# Am I dense or what? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 12, 2000, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-dense-or-what/40882 "2000-11-12T10:26:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-dense-or-what/40882/1 "2000-11-12T10:26:41Z")
[sup]I generally consider myself an intelligent person. I have a basic understanding of Einstein’s theories of relativity (general and special) and have done a great deal of self-education on a variety of topics. There is, however, one area where I continually find myself saying “Oh? I never had a clue.”[/sup] [/quote] I was just sitting around thinking the other day, when it occurred to me that of all the famous gay people in the world, I never had a clue until it made headlines or someone pointed it out to me. Sure, Rock Hudson had just about everyone fooled, but I was surprised when _Liberace_ died of AIDS. Caesar Romero? Not the Joker, too!? Eve Arden? Barbara Stanwyck? Them too, or so I’m told. In the Rock Hudson/Doris Day movie [Lover Come Back](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/video-customer-reviews/6304005490/internetmoviedat/104-7891564-1603116), Rock Hudson portrayed a character who was acting according to the gay stereotype of the times (early 1960s). I had seen this movie many times (I like the DD/RH movies) and never knew that until they pointed this out on an episode of Biography. It’s just as well that I’m straight, because I have no “gaydar”. One of my best friends from high school was gay. I didn’t know until he told me (we stayed friends anyway – car freaks have to hang together). There was a young man at a base I was stationed at in South Carolina. He was stereotypically feminine. He lisped. He had more fashion sense than Christian Dior. What threw me was the fact that in the pre-dont-ask-don’t-tell Air Force, I couldn’t imagine anyone would be that obvious. I thought it was a ploy to attract women. It sure looked that way, because they all thought he was just _darling_. I was the only one in my squadron who was surprised when he was caught smoking someone else’s sausage in the showers. Heck, I had to be told about Janet Reno, and I was sort of surprised to hear about Nader. So tell me… Does this blind spot mean I’m stupid or just oblivious? What other public figures are gay (apart from Ellen – I’m pretty sure she’s gay)? ~~Baloo ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-dense-or-what/40882/2 "2000-11-12T10:55:31Z")
Well, if you’ve read the thread about Optimus Prime’s hands, we’ve pretty much agreed that Starscream is gay. I worked with a guy at my last job for a year before I learned he was gay. He didn’t keep it a secret in the least, but on the other hand, he just didn’t bring it up all that much in conversation. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-dense-or-what/40882/3 "2000-11-12T11:22:03Z")
Liberace surpised you ?? You may be interested in this. [Was Cary Grant gay?](http://home.freeuk.net/carygrant/archive/washton.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-dense-or-what/40882/4 "2000-11-12T12:35:00Z")
There are rumors about Rosie O’Donnell and Jodie Foster. Hope this doesn’t come as too big a shock, **Baloo**. Thanks for the link, **yojimbo**. Interesting article. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-dense-or-what/40882/5 "2000-11-12T18:01:08Z")
Don’t care if Cary Grant was, just like I don’t care that Rupert Everett is. They are both yummy. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-dense-or-what/40882/6 "2000-11-12T19:50:53Z")
There are rumours in Tele-tubbie land. Just what is that handbag for ? and why are Noddy and Big Ears seen together so often ? and lets face it there just has to be something about Thelma of Scooby-doo fame. and as for Robin Hood in those tights running around the woods, no wonder his men were so merrie ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2000, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-dense-or-what/40882/7 "2000-11-13T03:29:57Z")
Janet Reno is gay? Hmmm…I didn’t know that! And did they confirm it about Nader?