Anderson Cooper officially came out yesterday. The reaction was kinda…bitchy. It seemed to mostly consisted of snark along the lines of “yeah, no shit”. We don’t ALWAYS have to be cynical, girls (I know, look who’s typing). Hey, I think he should still get credit for verifying it. I’m all for labeling yourself (don’t hate me, Dewitt) when that action can assist our cause in seeking complete equality for LGBT people. But that’s not what this post is about. This post is about what a friend of mine had to say about Cooper’s closet door opening.
What it boiled down to was that he feels Cooper has/will become less hot to gay men because his verifying he’s gay makes him somewhat more attainable. He reasons that that gay men always “want what they can’t have” and now that you can possibly see Anderson out and proud at the local gay bar, he’s no longer worth it. WHAT?!?
It should also be noted that my friend can skew a little dour, and he also firmly believes that all gay men are psychologically “damaged” from existing in what he views as a heterosexist world (I don’t necessarily disagree with him on the “heterosexist” thing). So, he’s coming from a slightly shadowy place when he says that.
But he’s got an interesting point. If you thought Anderson was totally fuckable before he was open about his sexual preference, do you still? Did his coming out make him less attractive to you in some way? Is the mystery gone and he’s just another one of us so it killed his shine?
Let us know in the comments. Look – heady discussion!
– J. Harvey
Check out some pics of celebs who’ve come out in the past couple of years after the JUMP:
When attractive male celebrities come out, they become more attractive. It seems that they become more comfortable and confident. Though it doesn’t make them any more or less attainable.
I’ve never gotten the whole lusting after straight or ‘straight-acting’ guys… I prefer someone who’s comfortable being themselves, doesn’t need to drink 20 beers to let me blow him and actually seems interested in having sex with me and actively participates and reciprocates… but hey, I guess I’m wierd that way 🙂
I reject your friend’s deconstruction of my tastes. Anderson Cooper being publicly out doesn’t really make him any more or less attractive. Hell, it’s totally awesome that he made the publicly came out because even though pretty much everyone in the LGBT community knew that Cooper was gay, I’ve met so many (intelligent and aware) straight people who had no idea and had to be convinced that Cooper liked boys. Of course the fact that they just automatically assume everyone is straight is an entirely different topic.
ummmmmm yeah? why am i so crazy about straight boys?
lance is such a queen.. he needs to go somewhere lol
You need to change some friends if they seriously think we’re damaged from living in a heteronormative society. Such friends can’t possibly be healthy for your conscience.
To what you’re asking; I think they get a tad hotter because they become more relaxed and more confident in themselves, and thus they carry themselves more proudly. And Cooper is hot either way, so it’s just a plus he’s playing for our team.
Anderson has always been and always will be one of the sexiest men alive to me. When he came out I just said to myself that, thank god now I am just one more step to officially becoming a Vanderbilt.
I dont think being gay or straight is what makes a person hot. Hot is hot and not is not.
Are you listening, Jodie Foster? Tom Cruise? (“Come out of the closet, Tom!”), John Travolta? George Clooney? You can’t be honest with people until you’re first honest with yourself.
Exactly. It’s not like I’d have a chance with Ricky Martin or Jim Parsons in the first place, but the fact that they are honest and unashamed makes them so much more sexy to me. Plus, as stated above, they seem to become more confident and relaxed, which is always a plus.
i wonder who Quinto is fucking at the moment…
That’s true but I also think it’s true for anyone that comes out. Once you drop that fear and shame that you’ve been holding on to, you relax and become more authentic. That ease is very attractive on anyone…but especially if you happen to already be extra sexy looking, like Anderson. I still have about -183% chance of having sex with him but that didn’t change at all because he came out.
When did Jim Parsons and Lance Bass become “Hot” celebrities, honestly when did NPH become “Hot”?
A Ricky Martin lo ubico, pero el resto ni idea quienes son, podrian poner el nombre y el oficio como minimo…
no not at all, infact it makes them more interesting seeing they play for my team now! hehe 😉
mucho respect for all those hot gay male celebs who have come out, heres to more!!! x
NO! They look so much HOTTER!!!!
take notes MAKS from (DWTS) and Seacrest!!!
if they were hot when they were straight they are still hot, it just makes my fantasies easier to envision and plus it gives me hope that on a random night i could bump into them and have amazing sex lol.
If anything it made them hotter to me, BECAUSE I know for sure they’re “gettable”.
sexy as ever – out and proud
It’s “fascinating” that most of these “celebrities” are “old queens” who only want young boy-toys as their partners. That’s says a great deal about them, and makes them far less “attractive.”
Definitely hotter.
I was thinking about it, and now I know Anderson Cooper likes to suck dick. The fact that I know he’s had a wiener in his mouth and liked it really really turned me on.
More attractive.
don’t get why anyone thinks travolta, clooney or cruise are gay.
Mutant and proud!
Um… Lance Bass was never hot… and still isn’t.
People think that travolta,cruise and Clooney are gay. is Bc. THEY ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i don’t believe i have that “problem” of actively pursuing straight guys, for the purpose of sexual conquest.
(once the Individual In Pursuit has had repeated sexual contact with other men, he can no longer be considered “heterosexual.”
end of story.)
also, i don’t believe i fetishsize the “straight male” — i don’t need to lust after dudes who are only into the poon|tank; if i want to say i am more turned on by … “macho-type masculinity,” instead, then i believe i am articulate enough to declare that.
old andy’s not particularly “macho.”
but i still wanna lick his guns.
(all three of them.)
honestly, i wouldn’t have been able to deduce he was one of us; my gaydar’s not all that great, so any “signs” he was giving might just have been lost on Me.