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Yep, she's gay! Clementine Ford comes out – for real this time

Trish Bendix

There's been some confusion about Clementine Ford lately, with a semi-retraction of her "coming out" in DIVA Magazine. Ford recently told TV Guide that she hadn't "come out" at all, and did not like to "label herself."

Today, she told The Advocate: "I am gay. "I just wanted there not to be this big emphasis on it."

"It’s funny," Ford said of her interview with DIVA. "I was having kind of rough day. My best friend sent me a text saying, 'You have to see this.' So, I went online to see this link and I read the comments and I go, 'They hate me!' When I did the TV Guide interview I was angry because there is the whole perception now that I came out and I went back in. And what upset me was I felt that because I did not 'come out' in that interview, I felt it was unfair to fans that bought the magazine expecting to get a tearful story that says, 'I’m gay.'

"I thought it was misleading, and now because I was upset by that cover, I am apparently back in the closet and people hate me."

Ford with her mother and L Word co-star Cybill Shepherd at a gala in December

So it's official: Ms. Ford is a lesbian, but did not feel she had officially "come out" or made a statement like that to DIVA. She opened up to The Advocate, which gives me the impression she really felt she wanted to be fair to her fans and fans of The L Word, who were confused and upset by the possibility she had been ashamed of her sexuality or had closeted herself in anyway.

"There are people who get it, and get what my original meaning was," Ford told the magazine. "Just as I was talking about storylines being a nonissue on The L Word; it should just be these people are gay and it’s part of life. I think with that article, and what came across as ambiguity, was actually my attempt at making it a nonissue."

"Look, I am gay, and I just wanted there not to be this big emphasis on it."

Some other tidbits from the interview with The Advocate:

On The L Word being groundbreaking:

I was excited to be working. In terms of it being groundbreaking, I think in a way it’s a shame. I don’t think it should be groundbreaking; it should not be made into a thing. There should be gay couples on television and lesbian and transgender people on television. It should be something that is normal. It’s exciting that it was groundbreaking, but now where do we go?

On fans of The L Word:

I had people come up to me and say that it made a difference. Even people who are older than me would come up to me and tell me that to be a character, and come in to the story as someone who has a "stick up her ass" about so many things and the lesbian issue, and then to see that change, was good for them. I do think it’s difficult for a lot of women who have come from certain backgrounds who are expected to have a different life. It’s not easy, and you don’t know where to necessarily put things, and you are not sure and a little timid. I had a lot of people coming up to me telling me that it was nice for them to see someone going through that struggle and figuring their way.

Ford as Molly on The L Word

On talking to her The L Word co-stars about her new gig on The Young and the Restless:

I talk to Kate Moennig all the time, and she was the first person I told. She told me congratulations.

On Prop. 8:

We have all heard it, where people have coined the phrase “straight marriage,” and that is a big thing for me. It’s like, “Why is it different? Get over it.” If you don’t want to have a gay marriage, don’t have one. Don’t marry someone of the same sex, but let me do it if I want to!" Ellen and Portia became poster children for gay marriage because we don’t have a lot of people that are representing this. There are still those walls, and there are those people who say, “Hide who you are. Be careful. Don’t be too gay.” I think a lot of that, and the media feeding into that, is part of the reason that Prop. 8 passed.

Clementine Ford is not only out, but she seems to be proud, too. Ladies, we officially have a new celesbian. Welcome to the club, Clem.

Editor's note: this news was announced early on March 31, and is NOT an April Fool's joke - the timing is just coincidental.

Trish Bendix's blog

Submitted by

Trish Bendix

on March 31, 2009 - 5:00pm.

TAGS ::

im glad

Submitted by

paradisesofar (113 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 8:38pm.

I know being gay shouldnt be a big issue but when ur in the media it is!

I am so happy she finally just set the record straight... well not litterally lol

Now she has to do a

Submitted by

MistressPearl (47 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 8:51pm.

Now she has to do a follow-up with Liz Feldman. I think that should be the first episode of season 3 (?) of This Just Out.

i agree! definitely!

Submitted by

frith (31 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 2:41am.

i agree! definitely!

now that you're officially out

Submitted by

MeltingCharcoals (680 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 8:55pm.

MARRY ME! :D

Congratulations! Welcome to the family!

Now we just need the rest of

Submitted by

Val (30 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 8:58pm.

Now we just need the rest of the hollywood to come out.

Vally Val

Submitted by

Anonymous

on March 31, 2009 - 9:12pm.

www.myspace.com/lunakiss7.com

BIg LOL. I'm laughing at what. you said. I'm with you on that!

YES!

Submitted by

Emily (33 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 9:02pm.

Well I must say I am ecstatic that she is actually "out" and gay!! She is just soooo beautiful!

Totally cool & so glad

Submitted by

leash (4 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 9:09pm.

Totally cool & so glad she's part of the family.

Now I just need to make her love me.

Toaster Oven for Katherine Moennig?

Submitted by

mousalope (32 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 9:17pm.

Although somehow I picture Katherine Moennig's garage jammed with stacked Toaster Oven boxes.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Submitted by

Devin (50 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 9:28pm.

awesome reference!

Awesome comment :)

Submitted by

jamlawgirl (457 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 10:06pm.

Awesome comment :)

Funny

Submitted by

Otalia (7 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 9:49am.

Perhaps we all should combine our toaster ovens and spray paint them in the rainbow colors and make one huge honking sculpture as a celebration of how far we have come.

We love you Clem!!! :D

Submitted by

rebelzz (139 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 9:23pm.

We love you Clem!!! :D

Awesome, great additive to

Submitted by

sodakgirl (63 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 9:30pm.

Awesome, great additive to the community!

Haha.

Submitted by

Rebecca (57 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 9:40pm.

I love how everyone here now secretly thinks they have a chance with her ;)

She's the real deal!!

Submitted by

AfterStr8 (28 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 9:49pm.

I need to fix my gaydar. Pronto!

Clementine didn't even register while on the L Word. I figured she was just an open minded straight girl with a lesbian friend or two.

After the whole Diva/Tv Guide debacle,I though she was bi-curious, at best.

But coming out as a lesbian?I would have never guessed it in a million years

She is genuine. She is brave. She is awesome. And she is HOT!!!!

maaan, you and me both! I

Submitted by

Sho_Baby (20 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 10:45pm.

maaan, you and me both! I think my gaydar's physical is waaay overdue because it needs a check-up.

Sweet..

Submitted by

ifrit2k5's_hellfire (55 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 9:51pm.

I'm glad she cleared up everything, even though it doesnt matter to me, I'm just glad that there is someone else out there that people can look up too and hopefully give them the courage to come out. Or at least fell more comfortable with themselves.

Haha yayyy. :] Glad to have

Submitted by

Kristin (117 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 9:58pm.

Haha yayyy. :] Glad to have her in our family!

This new info just made me

Submitted by

HappyJoy28 (14 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 10:00pm.

This new info just made me so excited! Clementine you are officially a member of the best family in the world!

welcome

Submitted by

karissa (30 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 10:02pm.

welcome to our wonferful community, so happy things are really fixed up this time.

coming out is hard for some gay and lesbian person but now that you have done it thanks you and yeah, looking forward to seening you and reading a bit more about your life now :)

just goes to show that to the straight world that pretty is in both community, thank Clementine Ford

Yay! good for her! i was

Submitted by

Anonymous

on March 31, 2009 - 10:04pm.

Yay! good for her!

i was one of the "fans" that understood her! :) yeahh!! so i guess she was referring to me! haha...

but i do understand what she means. i dont really ever tell people my sexuality as well because that tends to cloud people. And i dont want people just to see me and think "gay." there is more to me than that. its not that im ashamed of who i am, its just that when people know, then thats all they talk about.

Like i was hanging out with my cousin who knows im gay, and a couple of her friends know im gay. and she was talking to her friend on the phone and my cousin said "oh im just here with my cousin." And then she laughed, and i was like "what?" And then she said her friend referred to me as "the lesbian one??????" i kinda got annoyed cuz thats not all i am, and why do they only recognize that part of me?

Anyways, i just hope Clem is happy! and dont worry Clem, i understood u all along! you're just like me! dont listen to people! just be yourself and do what makes u happy!

wow confusing lol

Submitted by

7Up (706 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 10:12pm.

Ha ha, this has been hilarious, but I'm glad Clementine has clarified, because as someone who didn't know what her preference was, after that last bit of news we got she seemed like a straight woman who was detaching herself from any association with the gay community, and that was disturbing after she'd been in The L Word (straight or gay I expected those participating to be less afraid of the association)... anyhow, now it all makes more sense and it's also very exciting to have another cool person out of the closet and lending a hand in the making LGBT a non issue cause!

Punk'd

Submitted by

Betty (297 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 10:31pm.

I was like "Huh?" when I read the headline of this article and almost bought it. Then I realize that though Australia is half a day ahead of America, a few people have felt the Fool Day's spirit already.

I'm sure Clementine can't complain about The Advocate again, ha!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The last time I was inside a woman was when I visited the Statue of Liberty."

Seriously...

Submitted by

SubtextRules (353 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 10:38pm.

I'm pleased that Ford came out and kudos to her for representing. But even if she were straight, I'd still love her. She is a good human being and a believer in treating everyone equally. For me, that's simply good enough.

I completely understand her anger over the DIVA article. You know what, it's not a publication's job to out someone. What gave them the right to put her in this situation? It's bad enough having to come out privately, just imagine having to do it to the whole world? I'm glad she did it, but this is not a decision you should be forced into because of unfortunate events.

And to the person that compared all this to Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, shame on you. Rodriguez chose to misrepresent herself and put her own twisted spin on events. The situations are completely different.

"My name is Amy and I'm an Otalia-holic!"

=) =) =)

Submitted by

Erin (90 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 10:58pm.

=) =) =)

new'bian

Submitted by

lckynmbr9 (39 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 11:02pm.

Thank GOD! I was so tired of Lindsey being "the last girl out" ya know. It makes me wanna do the Flintstones song! "30millions strong, and growing". It just stinks that it had to happen so bass ackwards...

oh wow...

Submitted by

joan_xiii (68 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 11:03pm.

Molly i mean Clementine is really gay.

She's hot!

the greatest test of one's ability is to be able to hold two opposing ideas and find balance between the two...

YAY!

Submitted by

dj shiva (254 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 11:05pm.

Another smart, sexy (and funny) woman on the team! :D

And I agree we now need ANOTHER Clementine Ford episode of This Just Out. That first one almost killed me, I laughed so damn hard!

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

OTALIA!! WE. WANT. IT.

Well...

Submitted by

garanger (75 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 11:08pm.

I guess she gets a toaster oven after all.

Viva La Clemmie!

Submitted by

Naders (2 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 11:12pm.

I am always so happy to hear about awesome people coming out and standing up for what they believe in.

I loves me some Clemmie!

Hip hip you're gay!

Submitted by

katy Gnosis (230 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 11:13pm.

I'm glad a lot of people are accepting the fact that coming out is not an easy task, especially within the public eye and a celebrity mother of that stature...but the deed is done..CONGRATS!

When I came out 15 years ago I did it for me only...

Submitted by

Christa O'malley (245 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 11:17pm.

If I was famous and not like rich, I would accept me for me coming out and not for our lifestyle as a platform. I am a Lesbian for me not the Castro District in San Francisco. My free two cents.

Christa K. O'malley, RN, BSN, ACLS Pediatric ICU and Neonatal ICU

riotgrrrljaz 's comment

Submitted by

killbill (9 posts)

on March 31, 2009 - 11:57pm.

hahah yep that made me laugh. right on! :D

and like what i said from the previous article regarding her... ms ford is G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!!!!!

Yep, she's gay

Submitted by

poprocks (110 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 12:15am.

We'll we all knew that. Just kidding, no we didnt.

Glad she's joined the team. She makes an excellent addition to the community and, if I do say so myself, an even foxier celesbian ;) Sucks she had to fight the media every other way to come out though. At first I was like "yay! a possibility!" with her first interview. Then with the retraction I was like "awww possibility is gone." And now it's like "hell yeah! it's back!"

Score.

Submitted by

Anonymous

on April 1, 2009 - 12:47am.

Lesbians: +1

I was worried this was

Submitted by

Aya (879 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 1:15am.

I was worried this was another April Fools joke.

Not an April Fool's joke...

Submitted by

Sarah Warn (4199 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 5:00am.

Just bad timing! I'll add a note to the article clarifying that this is legit.

Good for her! I hope the

Submitted by

twodots (4 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 1:35am.

Good for her! I hope the DIVA article didn't force her to come out in a weird way when she wasn't ready, though. It's tough having someone else make that decision for you.

Jodie Foster

Submitted by

Vanessa_G (9 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 1:39am.

Good for her!

Now...am I the only one that thinks she looks and sounds A LOT like Jodie Foster???

My mom is proud of her, too

Submitted by

Myrtil (10 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 2:50am.

My mother is a great fan of her mother and I just called her to say Clementine came out and she said she was very, very proud of her. See, Clementine, you´re supported by my mommy, too :-)

Could pass as Jodie Foster's younger sis...

Submitted by

Beckee (132 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 2:52am.

And she could look really hot if she wanted to.Right now,the hairstyle is sooo aging her.

well

Submitted by

Brutal_Romance (402 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 2:59am.

that took her long enough!

I just hope she doesnt rush back into the closet again, honestly Clem, we're not that scary.

why did she come out in a

Submitted by

mandaa (89 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 3:03am.

why did she come out in a magazine anyway? she could have come out in her own blog, then she could have phrased her coming out however she likes.

good on her for coming out though.

Jey!

Submitted by

Bente (164 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 5:12am.

Aww. We never hated you (my god we're not religious fundamentalists). We (Me that is. Wouldn't want to speak for others) just like people to say; Yes I Am

I'm officially a thread killer.

@ Ava: yes, that was my

Submitted by

surfer_rosa (55 posts)

on April 1, 2009 - 7:08am.

@ Ava: yes, that was my first thought, too!

Well if it's all on the level, congrats, Clementine - welcome to the club. It's your round, by the way...

Dude :O people didn't hate

Submitted by

Anonymous

on April 1, 2009 - 8:32am.

Dude :O people didn't hate you Clamentine, just confused and annoyed lol

Anyway, I also agree on a follow up with Liz! I'm sick of all these magazine stuff, too much drama, at least we'd get some humour and some real Clamentine talk, well, if Liz isn't too busy trying to hit on her trhough the whole thing.