PurpleRighteous1 said:

dJJ said:

Saying you are gay is very different then participating in media circus. You can be gay and still be private about your love life.

The problem with that statement is announcing their sexuality creates a media circus that wasn't there before. And that circus will cause all kinds of issues in that celebrity's life whether they participate further or not. When you don't give them a story they make one (or more) up.

This. It's like damn if you do and damn if you don't.

Timmy84 said:

PurpleRighteous1 said:

The problem with that statement is announcing their sexuality creates a media circus that wasn't there before. And that circus will cause all kinds of issues in that celebrity's life whether they participate further or not. When you don't give them a story they make one (or more) up.

This. It's like damn if you do and damn if you don't.

Nothing is going to change when everybody stays in the closet.

Societal norms change when individuals stretch majorities' norm.

I want to be clear, that I don't judge anybody for choosing their own direction. May it be silent or open about being gay. I just want to challenge the people who choose the easy way out; every decision and behavior by a media person reinforces the norm. Not that I like that. It's just how it is.

I don't think start have to expose their private life to the public. However, when somebody is gay and doesn't out that (bring partner to red carpet, shows or mention it in interviews) , that person silently reinforces the heteroseksual standard.

It's not important if anybody is gay or straight, however it's also not something to hide or be ashamed about.

I see it like this, even when folks do come out like that, it's cool but I guess I don't see how that can ever further the progress that community especially with those who were already "out" from the get. All I'm saying is it takes more than some famous celebrity to give about change in the homosexual (and bisexual and asexual) communities.

[Edited 6/9/12 16:52pm]

dJJ said:

PurpleRighteous1 said:

dJJ said:

Nothing is going to change when everybody stays in the closet.

Societal norms change when individuals stretch majorities' norm.

I want to be clear, that I don't judge anybody for choosing their own direction. May it be silent or open about being gay. I just want to challenge the people who choose the easy way out; every decision and behavior by a media person reinforces the norm. Not that I like that. It's just how it is.

I don't think start have to expose their private life to the public. However, when somebody is gay and doesn't out that (bring partner to red carpet, shows or mention it in interviews) , that person silently reinforces the heteroseksual standard.

It's not important if anybody is gay or straight, however it's also not something to hide or be ashamed about.

They're not in the closet. I'm sure the people who know them know the truth about their sexuality. Just because famous people decide not to tell the public about it doesn't mean they are in the closet. To my knowledge, none of the ppl mentioned have lied about it. They just told ppl to mind their own damn business and left it at that. Just because ppl want celebs to use their fame to bring awareness doesn't mean they have to. There are other ways and if particular celebs don't want to help in that way, there are plenty of other celebrities who will do it instead. You seem to think that if someone doesn't tell the world, then they are in the closet and that's not true.

Precisely this.

It's really not that hard to understand

I believe that everyone has the right to come out once they are ready to do so. I am not going to suspect, belittle and force people to come out of the closet if they are not ready to do it.

What difference does it make? Are they hurting anybody? If they are they are if they aren't they aren't. So what? This is part of the reason why the suicide rate among LGBT youth are so high. Can't even fucking be themselves without someone having a problem.

Asymphony5 said:

I believe that everyone has the right to come out once they are ready to do so. I am not going to suspect, belittle and force people to come out of the closet if they are not ready to do it.

Ottensen said:

PurpleRighteous1 said:

dJJ said: They're not in the closet. I'm sure the people who know them know the truth about their sexuality. Just because famous people decide not to tell the public about it doesn't mean they are in the closet. To my knowledge, none of the ppl mentioned have lied about it. They just told ppl to mind their own damn business and left it at that. Just because ppl want celebs to use their fame to bring awareness doesn't mean they have to. There are other ways and if particular celebs don't want to help in that way, there are plenty of other celebrities who will do it instead. You seem to think that if someone doesn't tell the world, then they are in the closet and that's not true.

Precisely this.

It's really not that hard to understand

@Ottensen It's jsut a discussion, food for tought. Not a pissing contest. It's not about me 'not understanding'you. I'm tempted to think you don't understand what I'm conveying. Maybe it's not black/white simplistic enough for you?

ScarletScandal said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Raven? i must have missed this one.

Really? She's giving all kinds of dyke vibes off with that picture up there

True. But I never saw that picture before.

dJJ said:

Ottensen said:

Precisely this.

It's really not that hard to understand

@Ottensen It's jsut a discussion, food for tought. Not a pissing contest. It's not about me 'not understanding'you. I'm tempted to think you don't understand what I'm conveying. Maybe it's not black/white simplistic enough for you?

I never implied it was a pissing contest, dear. Those are your words, not mine. For the record, I'm not interested in that sort of thing. I understand it's a discussion, just one where I feel one way about the topic, and you clearly feel another. So be it.

As for not understanding me or me not understanding you, I highly doubt that on either side of the coin actually. I do however see that there is a contingent in society that refuses to accept that people have the right to private lives without carrying a banner announcing who they sleep with for public consumption, and this is what I took from your post however it was intended. I fully support anyone who doesn't feel that they have to make a public declaration about their sexuality one way or the other, period, and that's not going to change.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

a large majority of people in this society still stigmatize LGBT community or people there of. imo baiting someone or prying into their personal lives to expose a very private part of the human psyche, is more like an insult.

i stretch my opinion by adding a sidebar:

LGBT jokes are very offensive, and equally offensive are the people that ask, inquire, gossip and waste time with what they feel is a "need to know."

wake up!

q.is it really anyone's business. what you/i do behind your/my closed doors, or who you/i hug and smile at in public?

a. no. is not your/my business or anyone else's, unless you/i voluntarily want or wish for you/me to know.

perhaps these three people discuss nosy people with their peers. maybe the say:

"GTFOH, and stay the FO my personal business!"

"i'm generation Y, as in Y don't y'all get in some time for your own lives!"

"i've paid my dues, my personal business is not built around you!" "myob pls."

We need more visual aids up in this joint

Raven's recent appearance on Wendy:

I hear you guys. And maybe I'm viewing it to much from a Dutch perspective. To me one can come forward as gay or straight, without having your privat life or partner discussed in the tabloids.

I understand why the rich & famous protect their privacy.

However, not being upfront about it implies that it should be kept secret because it's not okay.

Well, judgement is in the eye of the beholder. And I know it's easy to vent an opinion then actually have to live up to one.

ottensen said:

wow, Ms Symone has reached adulthood in a beautificant way. imo, she's intelligent, poised, real and wonderfully beautiful, which equals awesome qualifications in today's woman. more power to her.

i liked the way she skated over her "out and about at the greenhouse" statement. i mean it's like raven had a 50/50% control over the interview.

she seems so

thx 4 posting interview.

[Edited 6/10/12 12:41pm]

smoothcriminal12 said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Mr. Broadus, Jr's expression here is priceless.

Queen La on Wendy:

As usual she is engaging. She's grown into quite a powerful Hollywood player through the years, but always come off as funny and down to earth. I met her at the Delano Hotel once in the 90's (pre-Jeanette Jenkins). She had great hair without her pieces in, and was much smaller in person. Basically just "big-boned-ed", but not as plus sized as you would think from the way she photographs. Kinda the same like Jill Scott, and both very attractive women, with a strong yet humble presence when you talk to them one on one :

[Edited 6/10/12 13:48pm]

dJJ said:

I hear you guys. And maybe I'm viewing it to much from a Dutch perspective. To me one can come forward as gay or straight, without having your privat life or partner discussed in the tabloids.

I understand why the rich & famous protect their privacy.

However, not being upfront about it implies that it should be kept secret because it's not okay.

Well, judgement is in the eye of the beholder. And I know it's easy to vent an opinion then actually have to live up to one.

Well for all these years, Queen looks to me like she's as upfront as she needs to be and regardless of whether anyone else is okay with her publicly coming forward, she looks like she's okey-dope like soap on a rope regardless, and that's what matters most.

As for not having your private life discussed in tabloids whether you're gay or straight, apparently you don't know American tabloids, and especially how brutal the urban tabloid market can be. Given the time, perhaps I'll throw one or two headline samples into the thread tomorrow.

free2bfreeda said:

ottensen said:

wow, Ms Symone has reached adulthood in a beautificant way. imo, she's intelligent, poised, real and wonderfully beautiful, which equals awesome qualifications in today's woman. more power to her.

i liked the way she skated over her "out and about at the greenhouse" statement. i mean it's like raven had a 50/50% control over the interview.

she seems so

thx 4 posting interview.

[Edited 6/10/12 12:41pm]

[Edited 6/12/12 14:22pm]

prodigalfan said:

ScarletScandal said:

Really? She's giving all kinds of dyke vibes off with that picture up there

True. But I never saw that picture before.

For Ravens images that's just edgy not lesbionic

PurpleRighteous1 said:

dJJ said:

Nothing is going to change when everybody stays in the closet.

Societal norms change when individuals stretch majorities' norm.

I want to be clear, that I don't judge anybody for choosing their own direction. May it be silent or open about being gay. I just want to challenge the people who choose the easy way out; every decision and behavior by a media person reinforces the norm. Not that I like that. It's just how it is.

I don't think start have to expose their private life to the public. However, when somebody is gay and doesn't out that (bring partner to red carpet, shows or mention it in interviews) , that person silently reinforces the heteroseksual standard.

It's not important if anybody is gay or straight, however it's also not something to hide or be ashamed about.

They're not in the closet. I'm sure the people who know them know the truth about their sexuality. Just because famous people decide not to tell the public about it doesn't mean they are in the closet. To my knowledge, none of the ppl mentioned have lied about it. They just told ppl to mind their own damn business and left it at that. Just because ppl want celebs to use their fame to bring awareness doesn't mean they have to. There are other ways and if particular celebs don't want to help in that way, there are plenty of other celebrities who will do it instead. You seem to think that if someone doesn't tell the world, then they are in the closet and that's not true.

True, and there are alot of 'str8' celebs that don't let you into their personal/love lives as far as publicity is concerned

Really sad that black entertainers are still kind of forced in the closet not to risk their careers. It seems like it's more acceptable for white entertainers. they are usually patted on the back for doing it.

Neal Patrick Harris is gay. Yet, I very seldom hear anyone mention it. He has the starring role on a hit TV show. I don't see the paparazzi following him, gossiping about him or making up stories about him.

Then there is Ellen, Elton and Melisa Ethridge. After Ellen came out, she got her own talk show and became the spokesperson for Revlon or whatever makeup company that is.

Mellisa is considered a Rock icon. When I've seen stories about her in the past, her lesbianism was never the main topic of discussion.

Elton is musical royalty. We don't even have to go into that.

But, the only publically out mainstream gay entertainers that I can think of are Tracey Chapman, Mishell N'Degeochello and Rupaul. All the rest have chosen to remain silent. So do you think if a black entertainer officially comes out that they are more likely to be denied a lot of opportunities and be relegated to a gay-only audience?

I think its important for black people to continue to come out in order to break all of the sterotypes that are out there.

[Edited 6/11/12 16:56pm]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

free2bfreeda said:

ottensen said:

wow, Ms Symone has reached adulthood in a beautificant way. imo, she's intelligent, poised, real and wonderfully beautiful, which equals awesome qualifications in today's woman. more power to her.

i liked the way she skated over her "out and about at the greenhouse" statement. i mean it's like raven had a 50/50% control over the interview.

she seems so

thx 4 posting interview.

[Edited 6/10/12 12:41pm]

Wonder why she never discusses when she was close room mates with L-----y Loha-

No big mystery there. She's discussed that plenty of times. When asked, she she discusses that time in her life at length. Besides, when most people ask her about this in interviews they draw paralells between the two young women and try to figure out how Lohan became such a public wild child in comparison to Raven, who has spent her young adulthood working consistently and staying out of trouble.

Raven Simone aint gay....she like the dick. Peeps call her gay because she prefer white men over black men and some black men are non-pleased. Allegedly. Plus she's a boss business woman and if she were gay she would be gay. Its not like coming out would hurt her career; shit it might bring her more fans and more money.

Queen is gay we all know it and the pics are out there but I think she has family issues that prevent her from coming out. Also, she doesn't appear to like the press all up in her business and I can't say I blame her.

Freddie come from church folk and I bet he will go to the grave with that secret if you can call it a secret.

Maybe....just maybe....they aren't necessarily in denial but just biding their time to when they can feel comfortable talking about it. OR maybe....just maybe....they are bisexual and therefore don't consider themselves gay and obligated to announce themselves as such.

i luv this emoticon, i also used it in another thread.

like i'm choosing to make it do the eye-rolling in response to all this controversy over:

"am i, (he, or she) straight or gay!"

controversy

controversy

controversy

controversy

controversy

controversy

prince sang those "words," not me.

however, all pov-s in this thread are worth reading and listening to imo.

i remember when another orger posted this quote.

free2bfreeda said:

i luv this emoticon, i also used it in another thread.

like i'm choosing to make it do the eye-rolling in response to all this controversy over:

"am i, (he, or she) straight or gay!"

controversy

controversy

controversy

controversy

controversy

controversy

prince sang those "words," not me.

however, all pov-s in this thread are worth reading and listening to imo.

i remember when another orger posted this quote.

“I am not in this world to live up to other people's expectations, nor do I feel that the world must live up to mine.”

Fritz Perle i really try to live up to this quote.

I'm stealing this lol