Lifestyle
is "coming out" easier for celebrities?
Like Lance Bass, many celebrities have revealed their sexual orientation using mainstream media. But does being a celebrity make it any easier to break the news?
When Ellen DeGeneres came out publicly 15 years ago in Time Magazine, the ruckus was deafening. In 2012, the news of someone in the public eye coming out barely makes a thump. Ricky Martin chose his personal blog to come out in 2010, not surprising after years of speculation. This year alone, public figures like Anderson Cooper, White Collar's Matt Bomer, actor Zachary Pinto, and Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons outed themselves in the mainstream media with not much hoopla. In fact, hip hop artist Frank Ocean's admission on Tumblr seems to be the only one that's caused a stir.
In Hollywood, the news may no longer be as shocking, but for your average person outside of the metropolis areas, the fear of revealing their true identity still exists. Lance Bass recently stopped by The Ricki Lake Show to share his own experience on the "Coming Out" episode, telling Ricki Lake that it's even harder being gay in middle America. Growing up in a small town in Mississippi, Lance says coming out "is a lot more tricky" and gave some tips for those in similar situations. The former *NSYNC member said it's important to "find that one person you trust" (like a best friend, teacher or family member), especially when growing up in an area that may not be as receptive. "Someone you can just let it out because once you tell one person, it gets the ball rolling," he added.
Is there less pressure to come out for those not in the public eye? Or is it difficult no matter how well known you are? We want to hear from you.
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