Are You an Actor Who Wants to Come Out? Talk to Howard

27Oct/090

Are You an Actor Who Wants to Come Out? Talk to Howard

Nevermind the teases about famous actors and musicians who are still closeted, I find this article fascinating in that there is a guy - Howard Bragman - who is considered to be the PR specialist in bringing Hollywood personalities out of the closet.

He's done this since 1991 when Bragman helped actor Dick Sargent — the second Darrin on Bewitched — to come out on Entertainment Tonight. Most recently, Bragman has helped Chastity Bono navigate the publicity of becoming the transgendered man, Chaz Bono. "I didn’t want it in The National Enquirer, so I called TMZ and told Harvey Levin it’s a go. He did it in the most respectful way."

The comments note that coming out hasn't hurt Neil Patrick Harris' career, nor stopped him from playing a womanizer. I imagine for many stars it could help, at least at this juncture, because the gay community is a sizable fan base.

Anyway, the commenter makes a good point. Middle America isn't as bigoted as Hollywood assumes:

They generally justify it by saying things like: “people in Iowa wouldn’t watch an actor’s television show or movie if he comes out.” Of course, Iowa has gay marriage, California doesn’t. At least in tv, gay actors like Neil Patrick Harris and talk show host Ellen have shown that middle America can embrace openly gay actors.