Sexuality in the Spotlight

Neil Patrick Harris (2006) at the age of 27

"The public eye has always been kind to me, and until recently I have been able to live a pretty normal life. Now it seems there is speculation and interest in my private life and relationships.

"So, rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love."

[1]

Elton John (1976) at the age of 29

George Michael (early 90's) in his early 20's

Adamo Ruggiero (2008) at the age of 22

Ellen Degeneres (1997) at the age of 46

Gays and lesbians everywhere celebrated Ellen’s coming out. Parties and gala events were held around the country. One station in Birmingham, AL refused to air the show and Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) swooped down there and with Birmingham Pride put on private showings for 3,000 local Ellen fans.

“I experienced both sides of it because when I came out, everything was great. I was ‘entertainer of the year,’ and I was one of the ‘ten most fascinating people.’ And it was a whole year of celebrating Ellen. And then it went to the complete opposite end. Suddenly I had become this person that everybody was saying, "Oh, I hate her. Oh, I love her." And I heard about all of it. It just got to be where I couldn't watch TV without somebody saying something mean. I was the punch line of every joke, like Monica Lewinsky.”

Lance Bass (2006) at the age of 27

"I knew that I was in this popular band and I had four other guys' careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said (that I was gay), it would overpower everything, I didn’t know: Could that be the end of ’N Sync? So I had that weight on me of like, ‘Wow, if I ever let anyone know, it's bad.' So I just never did, I’m not ashamed – that’s the one thing I want to say," he explains of his decision to come out. "I don't think it's wrong, I'm not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy than I’ve been my whole life. I'm just happy. The main reason I wanted to speak my mind was that (the rumors) really were starting to affect my daily life. Now it feels like it's on my terms. I'm at peace with my family, my friends, myself and God so there's really nothing else that I worry about."

[2]

Portia De Rossi - came out as a teen

George Takei (2005) at the age of 70

"It's not really coming out, which suggests opening a door and stepping through. It's more like a long, long walk through what began as a narrow corridor that starts to widen."

"[LGBT people] are masculine, we are feminine, we are caring, we are abusive. We are just like straight people, in terms of our outward appearance and our behavior. The only difference is that we are oriented to people of our own gender."

[3]

Cynthia Nixon (2004) at the age of 38