Half
of the women in the room will defend Jodie's decision
to keep her personal life as private as she can. Perhaps
each of the women on that side of the argument enjoys a
somewhat “private” life (read: closeted life)
of her own; perhaps each simply respects Jodie's choice
on a professional level. Lord knows that out Hollywood actresses
don’t get the work that closeted actresses do. Regardless
of the reasoning, each rationale is sure to provoke a very
interesting and intense sub-debate.
The
other half will, like Westenhoefer, argue that Jodie should
come out of the closet because of what she could do for
the lesbian and gay community. Jodie's clout, the
respect she commands, her charming personality and warm,
soft-spoken manner, they believe, will help make the world
a more welcoming place for lesbians. These folks are likely
out themselves and want some very famous company. Or, perhaps
their desire is more selfish. Maybe they think they’re
owed something in return for supporting Jodie over the years.
Maybe, just maybe, they simply want to be right. Whatever
the reasons, this argument is, of course, based on the belief
that Jodie is in.
But
is she?
While
Jodie's public behavior reeks of “Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell,” is there anyone besides the
June and Ward Cleavers of Middle America and cable-less
people in third world countries who doesn’t suspect
that Jodie's gay? Who doesn’t believe that she
and Cydney Bernard are more than friends?
Let’s
be real. While we’ve never heard the words “I
am a lesbian” escape from Jodie's mouth, there’s
plenty of ink leading to the camp that says she’s
not all that straight. You need not be a super sleuth to
trail Jodie down the Pink Path. All you have to do is read
and pay attention to not only what she says and does, but
also what she doesn’t say and do.
So
why all the heated fuss? Jodie Foster is out already—sort
of. Is she not out enough? Why do we pressure this woman
to come to our rescue when she obviously doesn’t want
to?
Okay,
I’ll bite. What would Jodie do for us? What
would happen if Jodie Foster came out publicly?
Let’s
pretend that Jodie came out this morning. Let’s suppose
that she did so in true Jodie -fashion—she didn’t
call a press conference, she simply and finally, in a one-on-one
interview while promoting her new movie, answered “Yes”
to a question reporters have been asking her for years:
Are you gay?
Let’s
also assume that Jodie does not have Multiple Personality
Disorder and that her demeanor or character will not change
as a result of her admission. In other words, it’s
unlikely that Jodie Foster will say she’s a lesbian
today and march on Washington or slug Rick Santorum tomorrow.
That’s just not who she appears to be. It seems to
me that Jodie would follow her declaration with something
like, “I have nothing else to say about that. Next
question?”
If
that were to happen, how would we feel? After getting what
we’ve always said we wanted, would we be satisfied?
Nah.
Why?
Because we don’t want Jodie to simply come out publicly,
we want her to be our leader. And that’s fine; we
could use some leadership. But if Jodie hasn’t stepped
up for that job yet, I doubt she ever will. Why would she?
Given the track record of those who have tried to fill that
position in the past, I’m surprised she hasn’t
made a quiet, cozy home for herself and her family in Antarctica.
