MTV reported in one of their obligatory End-of-the-Year specials that a number of celebrities chose 1999 as the year to come out of the closet. They didn’t name any names, but they showed a series of clips as this statement was made. I believe they showed George Micheal (of course), Micheal Stipe, and…oh…I don’t know…Clint Eastwood or something.
I was surprised about Stipe, though. R.E.M. is one of my favorite bands and I would’ve thought I’d have heard about this revelation sometime before December 30th. Did he publically reveal his sexual orientation? Just a note: he’s practically a hero of mine, so it doesn’t make any difference to me, either way. I’m simply wondering for wondering sake.
He mentioned it during the filming of the REM “Behind the Music.” He couldn’t figure out why it was so hard for everyone to guess his sexuality, or why it was important.
Yes, he’s gay, but has said that since it shouldn’t really matter he’s not going to broadcast it (for which I think he’s gotten some flak from things like OUT and other people who think gay celebrities have a duty to be vocally out). I think his quote in an interview was along the lines of “my sexual orientation is only your business if you’re sitting in my lap”. Bob Mould has a similar outlook.
I heard that umm, the guy from Judas Priest (Rob something?) sort of came out, but noted that he hadn’t actually been closeted, saying, “God, you people…what did you think all the leather and bondage gear was about in the first place?”
This reminds me of something amusing I read in Vanity Fair years ago (I think it was a Courtney Love article) - Kurt Cobain was always talking about how he was bicurious, and interested in having sexual relations with another man. He was pals with Michael Stipe, and they, um, spent a night together in a hotel room. Courteny went on to say that Kurt would never talk about what happened that night.
