# Do you care to know the sexual orientations of actors, singers, & writers you like? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756 "2010-09-14T19:14:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HawksPath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f07891/32.png) [@HawksPath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HawksPath)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/21 "2010-09-15T00:30:57Z")
I’d say knowing about a writers personal life (orientation, religion, and more) can often give you insights into their works. For example, in the fiction story of Catch 22 knowing that J. Heller’s role in WWII helps how I understand his point of view. How the author’s personal philosophy influences fiction can be quite interesting and informative. For actors I think the importance is pretty low. Though I guess I don’t think actors are particularly consequential in general. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/22 "2010-09-15T01:03:40Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Singers and writers - couldn’t care less. Actors - it helps a little to know, but sometimes not. I’m the exact opposite. I don’t care one bit about actors since they are playing a part. Singers, song writers though can make the music make more sense knowing a bit about the person. Knowing Rob Halford is gay makes some Priest music more interesting. But really I don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/23 "2010-09-15T01:19:46Z")
Knowing the sexual orientation of a writer or musician can have an effect on how you see their work - Darren Hayes’ 2004 album _The Tension And The Spark_, for example, takes on many new layers of meaning if you know that it was about struggling with homosexuality and eventually coming out. If the songs I’m listening to are about the personal experiences of the artist, I want to know as much as possible about the circumstances that led to te creation of the artwork, so I can have a proper understanding. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/24 "2010-09-15T01:42:15Z")
Probably because when I like someone, I like to find out as much as I can. This is less about people currently famous, so I guess it comes off as less gossipy. But I’d be curious because I’d just want to know about their lives in general. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/25 "2010-09-15T01:53:43Z")
I don’t really care, but I admit to normal human curiosity sometimes. It never affects how I feel about the person’s work one way or the other, though. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/26 "2010-09-15T05:15:10Z")
I went with the first option. I don’t get annoyed when learning such things, but it’s nothing I care to know. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/27 "2010-09-15T05:32:07Z")
Yes. I am nosy. I don’t care what the orientation is, I just like to know. For the hell of it. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/28 "2010-09-15T05:57:08Z")
Generally I don’t give a damn about anyone’s personal life unless I know them, so no. If they regularly do things that are especially repellent it might make me not want to support their work, but what gender they prefer is pretty irrelevant to me. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/29 "2010-09-15T06:11:44Z")
I don’t care to know, I’m not… irritated by knowing, whichever way they happen to swing. Same with the rest of their lives. It can bring insight into their work, but I’m not going to decide whether to pay for someone’s work or not based on whatever else they do. Heck, I went to see Goya when the lead actress was President of SGAE and I’m up to here of their tactics! (SGAE: the guys who handle copyright collections in Spain) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/30 "2010-09-15T06:22:32Z")
I would have thought it’d be the first one, but I found out recently that it’s actually the fourth. I rarely get attracted to actors anymore, as they are all too similar, but Internet stars are a bit different. I don’t know why, but I find JesuOtaku from [thatguywiththeglasses.com](http://thatguywiththeglasses.com) to be very attractive. But she’s also a bit butch, so I was very happy when I read she was straight, and even more happy when I learned she was a Christian. I know that I stand absolutely no chance with her, but, for some reason, it made me happy to know. Perhaps because a lot of the attraction is based on who she is (or at least pretends to be) and not just how she looks. (And I’m pretty sure she’s not conventionally attractive at all.) ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/31 "2010-09-15T07:47:16Z")
I’m not interested in celebrities or their private lives, but I am gay so every one of them that comes out does have an impact on me in a very small way, so I care in that respect. That said I tend not to get drawn into “is so and so gay or not?” discussions because my opinion is that I don’t care, unless they’re sticking their dick in me it doesn’t matter does it? Also I think we’ve reached the point of general acceptance of homosexuality (in Europe, anyway) so we don’t need celebs to come out purely for the Cause quite so much. Also unless I have testimony from the person themselves that they’re gay I don’t believe the word of people who “know for a fact” that they are. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/32 "2010-09-15T08:13:31Z")
I want them to be honest about their sexuality. It’s easier to know if that is being fulfilled if they come out; harder if they maintain they are straight because there’s a reasonably good chance that they are straight, so that doesn’t prove anything either way. If my gaydar is pinging, I do wish they would come out; but I don’t care who is gay and who isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Terra1041](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Terra1041](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terra1041)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/33 "2010-09-19T18:57:51Z")
I’m a lesbian and often feel rather alone in a straight world, so I like to know who else is gay or lesbian. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/34 "2010-09-19T21:44:10Z")
I don’t care about their sexuality, but I wish they’d keep their politics to themselves. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/35 "2010-09-19T21:59:44Z")
I’m curious same as I’m sometimes curious about where an actor was born or whether they’re married. It doesn’t actually matter, but it’s a little interesting - fon’t know why, but then I don’t know why I responded to this thread either. Not that I’d go to the extent of reading Heat magazine or anything like that, because from what I see of the front covers they’re all about criticizing celebrities’ bodies. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/36 "2010-09-19T22:08:57Z")
When it comes to authors or songwriters who write about love or sex I find it interesting to know. Also, knowing an actor is playing against their sexuality can add to my appreciation of the performance. As for random celebrities or meaningless pop stars, I couldn’t care less. Therefore, I am vast and full of multitudes! ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/37 "2010-09-19T23:05:19Z")
It doesn’t affect my appreciation of their talent at all. But yes, I AM nosy that way. I don’t think people should be outed. If they care to ‘come out’ or just say ‘my personal life is private’, that’s fine. But I also think there are certain actors about whom there have been so many rumours that I can’t help but think ‘where there’s smoke, there’s fire’ and feel rather sad they live on the down-low. It won’t make ME like them any less, but sadly they feel putting on a false front is the only way they can “save their careers”, and they may be right. ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/38 "2010-09-19T23:17:21Z")
First option. Elton John on Ellen DeGeneres, "“We know you’re a lesbian. Shut up! Just be funny!” " ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/39 "2010-09-19T23:52:52Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I don’t care one way or another. It’s a trivial matter and makes absolutely no difference to me. This. It’s unimportant. (I chose _You left out \…_.) I’m not planning to date any celebrities (in fact, I abhor the cult of celebrity in general); we don’t run in the same circles; I am _not_ going to grovel in order to get into their circles; and in the unlikely event of my meeting a celebrity, I probably wouldn’t recognize them anyways (thanks, face blindness). (And yes, it’s happened.) I’d be more concerned about their ethics and moral behavour than their orientation. For example, whether one insults, abuses or cheats one’s partners is much more important than what sex the partners are. ---
**Author:** ![Enuma\_Elish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5e9695/32.png) [@Enuma\_Elish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enuma_Elish)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756/40 "2010-09-20T00:55:38Z")
I voted with Ralph Waldo. Actors - who cares about their orientation - they are ACTING! Singers - don’t care. Its about the music. If I like a song, I like a song. Writers - If it is fiction - don’t care. If it is non-fiction, it may be useful to know their orientation if their work pertains to it, if not, don’t care. “If I contradict myself, then I contradict myself: I contain multitudes.” Ralph Waldo Emerson (or something close to that) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-to-know-the-sexual-orientations-of-actors-singers-writers-you-like/553756.md?page=3)