I’m torn over this statement by Michelle Rodriguez regarding questions about her sexuality. Of course I respect her right to privacy. I also agree that it’s nobody’s business, especially when she puts it in the context of the type of people who are asking her about it: “I picture [the journalists] turning into pigs, slime coming out the side of their mouth, and I picture them jerking off. I don’t answer those questions”.
But…it also really sucks that she won’t be public about her sexuality. To me, it feels like she’s ashamed or embarrassed and most likely worried about her career. I don’t want to pull anybody out of the closet when they aren’t ready but lesbians everywhere are just waiting for the day she declares she’s “one of us”. There aren’t that many female queers in the public eye and so we cling to any and every public figure who is out and proud, regardless of how hot or talented they are (cases in point: Chastity Bono, Tila Tequila). So when someone like Michelle Rodriguez, who is way hot and way talented is possibly a lezzie, it’s as frustrating as watching her hook up with that d-bag football player in Blue Crush when she obviously wants to hit it with Anne Marie.
–Amy Miller
Filed under: queer news | Tagged: lesbian, michelle, rodriguez
But why the open announcement when we basically already know the answer? Just like we knew about Jody Foster for 20 years. Did we really have to wait for her to thank Cynthia at an awards dinner this year?
I’m beginning to think, in this day and age, that it’s a bit selfish to ask public figures to put everything on the line just so I can have a queer role model. But if we are going to psychologically beat gays and lesbians out of the closet, let’s start a little closer to home. That way, we will be there for all that delicious emotional fallout. We’ll begin by following the girls’ coaches, then move on to staking out the highway rest areas to catch your classmates’s dads or figure out what’s really going on at those Tupperware parties.
I believe it’s extremely important for GLBT youth to see out-and-proud public figures. It may be unimportant or taken for granted by us, but for many young people who are coming to terms with their sexuality, it can be transformative to see someone talk so openly about it-especially if they live somewhere where there aren’t many queers. Also, like it or not, mainstream media shapes our culture. Slowly but surely, the general mindset about queerness in this country is progressing-in large part because of gay representation in TV, movies, music, etc…
as much as i know how personal coming out is, kids look up to you when you are a celeb. when you decide to lead a public life, you have to take responsibility for that and lead others like you in the best wyay possible. since everyone knows about michelle rodriguez, her silence only tells young people that it is better to be closeted than to be out.
I just think Michelle is cool, I admit I’m impressed. I think it’s her private life. Maybe she wants the spotlight on her acting, not her sexuality. Dunno.