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But should we expect them to come out?

Truthfully, every person who comes out plays an important role in the fight for equality -- whether famous or not. Studies have proven that people who know someone who is gay are more likely to support gay rights. Of course, celebrities reach more people at once. You might say, they get more bang for their buck. Someone like Ellen Degeneres coming out on national television is going to impact more people than Ellen Smith coming out to her friends and family in Kansas. That's not to say that one is more important than the other. Ellen Smith's coming out will have more impact on her friends and family than Ellen Degeneres ever could.

I've always believed that coming out is a very personal decision. You have to be ready emotionally and mentally before you take that step. No one should ever make that decision for someone else, and no one should ever force someone else out of the closet before they're prepared. I think celebrity outing is a nasty business. My one exception to this rule is homophobes. I think ex-Spokane mayor Jim West got what he deserved. But hey, that's just my opinion.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is: Should we hold someone to a different standard just because they are a public figure? I have to admit I'm a little divided on this. On the one hand, I want to respect people's right to privacy. On the other, I do believe that part of being a celebrity is accepting that you will be held to a different standard than the average man on the street. You give up a certain degree of privacy when you agree to put yourself in the limelight.

With that said, I believe it's every gay person's responsibility to come out, whether you're famous or not. The time for hiding is past. We need every ally in this fight, and the more visible you are the better.

So do closeted celebrities owe it to their public to come out? No more than anyone else.

© Josh Aterovis, All Rights Reserved. Article provided by GayLinkContent.com