Out Spotlight XVII

Today is the anti-Out Spotlight, actually. I wanted to find a list of folks who were gay but remained closeted their entire lives. First of all, it was really hard to find such a list. I had to Google it in many different ways before I found this source. And this source is not actually a list of famous closeted gays who never came out, but a slideshow of folks who were gay before out was in. It's really interesting! From the slideshow, I culled the names of those folks who never came out before they died and were outed posthumously. I left off people who did not really try and hide their sexuality or who I wasn't sure if they might have come out very late in life. These names are in no particular order.

Thornton Wilder- playwright
E. M. Forster- author
Will Geer- actor (Grandpa Walton)
George Grizzard- actor
Lorenz Hart- lyricist
Frankie Howerd- comedian
Paul Lynde- actor
Sal Mineo- actor
Robert Reed- actor (Mr. Brady)
Clay Shaw- businessman
James Whale- director
Raymond Burr- actor
Alvin Ailey- dancer
Peter Allen- Broadway star
Glenn Burke- Major League Baseball player
Ian Charleson- actor
Montgomery Clift- actor
Rock Hudson- actor
Langston Hughes- author
William Inge- screenwriter
Charles Laughton- actor
Liberace- entertainer
Roy Cohn- lawyer
Noel Coward- playwright
George Cukor- director
Richard Deacon- actor
Brian Epstein- Beatles' manager

There are no women on this list. I could not find women who went to great lengths to hide. I found that interesting. Why did these men never come out? Did they really have to hide? Could they have come out and had careers? Was it the times or something else? Has anything changed?

New Features Poll is still open

New Features Poll

Spesh and I have been talking about ways to expand the blog. Now let me be clear, we are not changing our J&A focus. We would like to add some features to the blog, sort of like the Out Spotlight is already, that are not necessarily related to J&A that people might like to talk about. It would also really help us during those J&A news droughts too!

Before you vote, let me explain what we mean by each of these-

Movie Club- we would pick a movie (probably through getting suggestions and voting on it), everyone would watch it, and then we would have a discussion about it. I've been told they do this at DC and I remember when there was talk about doing it at WFT. A few people have mentioned to us that they would like this.

Book Discussion- we could do this like the movie club or we could do it where we have a post monthly or every so often where we talk about gay literature, books people are reading, etc.

Music Discussion- we thought this might work by featuring a gay musical artist and then encouraging discussion about gay music or whatever people are listening to. This one is my own selfishness; I love to find out about new artists and this seemed like a good way to do it!

Reports on Gay News- what we had in mind for this one is to do a post that is sort of a round-up of different events that have happened recently that are important to the gay community.

As always, one computer- one vote. And you can only vote for one. I would also like to hear suggestions from you all about which features you might like that I have not listed. This poll will remain open, and be linked in our posts, for at least a few days to give everyone time to vote. When we close it, Spesh and I will talk and decide what we want to do. We can't guarantee what changes will occur. We may incorporate one feature or a few, it depends on how people vote and what we feel we can do a good job with. We are merely looking for ways to make the blog more interactive and encourage participation.

Happy Birthday to Jake's mom, Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal!

Rushing the Net

Austin seems to go for long stretches of quiet and then a sudden burst back on the radar. The past few weeks has been a little feast for the Austin famine, and don't think it will end soon, with Full Out (formerly Lenexa, 1 mile) coming out next Tuesday, March 18th, and then DVD jackpot John From Cincinnati, to follow.

And with Hjulia and Spooky2th there have been some great new pictures of the tall Texan found. The majority of which Austin managed to keep all of his clothes on.

But just like Toothy, as Ted pointed out way back when, it seems Austin's legs are not as greatly appreciated either. Nothing to do with delicious dimples, although "that up to no good" grin can cause minds to wander, its seems all his topless action it might be selling the boy short. Check out when he keeps his shirt on and gets a leg up.

































REMINDER:
Yep, the OMG posse will ride today at noon! We are bombing Sally Kern the OK (not really!) legislator who made seriously anti-gay remarks last weekYep, the OMG posse will ride today at noon! We are bombing Sally Kern the OK (not really!). At noon everyone who feels strongly should e-mail Ms. Kern at one of the below e-mail addresses and let her know how we feel about her remarks. I probably don't have to say this, knowing you guys, but please be polite. :)


Email: sallykern@okhouse.gov
or srkern@cox.net

To hear Ms. Kern's remarks, and to sign the Victory Fund's open letter to Sally Kern, click here.

Bird Watching

Have you ever noticed how Jakey is one for the birds? And that's not just giving the Goose the gander. That's not to say they are fine feathered friends no doubt.




Every once in a while you will see Jake's penchant for the winged ones. A shout out to his Ornithology buds or something else? A nod to those fellow amateur birdwatchers he is on the job, keeping close tabs his and their favorite flier? Or just proud as a Peacock?


Hooters? Swallows? Woodpeckers? Mockingbirds? So many birds so little time.

Bluebird of happiness?





You know when building nest birds go for shiny. That's not to say his Goose might contributed to his Aves accent.
And if you thought the bird business was a recent, check out this chickadee.



















The Disco Duck alluded the blind this morning the work of Rick Dees and a Dabbling Duck for sure. If spotted please inform.

Freedom Fighter

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
- First Amendment to United States Constitution

This one sentence has done more to shape the lives of Americans than any other in history of the United States. It holds the five personal freedoms given to every U.S. Citizen, resident, visitor - Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Right to Assemble and Right to Petition. It has been followed, challenged, cherished and chided. The First Amendment is one the first of ten amendments created in 1789 at the first Continental Congress by James Madison, then ratified in 1791, creating the Bill of Rights. These amendments limit the powers of the federal government protecting the rights of all citizens, residents and visitors on United States territory.

Jake has been an vocal advocate and enthusiastic supporter of The First Amendment and The Bill of Rights with his association and support of the American Civil Liberties Union. (ACLU)

The Foner/Gyllenhaals have been members of the ACLU for decades and have instilled their passion and support for preservation of civil liberties to their children. They were honored as a family with the Torch of Liberty Award in 2003. "The Torch of Liberty Award was created to acknowledge the contributions made by individuals from the media and arts & entertainment industry whose creative and sometimes daring work affirms the democratic principles that underlie the promise of 'liberty and justice for all,'".

Jake has supported the ACLU on his own in other ways. Some of those include the posing for the ACLU ad campaign "I'm Not an American Who?", participating in the 2004 ACLU Freedom concert, and his continuing support to ACLU Southern California Chapter with donating the opportunity of having lunch with him to the highest bidder, on many of his movies.

Modeling? Could it be in Austin's future?

Wondering what the future has in store for our friend Austin Nichols. Seeing these new pics makes me wonder if he might try his hand at modeling between acting gigs. What do you all think? Here are the new pics in reverse order of my love of them-

7. The blanket shot. Just not feeling this one as much as the others, I guess.




















6. Close-up of Austy's face. As much as I like it, I prefer the shots where we can see his whole body and long lines.




















5. Ah, now we are getting somewhere. Long limbs and The Ring!




















4. Love this one of playful Austin!




















3. He rocks a white T-shirt even better than Jake, I think.




















2. That excellent suit, and a wedding band? Yes!




















1. I don't need to explain this one, do I?




















As great as these pictures are, I bet some of you may just want Austy to do what this song says!



Pics from the great Hjulia and Austin Media.

Back to the Future

Thanks to : ) for the reminder that 3 years ago today was the first mention of Toothy Tile. As much love is there for the past there is the need to keep eyes ahead to see today and the day after tomorrow.


One Adorable Blind Vice 3/10/05

Okay, sugar-muffins, the only reason this one's in the Vice section is because until quite recently, Toothy Tile was dating his superpopular, superannoyingly perfect girlfriend. Not boyfriend. Which, if you ask this old gossip whore, is the classification Tile would prefer his significant others be filed under in the very near future.

Mere days ago, while everyone was hooting and complaining about this gown and that host from the Oscars, Tile was right out in the open holding hands with his man in a West Hollywood restaurant--which shall remain nameless...because I love going there and they probably won't serve me anymore if I start outing their customers, ca-friggin'-peesh?

Not that I'd be outting anybody, anyway. Mr. Tile took care of that himself. Covertly, but he did it.

It was late in the afternoon; everybody had cleared out. Save Tile and his man-amigo, who extended his hands flat on the marble table (yes, that's a hint) until they were intertwined with Tile's. Massive smiles then appeared on both daring dudes.

Too sweet! And such a departure for this debauched department, doncha think? Don't worry, as sure as Tile's famous ex knew, deep down, way below her doable dimples, what Tile really wanted (hence, the breakup), next week, we'll be right back on salacious patrol, damn sure.

And it ain't: Tobey Maguire, Keanu Reeves, or Jamie Fox



Ted has been quiet lately on Toothy, the Goose and even Jake. What does it mean? A respite for for Toothy and Goose to slip away for a quiet private life? Ted's tired of the other shenanigans Toothy has been playing? Ted's sources have gone quiet for the moment? Toothy is not the only gay HW actor blind item in town anymore? Or does Ted have something bigger he is waiting for to say? The one thing Ted has not said, is that Tooth has lost his Goose.