EMPIRE’S Jussie Smollett finally spoke about his sexuality with Ellen DeGeneres this morning since questions started buzzing once his character Jamal publicly came out as gay on the hit series.
In a recent interview, Smollett’s co-star Malik Yoba inadvertently fanned the flames to the gay rumor fire by saying,”Jussie, he is gay, and he’s very committed to issues around the LGBT community. He and I have a very close relationship.”
After being accused of Outing the young star, he later backtracked the statement with this: “I was misquoted in the article. My reference to Jussie was only about his character and storyline on Empire.”
In the aftermath, Smollett refused to comment, only stating, “I am not willing to confirm or deny anything.”
Now it appears that he’s ready to discuss it.
The key quote from his discussion with Ellen was, “There’s Never Been A Closet That I’ve Been In.”
That statement was a clear as day to me. I totally understood it. He’s talking about being Discreet.
Hell, I even created two websites with that quote as the Mission Statements (you’re on one of those websites right now).
Sexuality doesn’t have to be your single defining trait, especially homosexuality.
Let me digress with an anecdote:
At work (my day job), a few of my current clients are feminine black gay men. They don’t know that I’m also gay, but not because I’ve denied it. They just haven’t asked. They assume I’m straight. Oh sure, they’ve gone on occasional fishing expeditions where they throw out general questions to see what my response would be. But they still haven’t asked the questions.
A few weeks ago we were talking about EMPIRE and our likes/dislikes about the show [Editor’s Note: Nick Delmacy and Ocky Williams have yet to watch the show past the first episode]. Then our discussion got to Jussie Smollett. I (jokingly) said that Jussie must be straight since he’s never gone on record otherwise….they scoffed and laughed at me and said he’s already Out, they’ve seen him at gay clubs, parties, etc.
This is true, though. We’ve always known Jussie was “family.” But just because straight people were out of the loop, it makes the news. Even now in the comments sections of posts with this story straight people are saying, “he said there’s never been a closet, that means he’s NOT gay. He’s being vague to not offend anyone.”
This implies that ALL gay people have been or currently are in a Closet at some point in their lives.
So that begs the question, if you live your life to the fullest and don’t hide anything, are you really “Closeted” just because some heterosexual people don’t know about your sexuality?
Are you closeted if a gay person doesn’t know about your sexuality?
Are you closeted if your co-workers don’t know?
Are you closeted if your family doesn’t know?
Who defines what makes a person “closeted” and how many people need to know before you are out of it?
Some people would respond that Heterosexuals don’t keep any aspect of their sexuality private. They make it very clear in their casual conversations and interactions with others that they are attracted to the opposite sex.
So that must mean that a gay person who doesn’t do the same, must be hiding it. He/She must be closeted.
Going back to the feminine black gay work clients that I have, am I “closeted” to them because I choose not to volunteer information about my own sexuality? I’m not lying to them or denying outright questions.
Or do “lies by omission” count as deception? If I keep my responses about my sexuality to a group of gossip loving black gay men vague and ambiguous, am I closeted?
To be honest, all of the above questions are rhetorical.
I agree with Jussie Smollett, being private about your sexuality doesn’t mean that you were hiding anything.
There are many people who prefer to have “gay” be the first adjective used to describe them, and that’s fine. Sex and Sexuality may be very important to them, over anything else.
For those of us who prefer to be defined by our other traits and accomplishments, we accept that our sexuality is a part of who we are, but it doesn’t DEFINE who we are.
I have always found it weird that LGBT/SGL people are expected to reveal their sexuality and even deeper more personal questions associated with sex position. I immediately shut down my straight friends and gay friends who believe its important to ask those kinds of personal questions.
I honestly don’t think anyone has a duty to come out or make a declaration of any kind and as we are seeing now…its becoming seemingly easier and less declaratory as celebrities come out casually making some kind of one sentence statement.
With that being said, Its crazy how many times I “come out” on a weekly basis. I decided several years ago that I would no long lie or omit when someone asked me about my weekend or my significant other and with that decision I don’t shy away from admitting I am gay to people. However, I don’t start off conversations or meetings offering that useless piece of information either. I do think visibility matters because more people that come out the less it will be an issue when someone says they like the same sex.
So good for Jussie, live your life how you want and don’t owe anybody anything and its certainly not a duty to come out.
I can’t remember the last time someone actually asked me a question that would make me answer yes or no to my sexuality. I think people are scared to ask people even if they are pretty sure. For me I am not really trying to hide anything but once again what I do in my bedroom is not and does not need to be blasted all over the world.
Because I am cautious of who I make certain comments or remarks around does that make me closeted?
I don’t think being discreet <–although that word some holds negative connotations, I prefer the phrase someone who values privacy means that one is closeted. If the people you value know your particular truth I think that all that matters.
I think it comes a closeted situation when one is directly asked or when indirectly asked that they lie or omit or use gender neutral pronouns that valuing privacy becomes secrecy. There is a fine line…
So happy that he came out. I am sure he is helping a lot of people, especially those in the LGBT community, like those who frequent this website.
Did he really come out?
Had a chance to meet Jussie a few years ago…he was the coolest cat. Happy for his success. @BlackGuyExecutive: I, too, took an inventory of how many times I had to come out about 10 years ago and was surprised, lol. I don’t do it much anymore but I think that’s because I’ve reached that “certain age+single/no kids+steady career+stillreasonablythin” combination that leads most people to quietly assume I’m gay.
To me being closeted means that you go out of your way to hide your sexuality. Not volunteering that information doesn’t make you closeted. No one is entitled to know the details of your personal life. If you choose to share that’s one thing but I’ve always hated the idea that I’m suppose to walk around with a banner that reads “Hello, I’m Gay my name is …” W/e the case good for Jussie
*rolls eyes* I’ll be moved when I see a hetero celebrity dance around whether or not they are hetero.
And furthermore, how is your PRIMARY ROLE on a show to open people up about homosexuality and in real life you can’t even say you’re gay? *rolls eyes again*
The problem with this way of thinking is you’re making it on this website, not GayFemFeminist.Com.
As we’ve pointed out for 3 years now, there are stereotypes associated with “gay.” Saying you are Heterosexual doesn’t carry the same “perception baggage” that it does if you say you are Homosexual. Especially if you are “unclockable.”
Same applies to women, there are double standards there as well. They can’t be as vocal about certain aspects of their lives, when men can boast and brag about them and not be viewed any differently.
Same applies to People of Color, speaking a conflicting opinion about religion or politics amongst people of the same race can be viewed as “being a coon”, etc. I’m an Atheist, but I damn sure don’t causally bring that shit up in the Barbershop, etc.
I bet Jussie’s family and friends knew, he just didn’t feel the need to do a press conference or call himself a “gay actor.”
Your excuse would be fine if we were in early 2000. However, it’s 2015. The need to tap dance around being gay is tired and old and, at this point, unnecessary. ESPECIALLY if everyone knows you’re a gay. Like I said, when heterosexuals tap dance around being heterosexual…I’ll be impressed.
To each his own. However I must point out that your responses are the same from messy gays who feel obligated to Out men in their workplace, etc. Not saying this applies to you, just eerily familiar.
I don’t feel the need to out anyone. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t be irritated by someone who has the perfect platform, and plays a great fictional GAY man making a difference…and chooses to dance around the subject. I mean…what sense does it make that someone who is breaking ground on television for not being ashamed of being gay…dances around being gay.
That’s a very valid point…but as a writer yourself I would think you’d understand that sometimes fiction allows artists to be someone they wish they were in real life. Remember, Jussie was hired for a job…he didn’t create, write and develop EMPIRE based on his own life, that would be Lee Daniels.
I see it like this. We got Lee Daniels, Jason Collins, and that guy that made the football team but didn’t make the football team. It’s a great time to be black and gay in the limelight…yet the one in front of the camera making a drastic difference is the one pussyfooting around
No one officially commented on his sexuality on a major inquiry platform until Malik Yoba said something. I respect him using the ELLEN platform to say what he had to say.
Jussie has been an LGBT and AIDS activist for years.Unlike Jason Collins he didn’t wait to his career was basically over to come out.Unlike Jason Collins he didn’t stay in a relationship with a woman for years, knowing he was gay.Jussie was never in the closet, never on the DL.Also Jussie dates black men and has black friends , unlike Collins and Michael ” Dancing with the stars” Sam.
It’s weird but I sorta agree with @hannibal to a degree. I don’t think anyone has to “come out” per se, but it’s not being a feminist to point out that it’s mostly gay people who couch their private lives in such a way as Jussie has. Don’t kill me here @nick for this example, but remember how everyone kept questioning Beyonce and Jay Z for their discretion involving their relationship? That’s typically how straight discreet people handle it. They live their lives, go out to dinner or to a sporting event, are seen on vacation etc but they simply refuse to talk about it to the press. I can’t speak for Jussie, but a lot of dudes I’ve known, including myself at one point, not only didn’t talk about my sex life but I made it a point for my dates not to be seen. Another great example is Oprah and Steadman. She’s been discreet pretty much the whole time and has stated they try to remain out of the limelight for privacy reasons, however, they are seen out in public and at industry events etc. I mean, there’s a fine line between discretion and downright hiding and I don’t think anyone can deny that gay people tend to relegate their whole lives to such level of discretion at a much higher rate than heterosexuals.
Where i differ with @hannibal is I ain’t mad at Jussie or anyone else for the level of discretion they chose for themselves. It’s not wrong or right. It’s what works for him and I’m cool with that. Everyone can lead their lives as they chose. I had that opportunity so who am i to tell someone how many press junkets or talk shows they have to do to prove to me they are a proud gay man.
Yeah nothing to tear your head off about here, lol. But even your heterosexual examples kinda add to the point I was making. With Beyonce and Jay, they knew they extra stuff that would come with “coming out” about them dating each other. Instead they chose to just date in private. I’m sure ppl close to them knew all about it. To say “but staright ppl aren’t vague about their sexuality” assumes that straight ppl would face similar extra stuff that gay ppl face when doing the same. True its 2015, but lets not kid ourselves and think homosexuality is 100% non-issue. When a character on The Walking Dead recently just had dinner with 2 gay guys, the internet went crazy in disgust and outrage about “the gay agenda” and feared that they were going to turn the character gay. Not everyone wants to be a mascot, they’re down for the cause, but maybe they just want to live their lives and help the cause in other ways. We don’t know how many LGBT kids Jussie has personally mentored…to me, that goes farther then being dragged out to go on Ellen just because some stranger homos want him to be their new Frank Ocean waving a rainbow flag.
The last part of your comment is what irritates me the most about the whole Jussie situation. Why did he even go on Ellen if he valued his private life? He’s not the first to go on Ellen or People magazine to verify the rumors only to say that i value my private life. It makes me think it’s intentional to be so vague as to get everyone whispering and then go on Ellen or Rosie O’Donnell(when she had a show) or MSNBC to get media hits. I would’ve respected him more if he had just continued to live his life the way he was. Now, his heartfelt please for privacy seem kinda hypocritical.
If I had to guess, I’d say after the malik Yoba thing the questions probably just became overwhelming. He even says that in the video above, “So you can all now STOP ASKING!” He’s not really like Frank Ocean where he can just disappear or not do press. He’s on a weekly network show that also happens to a new hit. Also his Executive Producer is gay…also he’s playing a gay character…also malik yoba “outed” him…also ppl like @hannibal keep demanding that he come out to be their mascot…so maybe he just finally said “fuck it.”
Do you think people can simply live openly without being an activist? I think that by living authentically (whatever that means to you) is more powerful than being a token of some cause. Its not the gay crusaders – black/white or otherwise who have changed the dynamics of lgbt equality…its the ordinary people living quietly but openly that are changing hearts of minds of their families, friends and neighbors.
I feel like so much focus is place on symbolism that we actually forget that most people in our society are not famous or rich or go on TV to advance some kind of agenda.
“Regular” people like you and me can live as such without a problem, but unfortunately for people in the spotlight, they’re not afforded that luxury. (In regards to homosexuality)The second they even acknowledge either an acceptance of or reveal themselves to be homosexual, then “Jacob, Tyler, Apple, and Hunter” (or in this case, TeShaun, Daequan, Rameyl, and Lahmel) immediately expect them to be at the forefront of any and all “Gay Movements”, with Tittie Shirts and Skinny Jeans, glitter, ballroom beats, and rainbow flags, shouting the rallying cry to the mountain tops.
That is what is bothersome. All these talking heads and gay rights organizations are not credited with actually changing anything. Perry vs Schwarzenegger, Windor vs The United States or the scores of other court cases haven’t been won by anyone famous…nor a gay rights organization. Its only because of their visibility do they get to write the history but when you peel all that BS back…its ordinary people who are making real changes and challenging social norms.
But I get it every movement needs a spokesperson and every group needs a figure head.
Not to instigate a fight but how long before we start reading the blog comments from black gay men wondering if Jussie only dates white men? As a matter of fact, let me go check Funky Dineva real quick. It’ll be there first. LOL
mmmmhhhmmm Why he have to go on Ellen?! He coulda went on The Real to drop this tea. mmmmhhhm
I love Jussie too much to even care if he’s gay or not. It really doesn’t matter in the end. Because we’re human first, gender second, race third, and so on and so on. A persons sexuality is nothing to make big of but society makes it a big f*cking deal. So yeah… Still you Jussie!
Totally agree. Too many wet dreams to give a d@*^
People forget some famous folks wanna maintain some modicum of privacy since now we’re so used to fame whores on tv and people who put all of their life’s details on social media.
Before this I was starting to feel about Smollett the same as I feel about Queen Latifah,which is that people shouldn’t be pressing either one of them for confirmation,especially since I don’t think either one of them has been pretending to be straight.They obviously just don’t want everyone in their business.
This.
It’s kinda like when you see random dude A or local news caster B out at the mall,, work, or grocery store and you kinda sorta get the feeling he’s gay. Then you see him somewhere else with a ‘known gay’ or even at a gay function to ‘confirm’ it and then you walk by him at work, or the mall, or Kroger later but don’t go out of your way to be like “Yass! Hunny!”
Let’s be honest, ‘we’ were the only ones remotely checking for this dude and until Quita, Rell Rell, Ms. Mable and Mr. Otis started watching and getting into Empire, no one else was paying this dude any mind or cared about what his sexuality was.
*sitting here realizing I know Rell and 3 Quitas*
smdh lmao
Not “Mrs. Mable and Mr. Otis” Don’t forget the “Calendar Sista’s”, Aunt April, Aunt May, and Aunt June. Tunin’ in every week just so they can say how much sense it don’t make, that that GOOD lookin’ boy gay. JEEzhus HELP’im Lawd. LMAO
I get why Jes would want to be discreet. He probably wants to keep a sense of neutrality/separation between himself and his character for fear of being typecast as that gay black guy. This is the same issue Monique faced when casting for “Blackbird.” Tyler James Williams faced backlash form the black community for playing a gay character in “Dear White People.”Is there a mainstream open gay/sgl black actor that plays multiple/versatile acting roles?
You know for the first time ever, I feel I actually understand Nick and Ocky so much better. Like I finally get what their concept is behind this site. Like before I understood it 90 percent. But now I got the other ten percent. Don’t judge me, but there were at times, It sounded like you guys were to perpetuate this pseudo-closeted type feel. Which I knew wasn’t the case, but I feel I now know fully where you guys are coming from.
Because for me, I don’t announce my sexuality, but I’m never ashamed to admit it. However I never feel the need to “come out”, I’ll just simply discuss dating experiences around a close group of friends. and surprisingly I don’t have gay friends (that I know of), and to me its just super casual whenever i do discuss dating experiences. Although maybe in other settings I may have to gauge where I’m at.
Because I feel I already knew Jussie was gay, and I wasn’t waiting for him to publicly confirm it, in fact I was surprised when he actually did. I kind of feel the same way like many of the posts on here, and when you dissected what Jussie meant by “There’s never been a closet I’ve been in”, I resonated heavily with the way Nick defined by that. And I think Jussie coming out that way, definitely set a new standard and understanding for many.
I’m surprised that both Ocky and Nick haven’t watched any of Empire past the first episode.
Would it help if I told you that Jamal is now dating a brother (albeit one from Australia, accent and everything), the Latino boyfriend having left after Jamal went on Sway’s radio show and said he was single? And after Raven-Symoné turned up at Empire’s doorstep and…dangit, ya oughta watch!
After all the web series you’ve both taken to task on the site and podcast over the years, “Empire” is doing some decent, if heavy-handed things with its black gay character. And even if you don’t want to watch it for Jussie, Taraji P. Hensen is having tons of fun walking into each scene and leaving with pieces of the set betwix her teeth.
I respect Jussie decision to not go on camera and declare his sexuality. I also believe that it can be very intrusive. I do love Empire because it tackles a lot of issues facing the black community including homosexuality. Personally I work with a lot of female coworkers and I feel like they know I am gay. I am about 15 years older than most of them and I have fuck girls like them before so I don’t really look at them like that. I just keep that in my mind and do my work and my sexuality is never a issue. I do see guys (customers)and they give me that look and I look back but it is never anything solid so I just do my job. I guess I have become comfortable in my own skin and I do not let the noise or gossip bother me. My favorite moto is always treat all shade for love.
Visibility is an important part of the picture. Especially when it pertains to one of the central characters on one of TV’s biggest shows. Kudos to him.