beyond_death
Member
I was surprised when I read it, but looking back from her recent interviews, I probably should have made the connection.
Good for her though.
Good for her though.
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Ellen Page comes out as gay
- Thread starter chadskin
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RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
the other day I asked my gay friend about that very thing and you wouldn't believe the things he told me...! no wonder being gay was illegal up until a few years ago
Looking forward to a day when this is non-news does not mean that this should be regarded, in present day, as non-news. You can't be blasé about it. It's getting better for LGBT peeps, but they're far, far away from having the same amount of comfort and acceptance of cis, straight people. Ellen Page waiting this long to publicly come out is proof of that. A five year old girl has received death-threats because she was on a Disney show that featured a lesbian couple.
You can see that Ellen Page was scared in her speech. Here she was, surrounded by possibly the best group of people to come out to, and she was scared. She is a trained actress, someone who can perform for an audience in the millions, and she was scared. Because this is not a world that would accept this as non-news, a world that has very vocal, and very persistent people that will hate her for being who she is.
You want to make this non-news? Make the world better and safer for LGBT. Don't wallow in your detached self-importance.
You can see that Ellen Page was scared in her speech. Here she was, surrounded by possibly the best group of people to come out to, and she was scared. She is a trained actress, someone who can perform for an audience in the millions, and she was scared. Because this is not a world that would accept this as non-news, a world that has very vocal, and very persistent people that will hate her for being who she is.
You want to make this non-news? Make the world better and safer for LGBT. Don't wallow in your detached self-importance.
DoktorEvil
Banned
ramuh
Member
Safer? Safer as in more accepted or something? She couldn't know the reaction until she did come out. And was scared-ness was probably nerves knowing this is going to change for life forever and not that she was going to get some vague death threats. I'm pretty sure she is a strong woman. I think they people with the most bigoted view that could have a impact on her life is the ones that are like that and are close to her in life. Friends, Family. But in general terms, she should feel totally safe to express to everyone her sexual orientation. As long as she is treated equally with regards to hiring, service,other day to day life things it is easier that it has been before. Two sides to any form of nonrecognition. You get the looney tune losers who do not know who you even are and yet judging you and you also usually have a better form of support from say someone that is dirt poor, struggling to eat week to week coming out. She has a strong cast of friends and I think she will be fine.
Storm Chamber
Banned
Read this as Ellen Degeneres and was like "wait a minute"
~Devil Trigger~
In favor of setting Muslim women on fire
good god
You people should get off your high horses...
its news that she's gay because SHE made it news, she did the announcement with a purpose, at a specific event.
The fact is we live in a society where it's largely still "announcement" for LGBTs to fully be who they are, its still an "issue" to be LGBT. Its not an issue cuz of people shocked or surprised that someone happens to be gay, its an issue for a society and a world that still views LGBTs as problems, enemies of morality, counter to family values and decency...
So yes, its news, She and many celebrities who have their announcements news, are doing it to make a point, to show society that LGBTs are not weird anomalies and stereotypes living high art neighborhoods in big western cities, but they everyday people and neighbors..etc.
curiosity about someone's sexual orientation is not the sin here...
Well yeah, "should."
Some people here are being very confrontational about the fact that this is still a very real issue today... but yeah, they're not wrong at all.
In an awesome world, this should not be news. But it still is today, because it's still an issue today.
Did you pick it up because she's gay or because it's a good game?
dragonbane
Member
Doesn't have to be either (I like the game though). Probably a typical case of "I always wanted to buy this, but I forgot. Thanks to this news I now remember" which is why he is torn about it
Krappadizzle
Member
I'm not any any high horse. It's that I care so very little that she is gay, my opinion of her is no different and I wish others shared that sentiment. I'm well aware that coming out is a significant thing for gays and I have nothing against it. I just wish we as a society weren't at a point were it even mattered. I'm not sure you're understanding my meaning of my post and maybe that's my fault. It's that I've come to accept gay people as just a part of everyday life and don't think that someone who is gay is different or wrong. My ignorance is that I'd like to believe that others would share my sentiment.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Not sure if sarcastic or not, but...
the deviant things lgbt couples get up to are much too nsfw to post here. the rituals alone are enough to make me shudder
I'd take a straight relationship over an lgbt one any day of the week!
I share the sentiment, and wish more did, but the reality is they're still fighting for basic rights right now, much less normalized treatment across all aspects of their life. I think it will be a big deal for well known people to come out for a good decade still, probably more, in part because of the positive examples they can set for those still afraid - or unable - to do so.
But at least we're going in the right direction. I smile when I think of how far we've come in just the past few years. Things are changing fast, but we have a long ways to go.
Krappadizzle
Member
The amount of progress since the 80's is staggering, even more so since the mid 90's. It's seems social progress towards acceptance and tolerance is picking up momentum more and more over the years. I really don't think we'll have to wait another 30 years to find that acceptance. The U.S. military changing it's stance on homosexuality I think is a good indicator even if it's gonna be a troublesome future for those that choose to come out. When I told my pops that gays could openly serve in the military and that I was happy as I could give a shit whether someone was gay as long as they chose to serve down in the mud with me, he said it was wrong and that he was glad he was out of the military. Some people just won't change. Those people will die sooner or later, we just have to ensure that the newer younger generation are more understanding. Man, that sounded morbid as shit.
If the person is famous, I'd say that would be tremendously helpful to those LGBT kids who are still closeted. Having someone well-known for their work to have the same sexual orientation to them would be a reminder that things can get better and that there are others like them in public. They don't have to hide in fear for being who they are. Hopefully it'll also make them less likely to be depressed and commit suicide for feeling like an outsider amongst their heterosexual friends.
Congrats Ms Page, I've always been a fan ever since Inception and The Last of Us.
Wait what? She wasn't in The Last of Us? But she was in BEYOND: Two Souls, right?
DoktorEvil
Banned
You never know. Maybe she could swing both ways...
I wish. That would make her even hotter.
Vyse The Legend
Member
Surprising no one. This is the biggest no duh.
This almost made me tear up a bit. It took her about 6 minutes into her speech and with trembling voice before she can say what she wanted to say. I don't think many straight people understand how terrifying it is to reveal this part of yourself to the world. Would you lose your family and friends? Would they treat you differently? How would you lead your life now after years of not acknowledging who you really are?
So many questions and worries swirling through your head and unfortunately for some people, those worries are legit. I've lost a few friends after letting them know while others have had experiences where they are ex-communicated by their family members. And those are just people that you care the most. You haven't counted the many other douchebags out there who are set to make your life miserable just because you are different from them.
Fimbulvetr
Member
Because to many straight people, even relatively progressive ones, us gays are weird alien creatures that normal humans can't possibly sympathize with.
Man, I remember how nervous I was when I first told my folks I had ADHD... what she did was magnitudes more significant (obviously). I can't imagine the sorts of things going through her head during that speech, but she must've felt amazing afterwards.
The strange thing is, I remember (somewhat) when I heard Zachary Quinto was gay. I'm not sure of the parallels between Ellen's situation and his, but perhaps on a secondary level there's further discrimination against gay/queer women in the entertainment industry than men. Perhaps because said industry tends to be synonymous with both gay and straight men, whereas it's far from the case for women, I don't know.
I did tear up when I watched it. When I came out to my mother, I went to dinner with her, with just the two of us. She knew I wanted to talk, but I spent almost the entire time stalling. I remember my voice shaking like that when I tried to talk about it, and I could hardly get it out. I'd been in the closet for about six years by that point, and it's so hard to be open after keeping part of yourself hidden for that long. I can't imagine what it was like for her to do that on stage.
Has her coming out as gay made any bigger news in the States?
In Europe, the yellow press obviously picked it up but in a very low key, under the radar kind of thing. It wasn't plastered all over their websites.
I'm not sure if it's good or bad. Apparently, she very much wanted to raise awareness for the challenges LGBT people still face in their everyday life, so more publicity would've been good for her cause. Then again, isn't it kinda good, too, that it isn't BREAKING NEWS on every channel when a Hollywood star comes out of the closet these days?
In Europe, the yellow press obviously picked it up but in a very low key, under the radar kind of thing. It wasn't plastered all over their websites.
I'm not sure if it's good or bad. Apparently, she very much wanted to raise awareness for the challenges LGBT people still face in their everyday life, so more publicity would've been good for her cause. Then again, isn't it kinda good, too, that it isn't BREAKING NEWS on every channel when a Hollywood star comes out of the closet these days?
Monocle
Member
LGBT relationships (assuming you mean same sex here) work like heterosexual relationships, with some potential bonuses. Same sex couples can have better communication, because they have to negotiate who does what around the house and in bed. Gender based assumptions and traditional gender roles are less of a factor compared to straight relationships, generally speaking. For the same reason, same sex couples who communicate well can be true equals in the literal sense that there's not "the man of the relationship" and "the woman of the relationship." There are two men or two women, and neither partner will necessarily be butch or femme. It's a different dynamic. (The common belief that gay male sex always = penetrative sex, and one dude is always the receptive partner, is a misconception.)
Fortunately, the influence of traditional gender roles in all kinds of relationships is fading quickly.
SenjutsuSage
Banned
I had absolutely no idea. Really happy for her and very impressed at her display of courage. If nobody has watched her speech yet, it's a must see. Beautiful speech, as genuine as it gets.
http://t.co/A2aMx9eekP
Considering how a lot of gay people are treated in this country, and how so many of them end up taking their own lives as a result of how they're treated, I feel we should treat each and every case as the big deal that it is so it's quite clear that there are people out there who support and accept them for who they are. It has to be understood that there is nothing wrong with any of these people, they've done nothing wrong. There's only something wrong with the people who try to shame and discriminate against them for being who they are.
http://t.co/A2aMx9eekP
Considering how a lot of gay people are treated in this country, and how so many of them end up taking their own lives as a result of how they're treated, I feel we should treat each and every case as the big deal that it is so it's quite clear that there are people out there who support and accept them for who they are. It has to be understood that there is nothing wrong with any of these people, they've done nothing wrong. There's only something wrong with the people who try to shame and discriminate against them for being who they are.
Buckethead
Banned
The video hit me right in the feels.
DoktorEvil
Banned
Interesting. I'd love to see communication tests with same sex couples vs hetero couples as far as problem solving and team building.
I don't think the idea of gender roles in relationships will fade away entirely.
Some people are comfortable with being a homemaker, or a stay at home parent, or some other domesticated role like that.
Like I said before, what someone does in their own bedroom is not my business, nor is it the gov'ts business.
Good for Ms. Page to finally have the comfort of admitting something she had to hide for so long. Now, let's see how Hollywood reacts to the news.
That will be the true test of how much Hollywood cares about this, and how it affects moviegoers.
So, I've watched this three times over the past couple days. Just a small observation that came from the repeat viewings. Ellen's nervous when the speech begins, but you can see her getting more nervous as the speech progresses toward the mid point. Usually when people get going nerves settle. And then of course, she reveals why. We can see so clearly how difficult it was for her to say those words. There's this little moment in the applause after when a smile comes to her face and you can see what a relief it was to finally have it out there. The raw emotion and new context that brings to the second half the speech is really, really moving to me.
Anyways. Gonna show this to my daughter as an example of how to be strong and how important is to be yourself.
Monocle
Member
That's probably the case. The important thing is for each person's role to be a matter of choice rather than enforced expectations. Many people are perfectly comfortable in a traditional role, and that's fine.
Atraveller
Banned
Be gone, Frey.
Are you a lesbian?
Monocle
Member
She was so expressive and sincere. I found her whole speech very affecting.
I've only seen it the once and a bit, but that's what really got to me as well. And to be honest, I'd never honestly thought/considered her to be gay or not. Unless someone's showing *extremely* stereotypical facets/tendencies towards a particular sexuality, I just don't think about it and even then, it's more a case of "oh, I guess (s)he's gay... there you go" and leave it at that.
It's not often you get to see someone in the public eye get such a weight lifted off their shoulders so obviously, but when I do I always feel extremely joyous for them... I'm just fucking stoked that there's now one less thing she feels she has to avoid showing people and she can be more herself than she's been able to in the past. Hopefully in her wake, there are thousands (or even exponentially more) who feel empowered to do the same.
metalslimer
Member
I teared up watching that speech. I was pretty shocked reading the news, as I never for a second thought she was gay, and I really don't understand how her clothing portrayed that at all. She seemed to wear exactly what she said: comfortable clothes. I mean I guess her not having a boyfriend may have been a sign to some, but that's probably not what people saw. Anyways, that was one of the most heartfelt speeches I've seen.
Messofanego
Banned
https://twitter.com/moviesbybowes/status/434546736149716992
Straight people like me have to understand, we're not the audience for these kind of news. Bonus if you ruffle some feathers for hateful people (their empathy switch is always off) or people who were infatuated with that person (they'll get over it in a day). Enough coming out stories to make us heteronormative people feel like it's so common just lays down the path for acceptance even more.
Straight people like me have to understand, we're not the audience for these kind of news. Bonus if you ruffle some feathers for hateful people (their empathy switch is always off) or people who were infatuated with that person (they'll get over it in a day). Enough coming out stories to make us heteronormative people feel like it's so common just lays down the path for acceptance even more.
MrPing1000
Member
Part of me wants Alia Shawkat to be her gf so we can confirm Michael Cera has that superpower.
Although I also want to make Alia my waifu. So conflicted.
Although I also want to make Alia my waifu. So conflicted.
~Devil Trigger~
In favor of setting Muslim women on fire
https://twitter.com/moviesbybowes/status/434546736149716992
Straight people like me have to understand, we're not the audience for these kind of news. Bonus if you ruffle some feathers for hateful people (their empathy switch is always off) or people who were infatuated with that person (they'll get over it in a day). Enough coming out stories to make us heteronormative people feel like it's so common just lays down the path for acceptance even more.
exactly
Brawly Likes to Brawl
Member
https://twitter.com/moviesbybowes/status/434546736149716992
Straight people like me have to understand, we're not the audience for these kind of news. Bonus if you ruffle some feathers for hateful people (their empathy switch is always off) or people who were infatuated with that person (they'll get over it in a day). Enough coming out stories to make us heteronormative people feel like it's so common just lays down the path for acceptance even more.
I always roll my eyes whenever somebody goes on about a celebrity coming out being "pointless".
OneEightZero
aka ThreeOneFour
That ice burn.
dragonbane
Member
Also at 5:34 she whispers a very quiet "yes" aka "yes it's true" (edit: or "yes I did it") into the microphone. I only caught it upon reviewing with headphones on. This almost got me a second time...
John Dunbar
correct about everything
i agree with the idea, but i got to say, for an article titled "The 9 Grossest Reactions to Ellen Page Coming Out as Gay," that is tame as hell. makes the internet seem a lot nicer place than it really is.
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