Alex brings up a lot of good points.

I don't think anyone who doesn't want to talk about their private life should feel obligated to talk about it. Anyone who wants to, should be able to.

If Nancy Regan wants to talk about being adopted, Pamela wants to talk about her Hepatitis C and Woody Harrelson wants to talk about his father and how they over come the stigmas attached to their challenges, they should. It may reach someone struggling with the same issue and they can see that they aren't the only one's who have a not so pleasant past or family tree/history. And if they all want to remain mum about it then it is their prerogative.

This is precisely what my college professors used to tell us. (Quite wisely, I might add.)

I kinda like secrets - I think it's cool when things are uncovered long after the fact. I want my stars to be able to have an shroud of mystery, should they desire it.

Yes, propriety is motivation. It can even be the motivation not to discuss your sex life.

Do you suppose that's really the motivation why most closeted people don't reveal they're gay?

I think it may be fine for those that don't want to reveal their fetishes. ;)



But what is propriety anyway? Is it really a sincere concern for the feelings of others? Or is it fear by another name?

I'm gay. But it's no one else's business that I'm a bottom.







Oops.





:D

I think sometimes we resort to privacy becasue that way we can control the context of a message. I think one of the great proplems people in the public world face is that they are defined by bits of information taken out of context - let's face it being labled straight or gay really doesn't say a whole lot about who you really are as a person, we're far to complex for that.

I believe WWN is still being published. I am pretty sure I saw an issue at the store within the last couple of weeks.

Their web site appears to be still active.

So here's what I'm wondering. Was she really in the closet? Has her refusal to address it until now been a defacto admission or denial? I'm sure that with all the rumors that have circulated about her, at some time someone had to have flat out asked her, "Are you gay?" If she said "No" then obviously she was lying and choosing to hang out with R Kelly in the closet. But if she refused to answer, then she's not denying it, so is she really "closeted" or is she just happily being mysterious. Because (IMO) if she's never said, "No, I am not gay," knowing full well that so many people believed that she was, then she hasn't been living in the closet, she just hasn't been running for the spotlight either. Which, by the way, is very admirable I believe.

I guess the point is, do you have to actually deny being gay when faced with others believing that you are in order to be "in the closet?" Or can you simply be someone who just, ya know, happens to swing that way but doesn't dwell on it and instead focuses on other important aspects of your life, such as say, a brilliant acting career?

This is going to look much more cryptic than it's meant to be, due to lack of time on my part. But if you don't know The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life by Erving Goffman, find it. You'll find it compelling and illuminating, mon cher Christophe.