Do you think it's important that gay celebrities come out?

[pride7]

Do you think it's important that gay celebrities come out? Does it make it easier for young people to accept who they are or do you think it doesn't make much of a difference?

[Tony New York City]

Unfortunately, due to the present administration, bias against the gay community is at an all time high...
Because the anti-gay sentiments are being leveled against us from the
highest levels in the government, there has been a trickle down hate effect .
If it means that a person's livlihood will be affected if they come out, then I have to say for now, it would be better to keep it to yourself...I myself have always put myself out there as a gay man..But these are trying times...
Sometimes a celebrity attains a position of power that coming out doesn't affect their status in straight society...But, the Ellens, Rosies and Eltons are not as yet considered standard bearers for the gay community...
It would be interesting to know what percentage of the forty percent
that voted for celebrities to come out, have come out at their places of employment...I sure it is not in the majority...
I have had my share of debates in BGAY about the issue of coming out...There were always guys in here screaming "no fair " to legislation against gay marriage and " no fair " against states not passing gay rights bills. Many of these protesting are married or closeted...And that pisses me off...I am sure that is the case with many of the guys that voted in the poll..

[Gaeilge]

Yeah I think it's important. Because we're saying it's hared for us to come out to a minority of people, when they come out to practically the whole population of the planet!

Yeah, I know it's waaay less. But you get what I mean.

[TristenSquirter]

Like the gentleman above stated our community has never faced greater peril and we have people who don't have the faintest idea of who we really are dedicated to the idea of stripping us of all our rights and wiping out the gay community in total. These people have no real concept of who we really are and instead imagine us as something insideous and evil posing a real threat to society as they know it. It is vital we show them that in contrast we are a highly desirable segment of society which does a great deal of good in general and what a great loss to all should we be removed. We also must show them that we are the very same people who work side by side with them on a daily basis rather than some monster strain from outer space. Before the inception of the gay community the world was not a pretty place for any one gay, as a matter of fact the much esteemed AMA warned society in general that anyone who practiced the homosexual (this was before the badge gay) lifestyle was severely mentally ill and posed a substancial threat to society. Imagine being gay and reaching puberty under those conditions and having no gay community to turn to. We owe so much to those community members before us who fought so valiently for the rights we have today, and at the very minimum we owe it to them to at least struggle enough to maintain what we have today. It is every gay mans obligation to the community that supports him so well to join in this struggle with increased unity and support for all other members, putting all petty differences aside; and to become visable putting their best foot forward at all times. This fight is real, this fight is now, this fight is yours. God save us all, God save Gay America, We will prevail.

[Lensp]

The more of them that come out will show the rest of the world that we are just average Americans who are employed in every industry.

[sanjugibbs]

Yes, I think they should come out so that others can see that there’s nothing wrong in being a gay. Though, it’s their prerogative to decide whether to come out or not. They still hold their decision.