The Pandemic Soul

Listen, don’t get me wrong: I’m so glad that T. R. Knight came out of the closet. He’s a major figure in one of the most successful current prime-time shows, and he’s still playing a heterosexual successfully after coming out — something no one else in recent memory has been able to do. That’s great. And he’s a super-lovable little chap, who’s always very humble about his achievements and all that. And he’s on Ellen, talking about his coming out. Awesome.

So why am I complaining, right? Well, watch the clip. Near the end, Ellen asks him how he feels about closeted celebs. I think it’s become very clear over the past few years, to the general public, that there’s a wealth of really rowdy homos who are walking around like straighties, but won’t come out. It’s a public secret, so to speak, and the actors guild doesn’t seem to be talking.

But I get tired of watching T. R., among others, apologize for these people by saying shit like “Everyone’s on their own path.”

Bullshit. If you’re gay, you’re gay. And if you’re an actor and you’re gay, then don’t fuck around. Don’t these people have any sense of obligation to the gay community? Any desire to see gay people move beyond this marginalized gray space we’re in now? To have people understand that we’re everywhere (I’m looking at you Ahmadinejad!)? I get that’s he’s just being polite, but really, why?!

Look into the camera and tell people that you came out (albeit, against your will), and you’re still making loads of cash! Quit being such a wimp about it! Stand up for the rest of us who know that all these queers are hiding behind their pink curtains!