
Think of it this way: Until the day when it does not matter what color, religion or sexual orientation you are, or whether you can get a job or a raise in spite of your “inferior gender” or health coverage for your partner because of THEIR gender, we are not equal. When it no longer matters and we don’t have to carry the banner, then we can say it is done. Until then, I think we ought to leave the decisions of who is out and who is not to the individuals and stop judging them for their percevied selfishness or cowardice.
part of the ongoing stigma on sexuality with celebs i believe, has more to do with propaganda and jealousy. let he who is without sin (or a non-conventional conformity to this life) cast the first stone…sticks and stones….but names can never hurt…. pronounce a flaw society deems such on a majority bases about a successful person to peg them down a size is non productive and a waste of time and energy that could be used to actually live life accepting and encouraging others to live to their fullest based on who they are, not what they are…