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Joel Grey was the original master of Ceremonies in Cabaret on Broadway and in the film; he directed The Normal Heart on Broadway while also appearing in Anything Goes, and in the 1996 revival of Chicago and Wicked.
Today, at age 82, he announced that he is gay.
"I don't like labels, but if you have to put a label on it, I'm a gay man. All the people close to me have known for years who I am, [yet] it took time to embrace that other part of who I always was."
And it does take time, and reflection, and introspection and thought, no matter who you are, what you do, where you live ... coming out is hard.
So welcome out, Joel. A lot of us thought maybe, wondered if, and were curious, but that matters not. I think your daughter, Jennifer said it best:
"I feel very happy for my dad that he has come to a point in his life where he feels safe and comfortable enough to declare himself in a public way as a gay man, mostly because the more people are free to own their true nature and can hopefully come closer to love and accept themselves as they really are, no matter what age, no matter how long it takes, to finally be free of the lies or half truths, it is freedom."
Freedom; and the Obligatory Coming Out Toaster Oven and copy of The Gay Agenda.
And so, to paraphrase a wee bit of Cabaret:
"Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome" out, Joel, welcome out.
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Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Joel Grey Comes Out
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Has always been a favorite of mine.
ReplyDeleteMine, too, TDM!
ReplyDeleteReally??? "it took time to embrace that other part of who I always was"??? He's 82 freakin years old! How much time does one need???
ReplyDeleteSorry to be a party pooper on this, but I feel this is just a big fat excuse for NOT being brave like all the rest of us have been. I also think he was more than just a little concerned about how coming out might affect his career. Again, something all the rest of us have done. How convenient that he's finally summoned the courage at 82 when his career is likely winding down.
Just my 2 cents worth.
@Mark
ReplyDeleteI just feel that no one knows what another gay man's, or gay woman's, journey is, and, yeah, maybe he could'a come out earlier, but, for me, all that matters is that he did.
nobody puts baby in a corner...or her daddy in a closet! YAYZ!
ReplyDelete@AM
ReplyDeleteLove it!
He raised his daughter well, what a lovely statement from a very lovely girl. I'm glad he finally felt comfortable enough to come out and enjoy the water.
ReplyDeleteWell I never! Who would have thought it?!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw the film of 'Cabaret' on its release in 1972 I thought straight away that this fellow has just GOT to be gay.
Btw: When someone says "I don't like labels" I always wonder if what they really mean is that "I don't like to be labelled as gay."
All that said, I'm still pleased that he has, at last, taken the step.
I had known he was gay and was always bothered by the fact that, with his years of success, he was still not comfortable coming out publicly. But, as you say, no one knows what another person's journey is like. I'm very happy for him and think it's great that at the age of 82 he's found the power.
ReplyDeleteGluklich zu sehen, je suis enchante,
Happy to see you, bleibe, reste, stay