Out has published their annual “Power 50” list again this year and true to form, the list is stirring up controversy again. Barney Frank is #1, which I suppose isn’t too surprising given the lead role he has had in much of the national conversations about the financial meltdown. There are other expected nominations – Ellen Degeneres, Rosie O’Donnell, Neil Patrick Harris. It's an interesting list and I enjoyed reading it. You could certainly contest the relative placement of this or that person or the omission of this well-known figure or famous actor. But what has generated the most interest so far is the inclusion of well-known figures who aren’t actually…out.
I have to admit that I didn’t initially think of it this way, but Jeremy Hooper at Good As You and others have made the very valid point that a list purporting to identify the leading “out” influencers ought to list people who are actually out. Set aside (for a moment) the notion that they are allegedly gay and should be out, etc. and focus on the idea that if you’re not actually out you should not be listed as one of the most powerful “out” people. That makes perfect sense to me.
We could argue (and have) about the merits of coming out and the importance of well-known news and entertainment figures being honest about their sexuality, but that’s not the point here. If you’re not out, you’re not a powerful out person. Out should use this list to actually honor those who are powerful because they are out, not in spite of the fact that they are not.
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