Kurtz
12-14-2007, 10:26 PM
THE only surprising thing about Jodie Foster “outing” herself as a lesbian this week was the fuss it created.
Everyone has known for years that Jodie is gay and in a very happy relationship with partner Cydney Bernard and their two sons.
It was, nevertheless, a surprise to see the intensely private, nervy actress acting out of character by publicly thanking her “beautiful Cydney who sticks with me through all the rotten and the bliss”, during a Hollywood awards ceremony.
It’s the first time Jodie has publicly acknowledged her 14-year relationship and it shows she finally feels at ease.
Although she has frequently come under attack by gay rights groups for not talking openly about her sexuality, you can’t blame Jodie for wanting to keep her private life to herself.
She shot to fame when she was a toddler showing her bottom in a suntan cream ad, played a teen prostitute in Taxi Driver – and has been the victim of stalkers over the years.
The most notorious was psycho John Hinckley who attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan, claiming to be inspired by Jodie.
I’m surprised she didn’t head for the Appalachians to live as a hermit.
But she’s a tough cookie – not unlike Clarice Starling, her character in Silence Of The Lambs. She not only bounced back, but managed to lead a low-key, relatively normal life.
In a town where the paparazzi hunt in packs like hyenas, Jodie managed to have two kids and kept them out of the spotlight. She is nobody’s fool.
Jodie knows there are closets stuffed full of actors terrified to be “found out” because of the disastrous effect it would have on their careers.
Rupert Everett is one of the few out and proud gay men in Hollywood, but his career has recently been confined to playing homosexual roles or dressing up in drag. He claims to have lost major roles because of his sexuality.
Surely if someone is a good actor it shouldn’t matter whether they are gay, straight or unsure.
In recent years Hollywood has portrayed sympathetic gay characters but, bizarrely, they are played by straight men.
Brokeback Mountain saw Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal mumble their way through a love affair.
Tom Hanks has to be the straightest man in America and Antonio Banderas oozes testosterone, but they were chosen to play gay lovers in Philadelphia because producers thought audiences wouldn’t accept gay actors in the roles.
If straight actors can play gay parts why can’t it work the other way around?
Jodie Foster might just buck the trend. She has an outstanding body of work behind her and specialises in strong, ball-breaking women. She also owns a highly successful production company so has power, clout and money.
She should be feted as an actress, director and businesswoman with two kids and a successful relationship.
And it shouldn’t matter a damn whether her partner is a bloke or a woman. What’s important is that they love each other and their kids.
That’s why I cannot understand why the same people who bemoan the fact marriage is on the way out and divorce is rife, also condemn gay relationships and gay weddings.
In this mad, sad, bad world of ours, it’s heartening to see two people vowing to love and cherish each other, whether they are gay or straight. And receptions at gay weddings are a hell of a lot more fun.
So good on Jodie Foster in telling the world she loves her Cydney – it’s just a shame she felt she had to keep it a secret for so long.
Jodie (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/columnists/article586247.ece)
I didn't know y'all didn't know, I thought we all knew,
I gotta keep up with what goes on out there. :lol
At my partner's retirement dinner for 30 years Federal Service she thanked lots of folks 'n then made a few jokes about me proddin' her along for almost 20 of those years. Everyone laughed. :lol
Everyone has known for years that Jodie is gay and in a very happy relationship with partner Cydney Bernard and their two sons.
It was, nevertheless, a surprise to see the intensely private, nervy actress acting out of character by publicly thanking her “beautiful Cydney who sticks with me through all the rotten and the bliss”, during a Hollywood awards ceremony.
It’s the first time Jodie has publicly acknowledged her 14-year relationship and it shows she finally feels at ease.
Although she has frequently come under attack by gay rights groups for not talking openly about her sexuality, you can’t blame Jodie for wanting to keep her private life to herself.
She shot to fame when she was a toddler showing her bottom in a suntan cream ad, played a teen prostitute in Taxi Driver – and has been the victim of stalkers over the years.
The most notorious was psycho John Hinckley who attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan, claiming to be inspired by Jodie.
I’m surprised she didn’t head for the Appalachians to live as a hermit.
But she’s a tough cookie – not unlike Clarice Starling, her character in Silence Of The Lambs. She not only bounced back, but managed to lead a low-key, relatively normal life.
In a town where the paparazzi hunt in packs like hyenas, Jodie managed to have two kids and kept them out of the spotlight. She is nobody’s fool.
Jodie knows there are closets stuffed full of actors terrified to be “found out” because of the disastrous effect it would have on their careers.
Rupert Everett is one of the few out and proud gay men in Hollywood, but his career has recently been confined to playing homosexual roles or dressing up in drag. He claims to have lost major roles because of his sexuality.
Surely if someone is a good actor it shouldn’t matter whether they are gay, straight or unsure.
In recent years Hollywood has portrayed sympathetic gay characters but, bizarrely, they are played by straight men.
Brokeback Mountain saw Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal mumble their way through a love affair.
Tom Hanks has to be the straightest man in America and Antonio Banderas oozes testosterone, but they were chosen to play gay lovers in Philadelphia because producers thought audiences wouldn’t accept gay actors in the roles.
If straight actors can play gay parts why can’t it work the other way around?
Jodie Foster might just buck the trend. She has an outstanding body of work behind her and specialises in strong, ball-breaking women. She also owns a highly successful production company so has power, clout and money.
She should be feted as an actress, director and businesswoman with two kids and a successful relationship.
And it shouldn’t matter a damn whether her partner is a bloke or a woman. What’s important is that they love each other and their kids.
That’s why I cannot understand why the same people who bemoan the fact marriage is on the way out and divorce is rife, also condemn gay relationships and gay weddings.
In this mad, sad, bad world of ours, it’s heartening to see two people vowing to love and cherish each other, whether they are gay or straight. And receptions at gay weddings are a hell of a lot more fun.
So good on Jodie Foster in telling the world she loves her Cydney – it’s just a shame she felt she had to keep it a secret for so long.
Jodie (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/columnists/article586247.ece)
I didn't know y'all didn't know, I thought we all knew,
I gotta keep up with what goes on out there. :lol
At my partner's retirement dinner for 30 years Federal Service she thanked lots of folks 'n then made a few jokes about me proddin' her along for almost 20 of those years. Everyone laughed. :lol