# Predict the next celebrity who'll come out of the closet (and when) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 26, 2008, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296 "2008-09-26T06:02:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/61 "2008-10-02T21:00:30Z")
Ryan Seacrest, but not until American Idol is off the air. ---
**Author:** ![alexandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@alexandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandra)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/62 "2008-10-02T22:55:14Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Dan Savage had a scathing column many years ago about college girls who come out - then ten years later having put their families through hell are married Target shopping, minivan driving suburban soccer moms. > > As someone whose girlfriends were over 70% Lesbian or Bi in college - and now twenty years later we are all minivan driving, Target shopping ‘straight’ suburban (sometimes urban) wives So? Most people become more boring and conventional as they approach middle-age. It doesn’t invalidate the feelings they had for previous partners. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/63 "2008-10-02T23:18:35Z")
Hilary Swank. She’s pinged my radar the first time I saw her. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/64 "2008-10-03T15:14:57Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > Cole Porter and Linda Thomas had a marriage of convenience that was by all accounts _not_ consummated. The “love of his live” nonsense was written for the film only. On the other hand, Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester were married 33 years, until his death, though he was quite gay. I think it’s sweet that people can be soulmates even with that standing in their way, though he regretted that they could not have children, either because she didn’t want to because of his gayness (her version) or because she couldn’t after a botched abortion in her younger years (his version). ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/65 "2008-10-03T17:01:02Z")
> [@Ellef](#): > > I think Robbie Williams already claimed to be gay some years ago, and most of the media just shrugged it off as a publicity stunt. Are you sure? He has previously sued newspapers for claiming he is gay. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/66 "2008-10-03T17:25:27Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > Hilary Swank. > She’s pinged my radar the first time I saw her. Me too actually, but I hope she gives me a chance before she comes out. I have no gaydar whatsoever so I really have little to add other than John Travolta always seemed like him might be gay. I’d love it if a major NFL star came out, that’s be sweet. I don’t mean to pigeonhole NFL Fans but I’d say a rather large percentage (although not likely on this board) would be thrown into a tizzy. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/67 "2008-10-03T17:30:47Z")
> [@](#): > > In all honesty, I doubt he’s gay, and I frankly don’t care one way or the other. We just have fun trying to spot all the “clues” that he’s gay when we watch Dirty Jobs. Like eating fried fish semen? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/68 "2008-10-03T17:41:55Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > On the other hand, Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester were married 33 years, until his death, though he was quite gay. I think it’s sweet that people can be soulmates even with that standing in their way, though he regretted that they could not have children, either because she didn’t want to because of his gayness (her version) or because she couldn’t after a botched abortion in her younger years (his version). I wish it was on YouTube but can’t find it; I swear I saw it (years after it aired), but in her older years Elsa Lanchester gave an interview and discussed learning Charles was gay. (She did not know it when they married, at least according to her.) This is paraphrased from the memory of the interview. > [@](#): > > ELSA: I was supposed to be at the theatre in rehearsal all day but we were sent home early [_for some reason_]. I came into [the flat](http://findadeath.com/Deceased/l/charles%20laughton/laughton%20percy.JPG)and I knew Charles was still in bed so I decided to surprise him by making a little tea and cakes reception, and I set up the table and lit candles and then discovered we were out of tea. So I just went up to our bedroom and Charles was not there, and I heard a sound from our spare bedroom and went in to find Charles in bed with a very good looking naked young man. > > Interviewer: Oh my god. I can’t imagine anything that horrible… however did you cope? > > ELSA: Oh it wasn’t so bad. It turned out we _did_ have some coffee, so I served that instead of the tea. While I have absolutely no delusion she was that blasé or pragmatic about the matter and was playing the comic proper English wife for the camera, I still thought her deadpan delivery was hysterical. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/69 "2008-10-03T17:43:57Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Like eating fried fish semen? Uncomfortable mental images of Abe Vigoda must be surgically removed. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/70 "2008-10-03T18:01:49Z")
Damn you, **Sampiro**. Damn you to hell. Gotta make an appointment with the surgeon. . . ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/71 "2008-10-03T18:08:20Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > While I have absolutely no delusion she was that blasé or pragmatic about the matter and was playing the comic proper English wife for the camera, I still thought her deadpan delivery was hysterical. From Wikipedia, “In her autobiographical book, Lanchester relates a story regarding the police approaching Laughton at the door of their London flat, with a hustler whom Laughton had approached (and who apparently wanted to blackmail Charles asking for more money). When Laughton confessed, Lanchester told him not to worry about it, that it didn’t matter. ‘That’s why he cried . . . when I told him it didn’t matter.’” But she had been brought up anything but “proper.” Getting married, like Elsa and Charles did, was more than her socialist, parents were willing to do. “My parents were always a bit arty. They were ‘advanced.’ They supported pacifism, vegetarianism, socialism, atheism, and all that.” ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/72 "2008-10-03T18:13:34Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I think Anderson is pulling a Jodie Foster, and is never going to have to officially make a big deal about coming out. Eventually he’ll adopt a kid or something with his long-time “friend” and that will be that. I don’t see him making a big deal about it. His sexuality is one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood anyway. _Girl_, the way he and Erica Hill riff on 360° he’s hardly keeping it a secret! Flames coming right out the HD screen. They’re so cute. I love me some Anderson and Erica Hill. (Lest anyone misunderstand, I’m sayin’ she’s his fruitfly.) ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/73 "2008-10-03T20:53:58Z")
Alton Brown? ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/74 "2008-10-03T21:58:15Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > Has Sam Champion come out or been outed? According to [this page,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Champion) he apparently has: > [@](#): > > Champion, who is openly gay, also hosted the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project’s 2002 “Courage Awards”, along with movie critic Frank DeCaro. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/75 "2008-10-03T22:07:42Z")
What do y’all think about Chris Meloni? ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/76 "2008-10-03T22:18:54Z")
> [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](#): > > Alton Brown? Doubtful. I get the impression that Alton is quirky, but still quite hetero. By all accounts, he’s quite happily married (for well over 10 years, I believe). ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/77 "2008-10-03T23:25:16Z")
> [@drm](#): > > I have no gaydar whatsoever so I really have little to add other than John Travolta always seemed like him might be gay. I don’t think that John Travolta’s sexuality is much of a secret? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/78 "2008-10-04T02:03:08Z")
> [@drm](#): > > I’d love it if a major NFL star came out, that’s be sweet. I don’t mean to pigeonhole NFL Fans but I’d say a rather large percentage (although not likely on this board) would be thrown into a tizzy. Howard Stern has interviewed a gay NFL star. I don’t remember his name because I don’t follow the NFL. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/79 "2008-10-04T02:41:20Z")
> [@WF\_Tomba](#): > > What do y’all think about Chris Meloni? My default position with “show people” is “gay, unless proven otherwise, and that might not be the whole truth.” Yeah, it’s an old meme, floating around for CENTURIES, but you could also say it is “tried and true.” 😃 Meloni, however, never pinged my rudimentary (because, being pretty much straight, it’s only used for fun) gaydar. However, I may be giving something away about me when I say his co-star is WORLDS hotter than her mom, though her coltish figure is nothing like (and about 75lbs lighter) than Mama Jayne. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296/80 "2008-10-04T03:42:38Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Howard Stern has interviewed a gay NFL star. I don’t remember his name because I don’t follow the NFL. Might it have been [David Kopay](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kopay)? He’s the only one that comes to my mind. Edited because \*\*He’s \*\*sounds better than \*\*He’s is \*\*🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predict-the-next-celebrity-wholl-come-out-of-the-closet-and-when/465296.md?page=5)