# Now that Ricky is out, what celebrities "everybody knows" are gay remain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272 "2010-03-29T23:36:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Kylede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@Kylede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kylede)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/381 "2012-02-16T05:49:49Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > That film sounds like nothing more than lowest common denominator garbage designed as an excuse to see two hot male celebrities with their clothes off, and I for one will be making damn sure I see it on opening night. Um, check out the cast on the movie. Not only Tatum and Boomer, but Matthew Mcconaughey, Joe Manganiello (Alcide from True Blood, where he is always naked) and hot young blonde newbie Alex Pettyfer. All of them play strippers…The lines on opening day are gonna be packed!!! ---
**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:** [February 16, 2012, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/382 "2012-02-16T08:20:42Z")
> [@Kylede](#): > > Um, check out the cast on the movie. Not only Tatum and Boomer, but Matthew Mcconaughey, Joe Manganiello (Alcide from True Blood, where he is always naked) and hot young blonde newbie Alex Pettyfer. All of them play strippers…The lines on opening day are gonna be packed!!! Oh great, now I have to live in a tent queue… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/383 "2012-05-24T00:40:30Z")
[Jim Parsons is out](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/05/big-bang-theory-jim-parsons-comes-out-gay.html). THAT was a major surprise I never saw coming. Bazinga! Actually, Parsons has never really been ‘in the closet’, he just hasn’t talked about his private life in any detail before. The nice thing is that he’s in a 10 year relationship that seems to be going strong. ---
**Author:** ![minionkat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@minionkat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minionkat)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/384 "2012-05-24T00:57:32Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > [Jim Parsons is out](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/05/big-bang-theory-jim-parsons-comes-out-gay.html). THAT was a major surprise I never saw coming. > > Bazinga! > > Actually, Parsons has never really been ‘in the closet’, he just hasn’t talked about his private life in any detail before. The nice thing is that he’s in a 10 year relationship that seems to be going strong. I saw this in the news today and shook my head a little, remembering that he thanked his partner at the Emmys a few years ago. I was pretty sure they got engaged at that time. At any rate, didn’t think it was news. I just love Jim Parsons. I have spent way too much time watching him on Craig Ferguson. They are very funny together. If I were famous, I sure as hell would not discuss my private life ever. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/385 "2012-05-24T01:09:18Z")
[QUOTE=minionkat] If I were famous, I sure as hell would not discuss my private life ever. [/QUOTE] I might answer the gay-straight question eventually, but words I’d never say would be “\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is the love of my life and we’re together for always”. I don’t think I’ve ever known any relationship, gay or straight/married or cohabiting, that survived a statement like that by more than a year or two. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/386 "2012-05-24T03:24:06Z")
Jim Parsons is out? I’m sure I join many in saying “He was in?” ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/387 "2012-05-24T14:26:26Z")
When he wore purple eyeliner at the Emmys a year or two ago or something was when I knew. It was also when America knew. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/388 "2012-05-29T15:56:46Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > When he wore purple eyeliner at the Emmys a year or two ago or something was when I knew. > > It was also when America knew. Well, I think that just means he wears purple eyeliner. I’ve only seen Parsons speaking publicly once outside of the show. He acted and sounded exactly like his character, which makes we wonder when people say he’s a great actor. If he’s just acting like himself, I don’t see the talent. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/389 "2012-05-29T17:03:54Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I’ve only seen Parsons speaking publicly once outside of the show. He acted and sounded exactly like his character, which makes we wonder when people say he’s a great actor. If he’s just acting like himself, I don’t see the talent. He’s a great _comedic_ actor. His timing and his expressions and some of his physical schtick [sp?] are perfect; he could have been a superstar in silent films. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/390 "2012-05-29T18:46:09Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > He’s a great _comedic_ actor. His timing and his expressions and some of his physical schtick [sp?] are perfect; he could have been a superstar in silent films. Ah, I see. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/391 "2012-05-29T19:11:36Z")
Didn’t Queen Latifah just come out? ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/392 "2012-05-29T21:03:20Z")
Again?? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/393 "2012-05-29T23:07:36Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Didn’t Queen Latifah just come out? Not exactly, or, rather, not explicitly. She’s the headliner of an L.A. Gay Pride fest, a position often held by an out entertainer but sometimes just one who’s gay friendly. (Cyndi Lauper has been headliner of several- she’s straight but has a gay sister and of course a lot of gay fans.) Latifah did say something about being “with my people”, BUT, again, that’s not necessarily coming out, she could be referring to gay fans and gay friends as her people. I think she’s kind of like Parsons, she’s never really been ‘in’ the closet, she just hasn’t explicitly said “I’m gay”. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/394 "2012-05-29T23:12:04Z")
Better for a separate thread, perhaps, but the celebrity “everybody knows is gay but who isn’t out” and who’s even to the point of making gender neutral comments about his significant others (such as referring to “my significant other at the time did so and so”) that I most wish would come out is Tyler Perry. The reason is that the demographic that has made him a near billionaire- blue collar socially conservative churchgoing blacks- is one of the ones that most needs a positive out and proud (and rich) gay role model. ---
**Author:** ![Arabella\_Flynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Arabella\_Flynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arabella_Flynn)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/395 "2012-05-31T08:22:37Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Robert Downey admits to having “experimented” with guys when he was a teenager, but while I have no evidence other than a vibe I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he’s gay. I’d buy bi for RDJ, but he is smitten absolutely _stupid_ with his wife, Susan. It’s pretty blatant whenever they’re on camera together, including clandestine paparazzi stuff. So whoever else he digs, there’s at least one girl for him. He is paradoxically difficult to get a read on, largely because I think he truly honestly does not care what people think, at least in this regard. It eliminates a lot of the telltale hedging or very-carefully-phrased answers that set off alarms. If he’s not-straight and trying to stay closeted, he’s not very good at it; he likes to drape himself all over people he’s fond of, including Jude Law (while doing press for _Sherlock Holmes_) and Mark Ruffalo (in set photos from _Avengers_). ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2012, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/396 "2012-05-31T13:47:59Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Not exactly, or, rather, not explicitly. She’s the headliner of an L.A. Gay Pride fest, a position often held by an out entertainer but sometimes just one who’s gay friendly. (Cyndi Lauper has been headliner of several- she’s straight but has a gay sister and of course a lot of gay fans.) Latifah did say something about being “with my people”, BUT, again, that’s not necessarily coming out, she could be referring to gay fans and gay friends as her people. > > I think she’s kind of like Parsons, she’s never really been ‘in’ the closet, she just hasn’t explicitly said “I’m gay”. I really wish she would. I wonder how hip hop fans, and black Americans in general, would respond. I’m sure they’d accept her, and I’d see it as a huge coup. For whatever reason, we’re pretty antsy about gay people; I think if more universally beloved black celebrities were out (that “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” guy doesn’t count), that could only be a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/397 "2012-06-06T07:49:57Z")
Latifah wants it clearly understood she [DID NOT](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/04/queen-latifah-did-not-come-out-pride_n_1529566.html) come out at Pride. > [@](#): > > According to the Advocate, while on stage on May 19, Latifah reportedly referred to the crowd as “her people” and asked “Are you feeling all the unity?” causing some to believe that she had indeed come out. > > However, Latifah tells Entertainment Weekly “that definitely wasn’t the case," and added, "I’ve never dealt with the question of my personal life in public. It’s just not gonna happen.” She also said > [@](#): > > "When people are going through hatred and bullying, the biggest thing to fight that is love… So that’s all I encouraged my audience to do that night: to share their light and share their love. Period.” I would argue that visibility is a major weapon in the fight as well, arguably one that’s more powerful than a celebrity’s extremely well compensated declaration of vague generic impersonal “love” which said celebrity may cram up said celebrity’s orifice of choice while shouting any name they choose or, more likely, thinking a name in silent. But, ymmv. I just hope that if Latifah _is_ gay she stays in that closet somewhere twixt Narnia and Anderson Cooper, because you can claim “my private life is something I don’t talk about” all you want but 1- You knew damned good and well when you became a celebrity that it doesn’t work that way 2- There’s a difference in revealing the specifics of your sex life or who you’re shagging and your sexual fantasies and alarm settings aspects of your private life and your orientation; an orientation is a demographic the same as your age or your race or your gender, not a detail 3- Like it or not and intentionally or not you are sending the message that being gay is something so shameful or at least so damaging you have to hide it Hence I really hope that the Latifahs and the Andersons and the other “I don’t talk about it” crowd are straight, because otherwise I think they are cowards and I truly hope that their partners are get tired of being shoved aside and they end up alone and reviled as the cowards that they are who had the chance to make a difference but selfishly and cravenly sought a shadowy corner. But, that’s my opinion only, not fact. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/398 "2012-06-06T16:51:59Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Hence I really hope that the Latifahs and the Andersons and the other “I don’t talk about it” crowd are straight, because otherwise I think they are cowards and I truly hope that their partners are get tired of being shoved aside and they end up alone and reviled as the cowards that they are who had the chance to make a difference but selfishly and cravenly sought a shadowy corner. But, that’s my opinion only, not fact. I don’t disagree with you, and also believe that “I don’t talk about it” is usually code for “hell yes I’m Gay!”. That said, there is still the perception that coming out will cause fans to flee and ruin a career. Sure, you can point to Ellen - but remember that after her disastrous sitcom, it took awhile for her to come to grips with the reality of it all and later find her niche on the talk show. My guess is there are lots of managers and PR people also telling their clients to just shut up and stay in the closet, armed with statistics and graphs. It is getting better, but to be honest - if I were earning $millions per year, and knew many of my fan base were women/little girls who might be fantasizing about me someday becoming their boyfriend, I am not all that sure I would have the guts to toss it aside and stand proudly next to my own boyfriend. Call me a money whore, but when you are at the top of your game and want more, more, more it is probably easier to convince yourself to make room in that closet for bundles of cash than to come out and be a role model and then later appear on Dancing With The Stars if you are lucky. I notice many finally come out when they are old(er) or their careers have pretty much tanked anyway…and I don’t think that is a coincidence. Brave? No. But financially - well, we’ll never know - but they can now Gayly skip to the bank in their twilight and not give a damn what anybody thinks anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/399 "2012-06-06T20:56:26Z")
The Cuter than 529 Puppies BOOK OF MORMON Star (and my future speed dial booty call) Andrew Rannells [has come out](http://www.towleroad.com/2012/05/andrew-rannells-i-am-gay-in-real-life.html). Yea!!! (He’s playing a gay character in a new sitcom about a gay couple so he probably just decided to head 'em off at the pass.) ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272/400 "2012-06-07T05:37:48Z")
[Jonathan Knight](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Knight) is out, these days… though he claimed never to be “in”… (Whatever, pin-up boy!) And John Travolta’s gay rumors have been heating up again recently. Anderson Cooper and Queen Latifah both seem to buy the same brand of “Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies about me being 100% GAY”. My personal candidate for “most likely gay but hasn’t come out” is Evan Lysacek. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-ricky-is-out-what-celebrities-everybody-knows-are-gay-remain/534272.md?page=21)