[Richard Kimball]

I haven't heard of some of the people you list. Takei, O'Donnell, Lang, and Degeneres made their names before coming out of the closet, and coming out of the closet damaged or ended their careers (Takei's was over, anyway). Degeneres does a talk show that probably gets ratings similar to a Bowflex infomercial.

Hollywood has no problem shoving homosexual actors at the public. The problem is that the public, for the most part, doesn't want to see them, and their offerings tank. McKellen is an excellent actor, but most of his characters are asexual. Xmen2 was the first movie I saw of his that had a significant homosexual undertheme. He would have been a better Dumbledore than the current actor. That still doesn't mean I care what he thinks about politics. I still find the concept of Magneto or Gandalf smoking one to be pretty disgusting.

[GOP_Party_Animal]

Good post - While Hollywood has no problem with openly gay people, it is concerned about making money. Hollywood knows that they can't sell a flamer as a masculine action hero.

Xmen2 was the first movie I saw of his that had a significant homosexual undertheme.

Oh? How so?

[Chickensoup]

I found out that he was homosexual between the second and the third LOTR film. It slightly impaired my enjoyment of the third film. I found I was not as interested in the character and there was an "ick" factor.

[Tanniker Smith]

"God and Monsters". Excellent film about Frankenstein movie maker, James Whale, in his final years (year?). Co-starred Brendan Fraser.

Excellent movie, if you have an interest in Whale.

[sandbar]

>>>Degeneres does a talk show that probably gets ratings similar to a Bowflex infomercial. >>>

Are you kidding? Her show is really good and quite successful.

I really like it. I don't care she's gay, she's funny as heck!