Zachary Quinto comes Out!

[Meule]

I'm sorry, but why is this even news? Who cares if he's gay or not, that is his business and no one else's.

[PNGwynne]

I got to disagree with that. It's almost like a status symbol to come out in Hollywood these days and it comes with the added ego pleasure of lecturing the TV/Movie consuming public on tolerance.

He is not going to lose any work over this, he is more likely to gain work. Nobody is shunning Neil Patrick Harris, Ellen Degeneris or anyone else that has come out recently.

I see your point---somewhat. But I'm not sure how much "lecturing" and "ego pleasure" is occuring--that's a glib generalization IMO. As for gaining work, I don't think out actors benefit from stunt-casting in the mainstream media. Neil Patrick Harris gets work--even in dreck like The Smurfs--because he's really talented.

And remember, while it may be easier for singers, comedians, 2-tier actors, and retired icons to come out, no A-lister that I can think of has done so.

[johnmiic]

No, she's mine...all mine!!!!!!!!!!

Hector, I will gift-wrap her and ship her to you because I don't think she is all that. I think Sanaa Lathan,(?)(Blade, Aliens V Predator 1), would have been better in the role. Tho I don't think she was in the running or auditioned for it. Zoe is hot but I don't think her face is as petty as some actresses. I think Jada Pinkett, Melanie Brown and Thandie Newton are better looking. That's just my opinion. It just shows what my tastes in African American Actresses are, (I also like Alfre Woodward and Angela Bassett but they are too old for the Uhura part).

I'm sorry, but why is this even news? Who cares if he's gay or not, that is his business and no one else's.

He announced it to the press so it's news. Now it's everybody's business. Besides if I hadn't posted it I'm sure SamuraiNoir would have. The Shogun of Harlem is usually very fast!

[mego73]

I see your point---somewhat. But I'm not sure how much "lecturing" and "ego pleasure" is occuring--that's a glib generalization IMO. As for gaining work, I don't think out actors benefit from stunt-casting in the mainstream media. Neil Patrick Harris gets work--even in dreck like The Smurfs--because he's really talented.

And remember, while it may be easier for singers, comedians, 2-tier actors, and retired icons to come out, no A-lister that I can think of has done so.

I say lecturing because of Zach's coming out statement

Zachary Quinto Official Website - Blog - 10.16.11. nyc...

I am also saying it with respect to his hopes of curbing bullying. However, bullying occurs for many other reasons other than sexual orientation and it seems the trendy concern is only for the bullying due to that.

[PNGwynne]

I don't think Quinto is lecturing in his blog, but I admit bias. It seems to me he's describing a moment of personal epiphany.

Considering that I was bullied, and that a boy nearby recently killed himself because of bullying, I welcome any increased awareness, however "trendy."

If media attention, even cursory, results in children feeling comfortable exposing bullies & fighting depression, for whatever reason, then isn't celebrities' being open with their public worth it? Suicide is rampant amongst gay youth, even without the added stress of bullying.

I just don't see how it's self-serving--if you're not gay or haven't been ridiculed for your race or economic status, how can you declare that it is?

[palitoy]

I think it's great he did that but I doubt it affects his workload in a positive or negative manner. He's a good character actor.

[madmarva]

I think the guy is talented, and I hope this information doesn't negatively affect his career, but it's naive to believe his action is going to have much if any affect whatsoever on kids being bullied.

Bullies aren't sitting around thinking, "Gee, what would Mr. Spock do?" before punching someone or shaking them down for cash. Bullying has to be stopped at the source by parents, siblings, teachers, mentors and peers. And, yes, bullies need guidance and understanding, too. Even with action at the source, there's no fail-safe situation. It's a mean ol' imperfect world that we all live in and we all have to deal with it as best we can. One way of doing that is seeking situations where we can directly help someone in whatever way we can.

While I don't question Quinto's reasons for coming out, I think the message will be lost in the "Spock is Gay" headlines.

[palitoy]

Bullies aren't sitting around thinking, "Gee, what would Mr. Spock do?" before punching someone or shaking them down for cash. Bullying has to be stopped at the source by parents, siblings, teachers, mentors and peers. And, yes, bullies need guidance and understanding, too. Even with action at the source, there's no fail-safe situation. It's a mean ol' imperfect world that we all live in and we all have to deal with it as best we can. One way of doing that is seeking situations where we can directly help someone in whatever way we can.

No, but Spock coming out may make a difference in the life of a person who is having problems coming to terms with their own homosexuality. That's what I think the intent is here. I've had people close to me struggle and gestures like this can have great meaning.

[Werewolf]

I'm all for people getting along and stopping bullying and if his "lecturing" can in any small way help that, awesome. Props to him.

[Dark Shadow]

No, but Spock coming out may make a difference in the life of a person who is having problems coming to terms with their own homosexuality. That's what I think the intent is here. I've had people close to me struggle and gestures like this can have great meaning.

I believe you are exactly right in your observation.

Youngsters who struggle with this particular form of self-identification do not usually have the luxury of immediate familial support & understanding which only serves to amplify their feelings of isolation & despair. And for some of these individuals, it can be extraordinarily intimidating to seek outside counciling of any kind. Sometimes, but unfortunately not often enough, having an admired real life "Hero" to relate to can help alleviate some of the associated pain, anxiety and fear.

****

I appreciate Quinto's matter of fact approach and do not see anything preachy about any of his statements. If it gets to the point where he's calling everyone who critiques him or disagrees with his opinions a "homophobe" or "bigot", that's when he loses my respect.

In regard to the status symbol comment, I'd like to see 5 examples of A-list celebrities who have "come out" and actually had their careers enhanced because of their public admissions? I can't even think of one. Although I do not consider her an A-List celeb, Ellen lost her prime-time hit show and it took several years for the dust to settle before she was able to return to TV.

[toys2cool]

The only current openly gay actor who had a shot of being a leading man (that I can think of) was Rupert Everett...but those leading romantic roles stopped pretty quickly, now in his early 50s...he's basically a character actor nowadays.

Ian McKellen

[Hector]

Hector, I will gift-wrap her and ship her to you because I don't think she is all that. I think Sanaa Lathan,(?)(Blade, Aliens V Predator 1), would have been better in the role. Tho I don't think she was in the running or auditioned for it. Zoe is hot but I don't think her face is as petty as some actresses. I think Jada Pinkett, Melanie Brown and Thandie Newton are better looking. That's just my opinion. It just shows what my tastes in African American Actresses are, (I also like Alfre Woodward and Angela Bassett but they are too old for the Uhura part).

I don't know why some dudes () have the need to say she's not all that and that...lol.

I like all hot chicks, and Saldana is hot (I have no idea why you think she's not pretty, perhaps too skinny for your taste?)...especially with her Latin roots...hearing her talk in Spanish is sexy as hell...and while all the before-mentioned African-American actresses you mentioned are hot (OK, Thandie Newton is NOT African-American, lol)...they all lack Saldana's CALIENTE factor...if you know what I mean.

Black Latina, baby...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WaH0mHTZ40

[Hector]

Ian McKellen

He's not a romantic leading man.

[Hector]

And remember, while it may be easier for singers, comedians, 2-tier actors, and retired icons to come out, no A-lister that I can think of has done so.

Exactly.

[mego73]

I think Ellen lost her show because it became less funny because she partially made a advocacy platform out of it. First, she came out in real life and then she wanted to shift her fictional show from one where her character was straight to where she also comes out as gay. Such a decision was not motivated by the comic possibilities, it was motivated to send a message. And if the show's writers and other talent do not have the chops to artfully send that message in comedic form, people will be turned off to it. And the show, while pleasent enough, was not in that upper echelon to begin with (the All In The Family, Mary Tyler Moore show echelon).

Drop kicking "Ellen" from a confectionary fun comedy to a socially relavent comedy was not ever likely to work and that is what Ellen D. was trying to do.

I bet "Ellen" would've been fine for a few more seasons if Ellen the actress came out, but "Ellen" the show stayed the way it was.

I believe you are exactly right in your observation.

Youngsters who struggle with this particular form of self-identification do not usually have the luxury of immediate familial support & understanding which only serves to amplify their feelings of isolation & despair. And for some of these individuals, it can be extraordinarily intimidating to seek outside counciling of any kind. Sometimes, but unfortunately not often enough, having an admired real life "Hero" to relate to can help alleviate some of the associated pain, anxiety and fear.

****

I appreciate Quinto's matter of fact approach and do not see anything preachy about any of his statements. If it gets to the point where he's calling everyone who critiques him or disagrees with his opinions a "homophobe" or "bigot", that's when he loses my respect.

In regard to the status symbol comment, I'd like to see 5 examples of A-list celebrities who have "come out" and actually had their careers enhanced because of their public admissions? I can't even think of one. Although I do not consider her an A-List celeb, Ellen lost her prime-time hit show and it took several years for the dust to settle before she was able to return to TV.