Talk:BD Wong

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Is the term "openly" superfluous in this (and other) articles? I would assume that if someone is identified publicly, such as in Wikipedia, as "gay", it's assumed that the person identifies as such, and is therefore "openly" gay. Perhaps this should be a case in which we simply use the word "gay", and if someone is not "

The use of "openly gay" does indicate, to me, that there is some shame in being gay, and therefore someone who is "openly gay" has chosen to escape this shame. —The preceding

I realize that this was an incredibly old comment, but since the text is still there, I thought it might be best to include a response (just to discourage anyone from removing the line in the future).

It is true that Wikipedia typically only identifies people as being gay if they admit it themselves (and rightly so). However, there are two things to keep in mind:

First off, the average reader may not necessarily know that.

Second, and I think this may be more pertinent... There are some actors (well, and people in general) who either start off "in the closet", or who are even 'outed' after their deaths. Similarly, some people "come out" even after eeeverybody knows that they're gay. I could (very easily) be wrong, but I don't see anything in the article to suggest that he's ever pretended to be straight, or been secretive about it. If that's false, then it may warrant rewording.

Anyways, just my take on it, for future reference. :) 209.90.135.148 (talk) 03:11, 11 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

It's 2009, "gay" is sufficient. To add "openly" suggests there's something wrong with being gay, which is an offensive thing to suggest at this point. If there needs to be clarity around whether someone is in the closet, do it with exposition. 212.56.101.47 (talk) 11:26, 12 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

What does this mean?: "He has since broken up with his partner and turned a 'straight' life" —The preceding

Openly is a nuance which culturally signifies more than just a state of being. In this case we have someone who uses their career and public image to support LGBT issues/causes. Someday it will indeed be absolutely no big deal to be LGBT but until then these nuances are made.

-- Banjeboi 12:17, 12 November 2009 (UTC)[reply

]

I personally disagree with "openly" being offensive, but it is redundant to use "openly" here as if he wasn't an openly gay man, it wouldn't even be mentioned in the article. So either he's gay or not, not openly or straight, or in the closet. --Mike Allen ^{talk · contribs} 18:42, 11 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]