Gay Celebrities: Real or Rumor?

Homosexuality, even as far as the cause has come in the course of just the last few years, is still a stigma most celebrities cannot overcome. But why do we care which celebrities are gay or lesbian, and whose business is it what they do in the privacy of their bedrooms?

For some celebrities, the rumors and speculation over their sexuality seems to fly all over the place. For others, the rumors are downright outrageous. But occasionally, there is some truth to what is being said and the public patiently waits for the time when they will take a stand and admit to what everyone knew all along.

So who is gay and who is rumored to be gay? Who has come out and who remains safely tucked in their proverbial closet hoping they are never found out?

Ricky Martin:

I think I'm the only person on the planet who had the slightest inkling that 'Livin' La Vida Loco' singer and former member of Menudo Ricky Martin was gay. It's just my luck that one of the hottest guys on earth has an affinity for the same sex, thus ending any chance I might have had of landing him.

Seriously, not only did I have no idea, I always believed the rumors to be ludicrous. I was angry with Barbara Walters for pushing him so hard during an interview in 2000:

"You know, you could stop these rumors. You could say, as many artists have, 'Yes I am gay' or you could say, 'No I'm not,' or you could leave it, as you are, ambiguous. I don't want to put you on the spot, but it's in your power to do it."

Now that Ricky's come out, Bab's is feeling a bit regretful. According to PopEater, Walters told The Toronto Star, "A lot of people say that destroyed his career, and when I think back on it now, I feel it was an inappropriate question."

It was refreshing to see Ricky Martin come out on his own terms, though. Good for him! He truly is a "fortunate homosexual man." I doubt coming out will have any ill affects on his career.

Jodie Foster:

Jodie Foster, the star of Foxes and Silence of the Lambs, always stayed zipper-lipped about her love life. That is, until she finally came out in 2007 when she received the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at the Women In Entertainment breakfast. During her acceptance speech, Foster thanked screenwriter Cydney Bernard, "Who," she said, "sticks with me through the rotten and the bliss."

Foster and Bernard met on the set of Sommersby in 1993 and remained a couple until 2008 when Foster broke off the relationship. She then became involved with Cindy Mort, also a screenwriter. That relationship also ended in 2008.

Foster has dated men in the past including actors Julian Sands, Russell Crowe, Rob Lowe, and Scott Baio.

Keanu Reeves:

It has long been rumored that The Matrix star Keanu Reeves is gay. In 1984, when Reeves was just starting out, he was in a film called Wolfboy. In the movie, Reeves character gets a sensual bite on the neck by co-star Carl Marotte who played a prostitute. Adding fuel to the fire is that there are some photos that have circulated showing Reeves and Marotte kissing and caressing each other. The movie is a cult classic in the gay community.

Keanu Reeves was linked to David Geffen who, in 1995, said he had never laid eyes on Reeves.

In 2004, it was rumored that Keanu and Alan Cummings of X-Men 2 had married in Massachusetts. It was reported that the pair had dated for some time. However, in 2005, Cummings adamantly denied he and Reeves were married.

Reeves has never been completely forthcoming about his sexual orientation, and when asked about it in a 1990 interview with Interview magazine, he only added to the speculation when he said, "...ya never know."

If Keanu Reeves is indeed gay, to come out could prove to be a disaster for his career because he is regarded by many fans as a sex symbol. Of course, it's my opinion that should he come out, it may do wonders for his acting career as he may very well gain a slew of new fans.

Tom Cruise:

In the early days of Hollywood, movie studios added morality clauses to the contracts and homosexual actors and actresses were forced to go against their own wants and needs and adhere to what the studios wanted them to do. In other words, it wasn't uncommon for a gay actor to marry a woman just for appearances sake. Some say that's what is going on with Tom Cruise.

Rumor's have been going around for some time that Cruise, star of Risky Business and Top Gun, is gay and in order to keep up appearances or further his career and that of wife Katie Holmes, the pair married. If this is the case, is it Hollywood putting the screws to him, or is it Scientology? Whatever the case may be, Cruise is solid enough in the industry that if he wanted to announce to the world that he is gay, it would not likely hurt his career.

Cruise has been married twice before to actresses Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman.

One would think in this day and age it would be perfectly acceptable for celebrities to acknowledge they are homosexual or bisexual. There are many still living in the closet and have no plans of ever coming out or being "outted" by anyone.

Sources:
Ricky Martin Music
PopEater, Ricky Martin Gay Bombshell: 'I am a Fortunate Homosexual Man'
The Insider, Tom Cruise Is Gay!?!
People, Much Ado About Keanu
The Insider, Jodie Foster Goes Public On Her Lesbian Relationship