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Jodie Foster comes out as lesbian says The Guardian


Okay. Sorry – just one more post, one more post before I tear myself away: via Feministing, from The Guardian:

It’s standard practice for Hollywood stars to thank friends and family when accepting awards. But when Jodie Foster paid tribute to “my beautiful Cydney” during a speech at the Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment breakfast last week, it caused a ripple of excitement.

So now we know. Jodie Foster’s partner of at least 15 years is a woman. Just like Jodie. That’s right, folks: Jodie Foster is a lesbian. This startling piece of news is akin to the shock revelation that Rudolph the Reindeer has a very shiny nose. In other words, if you didn’t already know this, you seriously need to retune your gaydar.

It’s a secret as open as the Grand Canyon that Foster has been stepping out with film producer Cydney Bernard for years, and that they are raising Foster’s two children together. The surprise is not that Jodie is gay, but that it has taken her so long to say so.

A good high school friend of mine roomed with Jodie Foster while they were at Yale. No, I don’t believe my high school buddy is gay, but I don’t know for sure, but from what I know about how they became roomies (and if I say more, you’ll be able to track the friend down so I’m not), the sexual orientation thing had nothing to do with anything.

Besides – this particular high school friend stole a crush away from me. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t gay but you know, it’s what I’ll always remember about her, among many oh so pleasant high school memories.

As to the topic at hand, good for Jodie Foster. There’s a lot about her to admire and being honest with everyone should be one of them now.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:15 pm December 13th, 2007 in Culture, Social Issues 

Comments

10 Responses to “Jodie Foster comes out as lesbian says The Guardian”

  1. 1 Meg on December 15th, 2007 1:34 pm

    YAY! I knew it I knew it I told my girlfriend that Jodie will be the next to come out…Yes….Way to go Jodie!!!….

  2. 2 Jill Miller Zimon on December 15th, 2007 1:39 pm

    Thanks for reading and leaving a comment, Meg.

    And yet what is so disturbing to me is that this incredibly capable, human woman just didn’t feel – for whatever reasons I hope she will reveal as time goes on – that she COULD just say it, be it, do it, in front of so many people who do respect her, across the country.

    I just think that her prior silence or failure to nod her hat to it is so unfortunate and powerful a message – hopefully a message that can change now.

  3. 3 John Ettorre on December 15th, 2007 4:48 pm

    Mark David Chapman is no doubt in mourning over this news.

  4. 4 Jill Miller Zimon on December 15th, 2007 5:14 pm

    Oy.

  5. 5 Debra Weaver on December 16th, 2007 10:46 am

    Jody Foster is a very smart woman. It makes perfect sense to me that she has not previously come out as a lesbian. To do so is often a career risk that simply isn’t worth it. For Jody Foster to come out at this time, makes me feel very hopeful that things are really changing.

  6. 6 Jill Miller Zimon on December 16th, 2007 10:54 am

    Hi Debra! I really like your blog – the name and everything. I grew up with a “Debra” from Long Island (dau. of my parents friends) who moved to Y-town many years ago and is an attorney there. I don’t think it’s you but that Debra has three or four kids, all must be in teens or older. Anyway – it’s not quite like saying, Oh! You’re from England!? Do you know…? But I figured, female lawyer in Y-town for a long time named Debra, maybe not too big a circle.

    ANYWAY!

    I agree – Jody Foster is a very smart woman. And I get why she wouldn’t have come out before and agree that the fact that she is now does mean something significant – BUT…a couple of things:

    Here’s what bothers me: part of me thinks that if smart women like her took the risk earlier, then this moment, for others, would happen earlier too? Do you know what I mean?

    Which brings me to my second thing: SHE feels comfortable now. I’d love for her to say something about what it is that’s made her feel comfortable enough – is it JUST her or would she point to external factors, that others could point to also, and become comfortable?

    I see things this way when it comes to moderates among groups – particularly political parties. We know they are there but they don’t “come out” so much.

    What does it take to make the risk worth taking? Are those factors external, or only internal?

    Thanks for reading and commenting! Have a good weekend.

  7. 7 Keith on December 16th, 2007 5:36 pm

    Hard to say why she waited so long, she obviously had reasons we were not privy to. It was an open secret in Hollywood for many years. I can’t help the fact I still remain somewhat smitten by her – we share one thing in particular – we were born on the exact same day – Nov. 19, 1962. Whether we have the same charts, I don’t know since I don’t know her hour of birth. But anyway, I’m a big fan of hers.

  8. 8 Jill Miller Zimon on December 16th, 2007 10:38 pm

    Oh really? re: the bday? Interesting!

    I’m a big fan of her work too. Looking forward to see what’s next.

  9. 9 Karin on December 21st, 2007 1:45 pm

    I think John Ettorre meant to reference John Hinkley, Jr.

    Yay for Jodie for acknowledging such an important part of her private life!

  10. 10 John Ettorre on December 21st, 2007 4:35 pm

    Yes, thanks for the correction. I’m mixing up my killers.

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