Do Celebrities Have A Responsibility To Come Out Of The Closet? (POLL)

Last week we kicked off our brand new series, Poll Position, with a poll on the advantages and disadvantages of using the glitter bomb as an activist tactic.

This week our Poll Position question revolves around celebrities coming out of the closet.

While attending the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards earlier this month, "White Collar" star Matt Bomer came out by acknowledging his partner, publicist Simon Halls, and their children. While many already believed and/or considered Bomer to be gay, this was the first time that he publicly acknowledged his family.

Though more and more celebrities continue to come out, it wouldn't be an understatement to say that there are still many gay, lesbian, and bisexual stars who have not publicly revealed their sexuality.

Many argue that as people with positions of incredible visibility, closeted celebrities do a disservice to the LGBT community by not being honest about who they are. They also insist that these stars have a responsibility to reveal their sexuality to show that there is no shame in being gay and in an effort to change mainstream society's perceptions LGBT lives with their influence.

Others believe that sexuality is a personal matter and that if someone wants to remain closeted, they should be entitled to do so.

Where do you stand? Vote and then sound off in the comments section. And once you've logged your opinion, check out our slideshow of stars who've come out of the closet below.

Quick Poll

Do you think gay celebrities have a responsibility to be honest about their sexuality?

Yes. If they remain closeted they send a message that being gay is shameful and by coming out their visibility and influence can help change the way that mainstream society views the LGBT community.

No. Sexuality is a personal matter and they don't owe anything to anyone.

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Comments

[Capricious Capricorn]

12:35 PM on 02/20/2012

Celebrities private lives are their own business. It should be up to them if the wish to share their sexual persuasion with their public. They do not 'owe' their private lives to us.

I don't care who is gay or straight. All are created equal. That is all that is and should be important to us.

[haganj3]

10:18 AM on 02/20/2012

This is difficult to answer. I feel they should come out on their own terms. Not by someone else or a tabloid. I always knew Matt Bomer would acknowledge his life with his kids and husband Simon Halls, I just felt he would when he was ready. And he did. It wasn't like he was hiding who he is and never pretended to be someone else in public. Bomer is a true man for that.

I think with all of the negatives out there about gay people and the fight for equality, I feel more people of celebrity should come out, and the bullying running rampant, teen suicide, it's beneficial to come out. I'd like to see more of it but on their terms.

[Jeff Shapter]

08:27 AM on 02/20/2012

There needs to be a 3rd option: YES, but *all* gay people have a responsibility to come out. The fact is that the only legitimate reason for anyone to keep his or her sexuality a secret is because of the persecution faced at the hands of a bigoted society. Since we as individuals can't just say to society, "Accept all people!", by coming out we can eliminate the ability for society to keep us down.

[jonandian]

11:06 PM on 02/19/2012

No one has to come out. But when a celebrity comes out and says its ok to be gay and proud it does nothing but help the gay community. It also shows everyone that there are gays in every act of life. the more people come out the more people will meet gay people and see we are normal and just want to have the same rights as everyone else. That is all we want.

[OS2Guy]

08:01 PM on 02/19/2012

Sorry but as an openly gay man all my life who married a heterosexual man (that is, a divorced heterosexual man who had never been in a same sex relationship) I believe anyone who is gay, closeted or not, should openly admit their sexuality. As long as they hide it they hurt the other members of the gay community as well as themselves.

When my husband finally admitted he was in love with me I was willing to keep our relationship on 'the down low' because I loved him. The longer we were together the more he saw how unfair and humiliating it was for both of us. One night at a family dinner he announced our relationship. His parents/sister were accepting, not caring what his sexual preference was tho' surprised because he had previously been married to his college girlfriend for 6 years.

Once out he became free to be the man he is today. Prior to that he would never be intimate in public, i.e., an arm over my shoulder, whisper in my ear, kiss me hello or goodbye - but that all changed when he was free to be himself.

So that's what closeted gay people have to live with. Fear and unhappiness. If you are gay and hiding your sexual preference you will never be really happy and will always live your life in the shadows. Life is much to short and it could all end tomorrow.

[StevenWells]

12:36 PM on 02/19/2012

It probably wouldn't be an issue for an actor were it not for the strange, MPD-afflic­ted nature of the business. My sense is that the viewing public is really out ahead of the industry on this, caring less about it than most within it (or those within related publicity-­promotion-­journalism industries­... or politics).

In spite of what is so often heard about "Hollywood liberal values," it's not at all a homogeneou­s business. Depending on the circle[s] in which one moves, it can appear as conservati­ve (labor crews, carpenters­, "techs"), liberal (clerical, artistic) or closeted (executive and "talent") as any.

The higher one goes on either of those last two ladders is where things get dicey, and it's by executives that roadblocks to performers­' careers are put in place. I've known of as many closeted executives as performers­, but even an out, open one is as likely as any to take the attitude of, "The public just won't accept it/you" when confronted with the issue of a performer coming out, or the career advancemen­t of one who already is.

That's to be expected when protecting the bottom line is the primary concern and a don't-rock­-the-boat mindset prevails, but it sadly perpetuate­s the effect of prejudices that, ironically­, the public is overcoming faster than the industry is

[Susan Silverstein]

12:54 AM on 02/22/2012

This is a really good analysis of Hollywood hypocracy. It seems that when agents or studio chiefs address problems in their gay 'community'circles, they perpetuate some really sick outcomes. .their frenzied over-drive to keep a Star's orientation hidden, results in an audience tiltalated by the subject & fixated on the actor's private life and problems instead of the movie or music they are trying to promote.

[Sean Lawlor]

09:48 AM on 02/19/2012

I agree with someone below; it's not a responsibility per se, but I would hope that if they felt willing/able and that their careers wouldn't be too adversely impacted, then they would do it so those kids that are struggling can continue to see more people out and proud.

Confession: I used the word "impacted" because sometimes I forget the difference between "affect" and "effect".

[DanielSC]

07:06 AM on 02/19/2012

Responsibility, no. But I hope they realize that role models are important and having society see LGBT people in mainstream America is crucial in ensuring future generations (LGBT and straight) do not have to struggle though so much hate and intolerance. It is a privilege! I hope they take it and run with it!

[Freddie27]

12:11 AM on 02/19/2012

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Matt Bomer is a private citizen! What he discloses about his private life is HIS choice and HIS alone!

P.S. He's also outrageously hot.

[mbhanson86]

09:23 AM on 02/19/2012

yes, which is why I was happy when he came out...but no he didn't have to

[Tony JohnsonLA]

11:39 PM on 02/18/2012

The only thing truly important that is gained every time a known Actor, or Business person or Politician comes out of the closet if the chance for that individual to effect the attitudes of those that look up to that person. We have hopefully reached a time that the choice to reveal who you truly are is celebrated and those brave souls are more respected.

Internal homophobia, meaning those who are convinced they are ugly and live a lie from even their own families, a secret sometimes to their wives and husbands alike...help perpetuate this idea that all will be lost if they stand and be counted, and to some degree that shame delays the understanding we are all equal and delays old tired prejudices from being silenced once and for all. People like to hold on to hate when it is a small number in opposition, if truth be known, the real number would be staggering and for LBGT men and women, wonderfully validating.

[revolution1969]

06:42 PM on 02/18/2012

It was once said, if everyone who was gay woke up one morning and had a blue dot in the middle of their forehead that would end discrimination and bigotry. Since the topic is sure to come up in conversation daily or weekly at least, and you remain silent during a gay bashing discourse, that means you are ashamed of who you are and what you do in your bedroom. Straight people brag about their bedroom activities. We have it rammed down our throats on TV every hour. I say, the more straight people see it, hear about it, and find that their hero's are gay the better.

[Atwill]

05:01 PM on 02/18/2012

Before you say "Why do gays need to announce it, why cant they keep it to themselves. ?" why dont you see how many times you or people around you announce you are straight. Yes you do, all the time. All day I hear "My wife my husband" at work. over and over. Yet no one thinks twice about it. But let gay man at your job say "My husband" and watch how many people turn to look in horror and say "Why do we need to know this?"

[Zippy1169]

08:25 PM on 02/18/2012

Kinda funny today I was talking with a friend going to the funeral of a friends father. When she was telling me about him and his father she let slip that his partner and he are great friends of hers. She kind looked at me like, OOOps, maybe I shouldn't have said that. Of course I could careless and would actually love to meet them. Little does she know I am gay because I am not out yet. At some point I will have to tell her because obviously she won't really have a problem with it.

However, her oops moment was telling because she clearly didn't know how I might react to it. We need partner / husband / wife when talking about gays to become common accepted vernacular.

[mbhanson86]

09:26 AM on 02/19/2012

I think there is a big difference between people being honest in their daily lives in the way you mentioned(like if I talk about my boyfriend) and saying that celebrities -should- come out to the general public. It is still their private life, if they mention it on set, on stage, whatnot, that is completely up to them.

[Atwill]

04:53 PM on 02/18/2012

I think all gay people should come out. If they dont, it is the same as saying "Please do not give me equal rights in employment, housing, medical treatment and relationships. I dont want them."

[roscoewpa]

06:25 AM on 02/19/2012

I love your post as you know. But i have mixed feelings on this. when I was outed to my family mind you strict catholics I didnt speak to them for over a yr And i was not welcomed to live with them. I actually was told they would rather see me dead than gay. While we talk now its a subject that is never mentioned period. While I see progress after 20 yrs our relationship has never been the same. So a one size fits all doesnt really apply. I guess my point is though we have became civil in my family there are people whom I know personally that are homeless because they were outed or came out. I wish everyone could be as compassionate as you are. Maybe someday society will.but some people will just never accept it.

[Atwill]

09:50 AM on 02/19/2012

I agree. It is horrible. But if a family is going to be that way, you are better off without them. And id say that to anyone, not just you. I worked in a group home for years in the LA area and some of the kids were gay and those kids were in the group home due to being kicked out. It is horrible. My own aunt and uncle diswoned their daugher, my cousin, for being a lesbian. I will have nothing to do with that aunt and uncle now. I feel it is better to come out for yourself. you can not live your life for your family. If they dont accpt it, then they are not true family.

[mbhanson86]

09:28 AM on 02/19/2012

I am happy for your description under your name, but there is a lot of fear involved in coming out...to demand it without offering the protections of equality -first- is really not fair.

[usorthem3]

01:12 PM on 02/18/2012

Why in the 21st century, can't we all just be ourselves and leave others be? The aliens are never going to come down if we all keep treating each other the way we do. Think "The Day the Earth stood Still". Gort doesn't step in where there is no violence. Or Men in Black, "Don't start nothing, won't be nothing." I live my life through movie metaphor, it helps me cope with human madness.

[themissingmink]

10:20 AM on 02/18/2012

While my instinct is to say that it is no one’s business what the sexual orientation of an actor or celebrity is, unfortunately in today’s world where information travels fast and freely, the choice for an actor tends to be to live either in a closet (if not a solid then a glass one) or to come out. Matt Bomer lived for years openly with his partner and children, but was still considered by many to be closeted. It therefore got to the point where to continue to live a life of honesty and integrity, he had to come out. He did this in a very low key, classy way, but even then his small mention of his husband got blown up out of all proportion, and reported and discussed around the world with barely contained salaciousness.

I suspect he didn’t actively want to become some kind of political figure, but he wanted to live a life where he couldn’t publicly thank his husband for his support even less. I just hope that his work and talent can continue to be judged on its own merits, and he will be able to be known for that, not his sexual orientation.