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Clementine Ford comes out

Heather Hogan

In the March issue of Diva, Clementine Ford officially came out.

She told the magazine: "I never want to put a label on myself — but knowing that not everyone comes from such a liberal place, when something like Prop 8 comes out, you realize it’s important to stand up and be counted. A little gay kid in a small town is more important than whether I want a label."

Since joining the cast of The L Word, Ford has had plenty of opportunities to meet those small town gay kids.

Last summer, while she was shooting a public service announcement for the Point Foundation (an organization that grants scholarships to LGBT students), Ford asked Curve reporter JD Disalvatore why the charming, intelligent Point Scholars she'd met that day had been kicked out of their homes.

The answer: "Some people don’t like their kids being gay."

She sent a letter to the Point Foundation after the shoot, offering to help any way she could — even if that meant licking envelopes.

When Diva first asked her about her sexuality, Ford said she wasn't technically out yet, explaining, "For me, there’s never been a distinction about anything to do with sexuality, so there was no declaration to be made. My siblings and I would bring home men and women, and as long as they were human it wasn’t a big thing."

Later in the interview, of course, she went ahead and punctuated the declaration with a label — "out."

Ford was married to Chad Todhunter between 2000 and 2004, but rumors about her sexual orientation have been swirling since then, with many people speculating that she was in a relationship with L Word co-star Kate Moennig. About that, Ford told Diva:

Clearly we did our jobs right if there are rumours. But I hate to squash them, too. Whatever I say people are going to have their own ideas. Basically we’re really good friends now and people can draw whatever conclusions they want.

As for whether she's dating anyone now, Ford said, "Yes, I am, but it’s new and I wouldn’t call it a relationship. I don’t want to say too much and jinx it.”

By the end of the interview, Ford was playing every lesbian's favorite game: Project the Gayness.

"Mum and Jane (Lynch) have such a great energy together, on screen and off," Ford said. "They’re still friends. I want them to be together so badly; it’s my secret dream."

So maybe this isn't that far off?

Whoops, now I'm doing the projecting.

The March issue of Diva hits shelves in the UK on Feb. 12. You can also watch Clementine on This Just Out with Liz Feldman

UPDATE: The label Clementine used in the magazine to describe herself is "out" and the article implies the person she's currently dating is a woman. So it's not clear whether she identifies as bisexual or gay, but either way, it's good for queer visibility!

Heather Hogan's blog

Submitted by

Heather Hogan

on February 6, 2009 - 5:55pm.

TAGS ::

:D

Submitted by

meandering.sprig (40 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 10:53am.

w00t to that!!!!

wow

Submitted by

danes38 (107 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 10:55am.

never heard these rumors but i'm pleasantly surprised!

DIDO!!!!

Submitted by

H (40 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:30am.

DIDO!!!!

Dido? Are you a massive fan

Submitted by

Lacey (341 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 6:11pm.

Dido? Are you a massive fan or something?

Join for Raimy:

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22059764903

You know you want to.

Perhaps...

Submitted by

monica_ca (749 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 7:15pm.

...she meant 'ditto'???

Uh huh. Join for

Submitted by

Lacey (341 posts)

on February 7, 2009 - 5:47pm.

Uh huh.

Join for Raimy:

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22059764903

You know you want to.

Ummm...

Submitted by

Lauren (55 posts)

on February 8, 2009 - 12:15am.

Don't you mean "Uh huh her?"

THANK YOU, FORD!

Submitted by

the wanderer (22 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 10:56am.

thank you clementine,

'coz visibility really matters.

officially

Submitted by

Amii. (72 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 10:57am.

so happy right now!

ahhh, clementine ford is THE hottest character on the l word.

seriously. she's beautiful.

i have the hugest crush on her. haha. my gay friends are going to be so chuffed.

presumably she's bisexual...that's ace ;]

ah ha!

Submitted by

Katerina (19 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:04am.

I always had a feeling about her!

Congrats, Clementine Ford.

Submitted by

Anonymous

on February 6, 2009 - 11:06am.

I am surprised. I had seen an interview of Cybill Shephard on "The View" when she was joining the "The L Word" show. She made it seem like her daughter was heterosexual (pretty much only like males).

Wow...congratulations, Clementine Ford!

The View

Submitted by

kuuleimomi (57 posts)

on February 7, 2009 - 6:44am.

Yes! I was wondering why this piece of news is so weird to me. Because of the view. I got the very same impression from what Cybill Shephard had to say there.

how comes? what did she

Submitted by

Clara (915 posts)

on February 7, 2009 - 11:20am.

how comes? what did she say?

________________________________

"there's always time for a burrow..."
"We're getting fired, fired, fired, firedddd"

"Clippity-cloppity"

Kudos

Submitted by

Natazzz (1113 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:06am.

"A little gay kid in a small town is more important than whether I want a label."

Well said, Clementine.

---------------------------------------

Who doesn't blog these days?

eurOut for all your European queer needs

Congratulations Clementine!!!

Submitted by

sohelko (104 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:52am.

This line is priceless and so true. If only more people could think this way...

Being Gay

Submitted by

jennifer from p... (1476 posts)

on February 8, 2009 - 6:40pm.

Yes, being out matters most to the kids coming of age and looking for some sort of re-enforcement when they don't really have any.

My one son recently had a friend come to him with a problem, and when the friend finally got around to what was on his mind he said, What if I'm gay? My son answered with, That's ok, my Mom's gay. Not that this teen-age boy is going to get much bolstering from a middle-aged lesbian, per se, but it does let him know that at least one friend has experience with this, and is going to accept him no matter what. That feeling of being alone in the gayness can be overwhelming, and it's always good to be reminded, and shown that you're not the only one.

First of good for her

Submitted by

Nichotal (11 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:09am.

First of good for her talking about this given whats going on in america just now.

Quote:

My siblings and I would bring home men and women, and as long as they were human it wasn’t a big thing."

This is the same sort of attitude people have theses days as most people are recognizing sexuality as being more fluid and not as set and that labels although my be required at times are something we will abandon eventually.

omg!!! congratulations!!

Submitted by

Rockstar (149 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:10am.

wow!!!!!! i swear to god i didn't see this coming!!

congratulations clementine!!

i'm so happy right now!! this made my day..

Great news to kick off the day

Submitted by

PotentialEnigma (41 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:21am.

Thats awesome that more and more people that are in the spotlight are speaking up. She spoke well. Congrats Clementine :D.

yay!!! so she is on our

Submitted by

saved (16 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:23am.

yay!!! so she is on our team??? thats great! i love her as molly! :D

Good on her. This kinda

Submitted by

onedimpledcheek (57 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:23am.

Good on her.

This kinda made my day. Not gonna lie.

She's utterly fantastic, that one.

whoa, what a pleasant surprise!

Submitted by

alex (483 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:24am.

wait, clem's gay? this is awesome!

any way we can get more of the interview??- the above exerpts dont really say anything definitive (i guess i fear some sort of pink/every celebrity retraction of their "i hate labels" stance)... oh man im so googling this all morning!

-----------
http://rightmindleftcoast.wordpress.com

Holy Crap

Submitted by

Penny Winterr (814 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:28am.

That's awesome. She's SOOOOOO Hot! Smokin' HOT! Daaaaamn. Great news.

another for us.

Submitted by

桜 (186 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:29am.

Wow!!

Watching the L word was the first time I saw her and I'm not gonna lie... I had to keep reminding myself that she was acting and therefore she was straight.

Now... I don't need to do that!

I just wish nothing but the best for her!

Yay. I'm so proud of her for

Submitted by

K (118 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:31am.

Yay. I'm so proud of her for doing that.

And she has a great mom

Submitted by

sleepylobster (164 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:39am.

I've always loved Cybill Sherpherd and now I must imagine that she knew that her daughter is gay and has been right there with her and by her side.

"A little gay kid in a

Submitted by

emmaxx (22 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:40am.

"A little gay kid in a small town is more important than whether I want a label."

Well said, Clementine. Visibility is so important, I'm thankful you're willing to stand up.

Exactly

Submitted by

monica_ca (749 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 7:20pm.

I loved that she said that. It wasn't too long ago that I WAS that 'little gay kid in a small town'...and I know that when you are that kid, it can mean a world of difference when someone in the public eye is willing to come out and really wear that label of 'gay'. AT times it can seem like the only people who would support you are these celebrities who happen to be completely strangers, but who are at least accepting of homosexuality.

Brava, Clementine...brava.

Awesome news!

Submitted by

Kris (195 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:41am.

I'm so happy for her and I'm glad that she came out.

Bi, maybe...?

Submitted by

Thane McAllister (157 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:41am.

yeah so, from what i gathered her "coming out" wasn't a declaration of homosexuality, but rather bisexuality; that headline is misleading it should read: "Clemintine Ford Comes Out-Sort Of..."

and anyway, she was a little too into her sex scence with Shane to be 100% straight, so i'm not even suprised-happy, yes-but not suprised [*Gay-Crush!]

Thane

hold on....

Submitted by

Salaam (66 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 2:00pm.

Are you saying that her coming out as bisexual is not as authentic as coming out as gay? or Are you saying that the article was somewhat vague in the articulation of her label?

Just trying to clarify. I've misunderstood people before, and gotten piqued for no reason.

of course coming out as

Submitted by

Thane McAllister (157 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 2:27pm.

of course coming out as bisexual is just as significant as coming out as a lesbian; however, there is a distinction between the two and the title didn't really specify (yes, one would assume that she meant bisexual-as i clearly did-but an assumption is not a definative statement)...

When i said they should change the title to “Clementine Ford Comes Out-Sort Of" I only meant that she (Clementine) didn't really say what she was (bisexual or otherwise) and whatever her sexual orientation/preference was, it would probably be unclear to the reader…

Didn't mean to offend…

Thane

Cool.

Submitted by

Salaam (66 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 8:01pm.

Thanks for taking the time to entertain my confusion. :)

~Peace

Sex Scene

Submitted by

RachOB (1 post)

on February 13, 2009 - 9:03pm.

Yeah she was a little 'too into the sex scene with shane', I've got a copy of the mag and I quote 'When she and Moennig where performing their sex scenes [she told Liz Feldman, on AE Website], they wanted it to look as authentic as possable, so they had sex on set'

Haha

Submitted by

eve_jig_it (677 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 12:05pm.

Haha, funny that it’s her secret dream for her Mum and Jane Lynch to get together in real life. I remember watching Cybill Sheridan in ‘Cybill’ back in the day, funny (if I remember rightly). And her (on screen) daughter was hot too (if I remember that rightly as well). Good on Clementine for this latest news.

wow

Submitted by

Sarah (73 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 11:58am.

I must be totally out of it. 1st of all I had no idea she was Cybill's daughter and had no idea she was gay/bi. Got the double dose of shocking news reading this, but I love it!

MMM

Submitted by

GATA (192 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 12:07pm.

My goodness!!im totally surprised..i never thought she was open to love regardless gender!!i agree with her,, i dont like labels...so that means i have hope!lmaol!!! considering the fact that she was married before, not that it means she was totally hetero,,because there is many married women who dig women but i didnt think clementine would...SHE'S GEORGES!!! so were can i find HER? i mean were can i find this magazine?:)

Yay for visibility

Submitted by

Trouble_Sleeping (63 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 12:17pm.

That's all kinds of awesomeness.

awh wow! i thought she was

Submitted by

Emuhlee (107 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 12:22pm.

awh wow! i thought she was totaly straight!
i love her even more now

YEA!

Submitted by

LemurLover (17 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 12:25pm.

As everyone else has said...I'm glad she went public. Who cares if she's gay or bi. She may be helping save a life in one of those small towns she refers to. A lot of kids would rather kill themselves than come out to their families/friends. Kudos Clementine!

Just three simple words:

Submitted by

Smagninborg (106 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 12:35pm.

Hut ... Shoot ... Touchdown!

wow, i never knew that

Submitted by

Anonymous

on February 6, 2009 - 12:47pm.

wow, i never knew that about her.

well im glad she's very like "it doesn't matter." i enjoy that she doesn't make it such a big deal. Cuz hollywood makes it like its such a BIG THING! it gets annoying.

plus hollywood really needs to mind their own beeeswax! :)

Happy but not surprised :)

Submitted by

Amylin (213 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 12:54pm.

Haha, I'm glad to see that my gaydar was accurate. I knew it! That's great! Whoot Hollywood ladies are coming out more and more, this is totally awesome :)

reeeeaaaally?! She's a lesbian

Submitted by

Valkyrie (311 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 1:27pm.

I think she's sooo hot! At first I kinda thought.. well maybe she might be bi-curious.. who knows.... but hello! yay! One more! LOL! Im glad she came out then... I think her mom is SOOOO COOL!!!! I mean Cybill Shepherd is awesome and soo openminded... And it is really good that she decided to be out and about cuz.. it is sooo fucking annoying to see how "hollywood" makes it such a shocker and she went out with this this girl and they were bla bla bla... so yeah Im glad she decided to talk about it!

LOL love the above avatar the hamster that has "DRAMA" SOOOOO CUTEEE!

I thought she was gay

Submitted by

Lacey (341 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 1:32pm.

I thought she was gay anyway..

I'd rather her Mother came out though, she's awesome.

Join for Raimy:

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22059764903

You know you want to.

Aeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

Submitted by

Clara (915 posts)

on February 7, 2009 - 11:19am.

Aeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! I really really reeally don't usually get like this, but.... Molly was the one i liked, and didn't expect to. Her thing on This Just Out was hilarious. I SO didn't expect it though, like didn't even daydream cus some stuff i can't imagine around. but. I'm happy :) don't know why. but i realy really am. :D

edit: on the other hand it does seem like she's coming out as bisexual not gay because if she was gay she probably wouldn't have gotten married 'cus she was already dating girls years ago. Not that being bisexual is worse but she isn't very specific which always makes me think of the 'everyone is a little bisexual' kinda thing where a celebrity says it for effect and because they think girls are beautiful and want perhaps one expierence but would never date a woman. Its not her responsibility to be specific but I just hope she isn't just refering to her dating both when young or being open minded, even if that still might be helpful to the small town kids she mentions

oh whatever, i think she's awesome

________________________________

"there's always time for a burrow..."
"We're getting fired, fired, fired, firedddd"

"Clippity-cloppity"

"Oh my daaaarlin' Clementiiiiine..."

Submitted by

Joy In Sneakers (18 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 1:41pm.

Great news, indeed!

This puts Liz Feldman's interview of her into a whole new perspective! I think I'm gonna watch it again! :D

"If she had touched me, I would've been hers and not my own. Not ever again." - The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

haham exactly what i was

Submitted by

Clara (915 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 1:48pm.

haham exactly what i was thinking :D

you know what, in those photos she looks a lot like my frend who i think is bi

________________________________

"there's always time for a burrow..."
"We're getting fired, fired, fired, firedddd"

"Clippity-cloppity"

Wow!

Submitted by

ColetteLala (167 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 1:50pm.

I never saw that coming. Good for her! I wish her all the best in love and life.

but wait... lez or bi?

Submitted by

Valkyrie (311 posts)

on February 6, 2009 - 2:01pm.

but it doesn't specify... it is kinda misleading. Was she really once married? I think she might've come out as bisexual... I hate it when they label themselves as bisexuals... just like Angelina Jolie.. yeah right bisexual? sure... straight as a pencil lol...

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