We’ve written a great deal here about the way in which the media covers issues related to the sexual orientation of famous actors, television personalities and politicians. There’s been a real trend in the past few years of more, and more intense, media coverage of the lives of people purported/assumed to be gay. And so it was with great interest that I read an advocate.com story last night referring to the late Van Johnson as a “gay heartthrob.”
I’m a fan of old movies (just ask me to quote lines from “Singin’ in the Rain” or to talk about the fabulous Katherine Hepburn and Lauren Bacall) and I was sad to see the headlines this weekend about the death of Van Johnson at the age of 92. But I was taken aback to see The Advocate so casually refer to an icon of “old” Hollywood as a gay man. Did I miss that memo? I’ve never heard that before about Johnson. It’s not as though I’m not aware of the rumors about many famous or public figures (in Hollywood, in New York, in Washington and beyond), but this one slipped right by me. I guess I’ll have to brush up on my TCM movie watching or give Netflix a try.
Whether or not I’m out of touch on the sexuality of Hollywood legends, the story brings up a larger point. Is it okay for media to openly declare, or assume, the sexuality of famous/public people? We’ve seen it a great deal in the past few years, after the deaths of Merv Griffin, Susan Sontag and others. But it seems that the media is becoming much more willing to assume the sexuality of someone, whether or not that person has ever publicly disclosed his or her orientation.
And this is happening with people who are still very much alive, as well. A case in point is Florida Governor Charlie Crist. Rumors of his sexual orientation have floated around gay media and the Internet for years. With his wedding to a woman this weekend a topic of conversation in gay media for the past several months, many outlets have been directly referring to the Governor as a gay man even though he has denied he is gay on several occasions.
Although this phenomenon is largely limited to gay media and online outlets for now, it won’t always be. The role the Internet plays as a great equalizer of information means that this type of conversation will be conducted in so-called “mainstream” media as well (and indeed already has, at least in the case of Mr. Griffin). That brings up all kinds of issues of free speech, privacy and the role of communicators in addressing all aspects of our lives.
What do you think? Is it okay to make these kinds of public assumptions or should media wait for confirmation or proof before openly declaring the sexuality of famous or public figures?
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Just writing to let you know that the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and Theater will be opening this summer (2009) in Hepburn’s beloved seaside town of Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
Help us spread the word! It is going to be beautiful!
Go to our website
http://www.katharinehepburntheater.org
Van Johnson’s ex-wife confirmed the “arranged” nature of their marriage. And his sexual orientation was prominently mentioned in a few books, including one published in 2001.