Famous Queer Folk - The Gossip/Rumor thread

[Culzean]

I can understand why celebrities want to maintain their privacy. Jennifer Lopez has done a complete 180 in the way she publicly handles her current relationship with Marc Anthony vs. her previous one with Ben Affleck. The JenBen thing was total insanity.

I read an interview with Cynthia Nixon in which she confirmed that she's in a relationship with another woman, and she's happy, but that's all she'll say. She said if she opens the door and talks about her sexuality, that's all anyone will ask her about.

So far, this approach seems to working for her both personally and professionally. I hope it continues. It would be nice if an actor could be honest, maintain their privacy, and not experience their sexuality having a negative impact on the roles they're offered.

[Candleshoe]

We humans never have much of a problem gossiping about straight marriages and engagements in our real lives or those of celebrities - no-one was expected to respect Monica Lewinsky's privacy! but I agree with Sally that we only seem to be asked to "respect privacy" when someone thinks there is something to hide, for whatever reason. If we want equality everywhere, do we think that should include equal press intrusion and idle speculation? Or do we think that press instrusion and idle speculation are bad across the board? In which case, maybe we need to stop buying gossip magazines!

I am on a very sticky-wicket here (how English is that phrase! I mean that I am treading on thin ice..) because I happen to like idle speculation. I don't wander up to famous people and interrogate them till they tell me the answers, and I'm obviously not in favour of reporters doing that. But when people become actors, celebrities, etc, I tend to assume that they had a fair idea that there would be some publicity involved, and that they would have to engage in some way with the wider public. They must also know that some topics will be off-limits and some will be OK when they walk into an interview. If they can't work out how to form a sentance without saying something daft, they surely need more PR training? I could call that The George Bush problem...

And I'm not talking in gay context here, although the principles could be applied. I'm talking about the "celebrities" who are happy to pose topless for a photoshoot, but then thump the photographer who gets a shot of them falling drunkenly out of a nightclub. Or the people who are happy to parade around with latest dolly-bird on their arm when it comes to promoting something, but decide that questions about their private lives aren't appropriate at any other time.

I believe that everybody has a right to keep their personal lives personal, but they can't just decide when to be private and when to be public about certain things, can they? Didn't some of these people sign up for a lack of privacy when they decided they wanted to be a star? (cough*Paris Hilton*cough)

Just my thoughts, please don't all shout at me at once!

[billy]

Anyway, I was thinking about the contrast between someone who is rumored to be gay and says they're a private person, and Jennifer Beals's interview in The Advocate. Jennifer Beals is probably one of the most private celebrities around, not even telling the interviewer the name of her dogs, yet she had no problem saying general things like "My husband and I..." It's not like the interviewer was asking whether she was straight or not, but the point is she's a private person and mentioned her husband.

I don't think that's something we're ever going to get away from. Most straight people wouldn't even realise that saying they have a wife or husband is giving out personal information.

It doesn't really matter if an actor is gay or not but sometimes it's nice to know and fun to speculate, particularly if they're playing a gay character. I was pleased to find out the the actor playing a bi character in Doctor Who was gay and that some of the guys in Queer as Folk are gay, and it would be nice to know that there is a lesbian actress playing a lesbian in The L Word, but gay, straight or bi Katherine Moennig is damned convincing as Shane. In fact I had always assumed that she was straight but wanted to suggest that she might be gay.

I read an interview with Cynthia Nixon in which she confirmed that she's in a relationship with another woman, and she's happy, but that's all she'll say.

It's understandable. At least one of the UK tabloids printed a really nasty story about Cynthia and her girlfriend.

[Candleshoe]

I swear that I read somewhere about Patricia Routledge (Keeping Up Appearances) being gay - but I can't find it now. I'm sure the rumour also mentioned that she was seeing Moira Stewart (a newsreader in the UK)....

Was the rumour ever actually substantiated? Or is it the kind of gob-smackingly strange stuff that we usually read in the tabloids?

[urnofosiris]

Actually I posted about that in august 2005, it is on the previous page of this thread, but as I do so love to hear myself talk, I'll quote myself.

This amused me, Sheridan would be appalled I tell you!

From imdb:


Biography for
Patricia Routledge


.....She has never married or had children, has said that she will not retire, and lives in Kensington and Surrey when not working........


Longtime companion of artist Phyllis Claymore.



I did a quick google to see if this means what it sounds like. Those two names landed me at a datalounge blurb which I can´t view right now as it is too busy apparently. Could not find anything else really, but whatever, it still gave me a chuckle.

[Candleshoe]

Thank you DrG - I knew I had read it somewhere, but I thought I had checked these pages more carefully than that! Sorry...

A quick google today leads me to much discussion on the Wikipedia forums. Unfortunately, tthe usual bad spelling and txtspk has put me off believing much of it. She may (or may not) be linked variously with Phyllis Claymore, Pam St Clement (Eastenders) and Betty Boothroyd (the ex-speaker of the House of Commons ). So far I have had the biggest laugh of my day, but not found any more reliable information.

Think I may just give up digging, but carry on smirking...

[umgaynow]

I was reading this book the other day and I found out someone was queer who I never knew about...kind of a wild one...Ellen Corby...the grandma from The Waltons...cool huh?

[emma peel]

Add Will Geer (Grandpa Walton) to the list. Just "google" and you'll find a bunch of stuff.
I liked this in particular, from David Ehrenstein's book Faking It: "Hollywood's New York Marriages:"

“Marriage is the 'casting couch' for society,” gay activist Harry Hay dryly remarked when I interviewed him for my book. Hay knew whereof he spoke for both he and his lover, Will Geer, surrendered to the couch back in the thirties. According to Hay's biographer Timmons, Hay and Geer had “made a full commitment to the Communist party and the party held a firm position against homosexuality.” And so they somewhat reluctantly parted and found themselves wives

[billy]

I noticed the other day that Jorja Fox's official site now has a recording of her singing a song she apparently wrote herself. It's called Satellite and it's first few lines are:
"I met a girl, she turned my world
upside down
Met a girl, she blew my mind
Everything feels fine".

Hmmm, makes me wonder....

I like this quote from an interview Jorja gave recently:

"As I got older I really got into Charlie's Angels and The Bionic Man and The Bionic Woman; there were some really cool shows on TV at that time with badass chicks in high heels walking around arresting people."

[Gatito Grande]

OK, this is a little awkward.

On the one hand, it's great that another young actress has Come Out, right?

On the other, the reason we will have heard of this actress here, is distinctly off-topic. You can read all about it in the (AfterEllen) interview below---but be forewarned that it contains off-topic subjects and pictures

Iyari Limon has Come Out


GG There's a lot of irony here---that's all I can say... Out

[Auburn]

Is it just me, or during that interview did Iyari Limon seem like she was on some sort of drug? And how the heck do you say her name, anyway?

[Candleshoe]

I saw that on AfterEllen this morning (and it was the catalyst for my "I Told You So dance" that I mentioned in the Random thread). Wasn't sure if I could mention it here, but as someone wiser and cleverer than me has - then I guess a Yay is in order.

Now we just need Eliza, Jorja, and the girl who flirted with me at the petrol station today to come out and form a beach volleyball team together, and I could die happy...

Wanna help referee, GG?

[billy]

Wow, I didn't see that coming. Good for her.

I like what she had to see about the L Word. Not exactly a big surprise that they're hiring actresses that appeal to straight guys but interesting to hear how different Carmen could have been.

And I like her taste in women.

[Rocktoddy]

Dang! Iyari Limon can totally add me onto her list of fans now. (Who knew I would ever say that )

She seems like a very interesting person, someone I bet you'd never have a single dull moment with . Oh and the short hair certainly doesn't do her any wrong either, no sirree

[Garner]

Didn't she say back when she was on BtVS that she was surprised to be playing Willow's love interest and didn't she seem very awkward doing that role? Wooden and stiff to say the least? This seems very surprising to me, is all. I never had anything against LL personally, but still hate the role on Buffy with a vengeance.

Garner

[Culzean]

Ok, I've heard rumors about financial guru Suze Ormand being gay before, but it sure seemed like she outed herself at the Daytime Emmy Awards show on Friday. Or, has she been officially out all this time and I just didn't know it?

For those who didn't see the show, Suze Ormand won for Best Host - Service Show. When her name was announced, she kissed the woman sitting next to her (a very attractive woman with very short hair). She then went up on stage and, among other things, thanked her producers -one of whom was named Kathy Travers.

At the end her speech, Suze held up her Emmy and said "K.T. - this one's for you. I love you!"

The camera then cut to K.T., who was blowing a kiss to Suze.

It was very sweet.

That was toward the end of the show. In the beginning, Ellen won for Best Talk Show Host. She began with a kiss to her girlfriend, and then ended her speech with "And Portia...I love ya!"

Again, very sweet.

Also, there was something amusing around the middle of the program. You ever watch a comedy show, and the comedian will make a joke referencing African Americans, and then the camera immediately flies to the one African American couple in the crowd to get their reaction?

Well, Barbara Walters and Rosie O'Donnell walked onto the stage, had a little repartee, then Barbara officially announced that Rosie would be replacing Meredith Viera on The View. Then, zoom, the camera is right on Ellen to get her reaction.

I thought it was amusing.

[Kieli]

Well, Barbara Walters and Rosie O'Donnell walked onto the stage, had a little repartee, then Barbara officially announced that Rosie would be replacing Meredith Viera on The View. Then, zoom, the camera is right on Ellen to get her reaction.

I thought it was amusing.

Personally I loved Meredith Viera and am sad to see her go. I wish to freaking hell they'd get rid of Joy Behar. If ever there was someone who made me wish I owned a firearm, it's her. She makes me want to give her a buckshot kiss.

[urnofosiris]

Thanks for the report on the award show Culzean, it sounds like it was both amusing and positive. I wish I could have seen it.

[Gatito Grande]

A Billy Masters (gay gossip maven) blind item:

Could it be that a certain bilingual babe has been flitting around the Big Apple with that terribly attractive lady lover? Ever since these two were thrown together as co-presenters, tongues have been wagging that the two are more than friends. The sexy starlet and the grounded guru? A high-flying combination, to be sure, but one that has all the ingredients for a spicy dish that will leave you wanting more. Stranger things have happened.

Anyone want to play?

GG I love guessing blind items---but so far, this one has me stumped! Out

[Culzean]

If there is a God, the "bilingual babe" will be Salma Hayak!

[WillowsGirlXX]

Movie Actress Jill Bennett who stared in the movie In her line of fire, she is openly gay. Pretty cute too. Check out the movie as well, Mariel Hemmingway plays a lesbian secret service agent and Jill is her love interest. Not a bad film really.

Rachel

[billy]

Anyone know if Andy Hallett is gay? My gaydar is pretty bad and I may be reading too much into the roles he's played but he seems pretty gay to me. I remember hearing about him having a girlfriend, but was it a girlfriend girlfriend or just a friend girlfriend, and in an interview I read some time ago he said he wanted to stay single forever. With his taste in music he's got to be at least a little gay surely.

[Candleshoe]

I can't believe I'm the only one who picked up on this little snippet:

From GCN

BILLIE WANTS A WOMAN
03 May 2006
Doctor Who star Billie Piper is rather partial to the ladies. She told New Woman magazine: "Yeah, I fancy women big time... I check them out more than I check men out.

"Maybe I would want to sleep with a woman... Not Beyonce, although I like the look of her, I don't think she's that dirty."

[WillowsGirlXX]

I guess that means she's over Chris Evans her ex husband

[Candleshoe]

I guess that means she's over Chris Evans

I was always surprised that she was under him. That marriage was the UK equivalent of Tom 'n' Katie - in other words: bonkers, but on a smaller scale

[WillowsGirlXX]

I was always surprised that she was under him. That marriage was the UK equivalent of Tom 'n' Katie - in other words: bonkers, but on a smaller scale

LOL, yeah it was a surprise, and ok not something i want to dwell on either. lol

[billy]

"I don't think she's that dirty."

Hmmm.

I remember when pictures of Pink kissing a woman appeared in the UK tabloids Beyonce said God wouldn't allow her to do that. Another hmmm. Hopefully I'm reading too much into what they said. I don't believe Billie would mean it negatively but I've no idea about Beyonce.

I was always surprised that she was under him. That marriage was the UK equivalent of Tom 'n' Katie - in other words: bonkers, but on a smaller scale

Bonkers indeed. And Chris being a dirty old man. I got the impression that they were always just friends rather than lovers, maybe confusing love with being in love.

[FemaleOfTheSpecies]

Billie Piper huh?

[Gatito Grande]

When it comes to the Tony Awards, it's never about "gossip" or "rumors"---it's about outness, glorious OUTness!!!

When Cynthia Nixon's name was announced in nomination, not only was I rooting for her to win (cuz I just love her so), but I was hoping we would see her partner. She did, and we did! (when she kissed her partner, upon hearing her win* announced! )

[I believe it was the winner of "Best Director of a Play" who kissed his partner, and thanked him upon his win]

GG The Tonies are that magical place, wherein you can, um, make-believe that we're the normal ones, and the straights are this strange (though tolerable ) minority... Out

* Best Performance in a Play by an Actress in a Leading Role

[WillowsGirlXX]

I read that about Cynthia Nixon on Afterellen.com really pleased for her.

I had a crush on her when i was watching sex and the city, I'm glad she's so happy with her girlfriend.

Rachel

Edited to add, I saw last year about out Actress Cherry Jones and her girlfriend Sarah Poulson. They look so cute together.