Gay Hollywood Has-been Rubert Everett Clarifies Anti-gay Parenting Remarks, Sticks Other Foot in Mouth

The Two Faces of Rupert Everett

Poor Rupert Everett hasn't worked much since he costarred with Madonna in the 2000 stinker "The Next Best Thing". In the dozen years since, Everett has become a bitter and bitchy old queen, blaming his inability to get a job in Hollywood on his decision to come out. A better explanation might be that his ill-advised nip-tucks have left him virtually unrecognizable from the gorgeous hunk he used to be.

Earlier this week the British actor made headlines for the first time in years for his comments made in an interview published in the Sunday Times where he expressed his views on gays raising children, saying, "I can’t think of anything worse than being brought up by two gay dads."

Seriously, Rupert? Nothing worse?

Not even kids being raised by drug addicts in neighborhoods where they risk their lives every day just walking to and from school? What about kids whose hetero parents kick them out of the house for being LGBT, leaving them to fend for themselves on the streets? How about the kids who lost one or both parents in the 9/11 attacks or the millions of children in Sub-Saharan Africa who lost their parents to AIDS? Are all these kids better off than if they'd been raised by two loving gay or lesbian parents?

In an effort to smooth over the shit-storm that has brought him more publicity than he's had in over a decade -- and certainly more than he deserves -- the former movie star clarified his remarks on the UK chat show This Morning. "I have lots of gay friends with children," he said. "I have lots of gay friends who have got married, I've been to lots of gay weddings, but I'm not big into marriage straight or gay to be honest."

I am so appalled by this statement, I can hardly find the words. He speaks of gay people as if we are something foreign to him. How many times have you heard straight folks try to prove they're not homophobic by saying virtually the same thing? Substitute the word "gay" with the word "black", "Asian", or "Latino" and roll it around in your head for a minute. Now how does it sound to you?

Rupert Everett is the classic example of the self-loathing, archaic, gay stereotype that belongs on the trash heap of history. The decades of progress we have made in the struggle for self-acceptance, pride and equality seems to have gone unnoticed by Mr. Everett and I truly pity him for having such a joyless life. He'd have been better off had he never come out. Self-hatred is best done in the dark loneliness of the closet, not when being played out on the international stage.

Coming out is about loving yourself, celebrating who you are and standing up for yourself and your community, no matter what others have to say about it. I guess Rupert didn't get the memo.

I am truly glad that he will never have children, because I can't think of anything worse than a child being raised by Rupert Everett.

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