Can someone explain to me the phenomenal success of female TV hosts who have not sweated hiding their sexual identity and their acceptance in our country’s bosom? I mean, Ellen is SO out, and yet her daytime TV show is extraordinarily popular, and usually, daytime audiences are like Midwest housewives (if I may so blatantly stereotype) who I would think are close-minded about that sort of thing. Same goes for Rosie O’Donnell and Oprah Winfrey (who, by the way, I didn’t consider gay until my friend Becca casually mentioned to me, Oh sure, she’s totally a lesbian, and I was like WHAT? I mean, I’ve heard the stories of best friend Gail in Kathy Griffin stand-up routines, but I feel so naive.)
I just find it fascinating. Is it selective denial? Denial when it works to your advantage?
You know, I know the rumors have always been there about Oprah, but I thought it was too easy because it would be so obvious. However, in the last few Oprah episodes I have seen, she is definitely always saying: “Gayle says this…” and “Gayle says that…” and never any mention of Steadman. Again, that would be so obvious. But it seemed like Steadman didn’t even exist.
Although Rosie O’Donnell is a supreme bi-yatch, I did appreciate when she was on The View. She talked very openly about her family life with Kelly and sometimes it was just these mundane details. And I thought that it was refreshing to hear and how awesome it was that some mom in Iowa could probably relate.
But yeah, selective denial for sure! It’s okay to be a friendly, funny lesbian on tv–and they are definitely some of the more powerful tv personalities on tv–and yet totally okay to be anti-gay this and that.