names such as Jodie Foster and Anderson Cooper on their "Power 50" list. Not only did they make the list, their likeness' grace the cover. The thing is, whether or not they're gay, they haven't come OUT.It's a bit of chutzpah on our part," acknowledges Out editor in chief Aaron Hicklin. But he says it wasn't merely an attempt to stir up controversy. "The A-list and even B-list gays are mostly in the closet still, and those are the kinds of people we need to have on our cover. This is a way of addressing that."Hicklin claims that since, in his opinion, Foster and Anderson do not go out of their way to hide their supposed gay lifestyles they were "fair game." Regarding some of the other rumored gay celebrities Hicklin says,
There are a lot of closeted gay men and women who aren't going to make that list because the risk of litigation [against Out] is too great.This is low; its a move 'US Weekly' or 'Star Magazine would pull. 'Out' should be ashamed and I hope they face serious repercussions for invading the lives of two incredibly private people just to sell a few more issues of their crappy magazine.
The Young Turks
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. To be gay is a person's right. To have a private life is also a right. This magazine obviously thinks it can pick and choose what rights people have. I guess in Out Magazine's opinion, Gays don't have a right to privacy. Shame on the magazine.
Maureen at 8:00AM on Apr 4th 2007
2.
It is an individual's personal choice to come out of the closet....not the choice of some rag magazine like OUT. Shame, shame, shame on OUT for what is tatamount to eating your own.
Kathi at 8:52AM on Apr 4th 2007
3. Aaron Hicklin is all about his own power and celebrity which is the real reason behind not only outing those celebrities but for putting them on the cover as well.
It's a ploy to boost readership but also to bring attention to Aaron and perhaps aid in his own celebrity.
This never should have happened but I'm sure Arron is surrounded by yes-men and fag-hags who kiss his butt by backing all of his poor decisions.
I do believe that people who feel the need to out other people should examine their motives carefully. Frankly I think this Aaron is a jerk and overstepped his bounds but he is getting attention for it and attention is what he craves.
Minette Sweeney at 9:01AM on Apr 4th 2007
4. This isn't US Weekly, or Star quality. This is, Rosie O'Donnell! Remember, just because Clay covered Kelly's mouth, and she didn't like it (I wouldn't either) Rosie called her a, "Homophobe". Poor Clay. Its really is rude to touch one's face after handling cups, mics, etc. Let alone their mouth. But, Rosie ... gays beware ... if your not ready, don't let her know. Because she is the town crier and no one's secret is safe with her.
Deborah~ at 9:25AM on Apr 4th 2007
5. People have no ethics left. We just do whatever we want with no regard for how it may effect another person. We should be absolutely ashamed of this invasive attitude we as Americans have succumb to. How will we ever get back to manors and ethical behavior? Our publications are supposed to set a GOOD example. Shame shame shame.
jamesskeagler at 9:39AM on Apr 4th 2007
6. As a gay person I think in this instance that it was unethical, but do not think that is the case in all circumstances. Coming out is an intensely personal decision, and if you are not attacking gay civil rights and choose to keep your orientation private, then you certainly should have the right to do so.
However, if you are in the public eye and your claim to fame is supporting discrimination against gays and lesbians - a) you made the choice to turn to hate and incite others to hate, and b) you're inciting people to hate YOU and those who are like you. That hatred comes out in discrimination in housing, employment and downright ugly physical violence.
Thus, I see nothing wrong with outing the Ted Haggards, Mark Foleys, and Matt Sanchez's of the world. These people are (or actually were) publicly preaching hate and then doing the very things they claim should be hated. The public has a right to know of the hypocrisy.
Phil at 9:55AM on Apr 4th 2007
7. Not only shame, shame, shame, but cheap, cheap, cheap shot taken by OUT magazine. I suppose the editors are basking in their own slime, b/c the ''outting'' of Foster and Anderson et al is generating the all important publicity necessary to keep the rag afloat. Give yourselves a pat on the back, ladies, and while you're at it, give yourselves a cookie.
joey at 10:04AM on Apr 4th 2007
8. If they were non-practicing Jews and a Jewish magazine claimed them as their own, would anyone care? If they were Canadian and never talked about it and MacLean magazine put them on a list of famous Candadians, would that be controversial?
This list isn't the problem, it is the continuing belief that there is something shameful about being gay. I am gay and have wasted som much of my life living in shame. I won't do it anymore and I won't let it be done to me.
Joe MacDougall at 10:46AM on Apr 4th 2007
9. THESE PEOPLE ARE PUBLIC FIGURES THEY LOST THEIR RIGHT TO PRIVACY WHEN THEY WENT HOLLYWOOD, DONT WORRY THEY ARE HIGHLY PAID FOR THAT LOSS
Willie at 12:24PM on Apr 4th 2007
10. If Jodie is gay, respect her privacy, even if she is walking down Sunset Blvd with her partner. Most women are affectionate, which is a very healthy attribute, sexually and emotionally. A most important part of being human, is not only wanting to be loved, and held intimatly, but to give and receive sexually as well. The sexual relationship should be considered a private matter, and not used to get monetary gain. But should be regarded as a persons respective right to personal sexual fulfillment. So, media, stop making a buck at someones personal expense. gww
gww at 12:50PM on Apr 4th 2007
11. THANK YOU, Joe MacDougall! If we continue with this ridiculous attitude that there is something "wrong" with being gay, we will be able to substantiate knocking down this magazine for placing into print what is already a generally known fact about these celebrities. Even if neither has officially "come out". When did journalism stop being about the truth and start being about what's politically correct?
rkc at 12:56PM on Apr 4th 2007
12. As a lesbian I am ashamed of OUT magazines invasion of these peoples privacy. Who I fall in love with, is between and God. I hope they get sued
Conrad at 1:15PM on Apr 4th 2007
13. First of all, there shouldn't be a Sodomite Magazine to begin with. Secondly, the fact that Anderson Cooper is on the cover sure doesn't surprise me - he's always come across as someone's little bitch boy on TV anyway. Jodie Foster a carpet muncher? Yeah - it figures - a B- grade actress anyway. Maybe the magazine will do us all a favor and "out" little metro male pole smokers like Shepard Smith of FNC and Hillary the barely concealed Butch of the Senate on the next cover.
Anti-Sodomite at 2:07PM on Apr 4th 2007
14. The straightest of straight celebrities has a right to a private life at the end of the day, or at minimum, to autonomously decide how much of it they wish to share with the public. No one gets to make this decision for them, unless there is some compelling ethical or legal conflict of interest with their public role. No gay has a right to invade another gay's personal privacy to buttress or justify THEIR identity, and it hasn't a damn thing to do with being ashamed. The only thing to be ashamed of is the prevailing gay manifesto that demands you buy in 100% or consider yourself a traitor.
Raejean at 8:41PM on Apr 4th 2007
15. Outing anyone isn't funny business, particularly in the hateful atmosphere gay Americans live in. But, had one of the bigger news services did it for whatever reason, there would be nothing complained of whatsoever. Public figures unfortunately suffer from a loss of privacy - and in our open society, lots of people think they have an absolute right to intrude where ever they might to know things that are basically none of their business. We have a government that does this and has for decades - and has been known to release embarrassing information regarding people whenever it decided they had a need to humiliate someone or get even (Valerie Plame for instance). Outing is nasty business but it happens. Some people see it as a positive step to show America who is gay, but if your livelihood depends on maintaining a certain public image - the devastation is incredible.
Gary Ford at 3:48PM on Apr 4th 2007