Gay celebs: inching out versus coming out
by: pam
Fri Feb 29, 2008 at 11:30:00 AM EST

http://pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=4EC402FC689DE94A79D6E6040A653B66?diaryId=4637

The debate over whether professionally closeted/socially openly gay public figures bear a social responsibility to come out arises every so often, and AfterElton's Christie Keith takes a look at the pros and cons in "Inching out of the closet."

"Inching out" refers to the relatively recent phenomenon of celebrities not bothering to hide from cameras while "off-duty" --  mingling in gay bars, or out shopping with their partners. They are fully confident that the mainstream gay and straight press will not press them in "on-duty" interviews about their sexual orientation, thus informing much of gaydar-deficient America that the celebrity is gay.