” Hell, we didn’t know Rock Hudson was gay until right before he died of AIDS.”
There were rumors in the tabloids back in 1971 but nothing in the ‘legitimate’ press. I worked for someone whose uncle was an LA vice cop and got to hear what didn’t make the papers.
After the fact the LA press said it was kinda an open secret in their community but the studios must’ve leaned on ‘em to keep it quiet.