Joel Grey Comes Out Publicly: 'I'm a Gay Man'

Posted: 1/28/15 at 11:32am

"I don't like labels," says Grey, "but if you have to put a label on it, I'm a gay man."

While it's not a secret to his friends and family, the entertainer's never spoken about it publicly before. "All the people close to me have known for years who I am," Grey tells PEOPLE. "[Yet] it took time to embrace that other part of who I always was."



Towleroad

[newintown]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 11:40am

His daughter's remark about people's "true nature" is rather immature and unsophisticated. People today so often seem to believe a person can only have "real" heterosexual OR homosexual drives, which ought to be the prime influence of their life choices. However, there are many men and women for whom sexual attraction is not (gasp!) the primary driver of their lives.

It's possible that Grey truly loved his wife, or that he wanted a family and children of his own.

To suggest that Grey wasn't heretofore behaving according to his "true nature" is merely reductive.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 11:57am

^ I'm guessing she knows him a little better than you, though.

Good for him (and her).

[lovebwy]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 12:03pm

What a shock! said absolutely no one.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 12:09pm

One's sexuality IS "a primary driver" of most people's lives, from my own experience. It's not everything, but one's romantic relationships are a pretty big part of life. Who you're "with" also tends to determine a lot of other things, such as what culture(s) you associate with, etc. For some people, romance/sexuality isn't a big aspect of their life, but I'm guessing those folks are in the minority.

That said, good for him. Better late than never.

[newintown]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 12:09pm

"^ I'm guessing she knows him a little better than you, though. "

I imagine so. But what do you guess she know about concepts of sexual identity?

Posted: 1/28/15 at 12:09pm

yeah I am thinking Jennifer is somewhat more privy to the inside scoop. It sounds like his family supports him fully, which is great.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 12:15pm

But what do you guess she know about concepts of sexual identity?

A lot?

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 12:17pm

Good for him! Always nice to see people reaching this point of self-acceptance.

[newintown]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 12:21pm

"...one's romantic relationships are a pretty big part of life."

True, but "romantic" relationships and "sexual" relationships aren't always the same thing.

As our culture's sexual prurience increases, with more and more "naughty" focus on generic porn-style sex in popular culture, the less we understand about the complexity of the connection (or lack thereof) between sex and love.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 12:37pm

What a shock! said absolutely no one.

I hate when people say this. It's SO not the point.

[sarahb22]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 12:40pm

I've been a fan of Joel Grey's forever and have honestly never given his sexuality a moment's thought. Good for him, though. He did a great Jack Point in a televised version of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Yeomen of the Guard" many years ago.

I'm just glad he didn't die! I saw his name was trending in my Twitter feed and thought "Oh, no!" Then I clicked on his name to see why he was trending and thought, "What a relief! He's not dead, he's just gay!"



Updated On: 1/28/15 at 12:40 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 12:41pm

Willkommen heraus, bienvenue, welcome!

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 12:41pm

I always just thought he was gay?! In any case, wilkommen out of the final closet!

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 1:07pm

"For some people, romance/sexuality isn't a big aspect of their life, but I'm guessing those folks are in the minority."

I don't believe they're the minority, they're just not as loud about it. People with traditional beliefs can be very judgmental ("you're selfish for not wanting kids", "when you are gonna find a man?", "are you guys getting married soon?") so it's difficult to have an open discussion about it. I have many friends who don't care if they find a significant other, myself included.

Proud of Mr. Joel Grey, great for him. It may not me a "shocker" but it's a great thing that he's come to accept himself this openly. It's wonderful anytime a celebrity or someone in the public eye comes out.

Posted: 1/28/15 at 1:10pm

Way back in 2003 he did a photography book with Duane Michaels that featured him and a lot of gay imagery. Its called Pictures I Had To Take. Had to find but its out there. If I remember correctly there were some pics of him touching a partially unclothed much younger man.

[SweetLips]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 2:23pm

Giants--I don't care either---thought I was alone.

Had no idea of Mr Greys' personal life, presumed/assumed he was just gay but however he dealt with whatever sexuality he chose 'in the moment', that was his choice [hopefully].

The Joel Grey, the man, I have seen, has always been a theatrical pleasure.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 2:29pm

I can only hope that the day will come when the only answer by all will be "So what".

Congrats to Mr Grey. Thank you for being comfortable to share what should be a non-issue.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 2:30pm

"As our culture's sexual prurience increases"

Oh I would hazard a guess you have spent zero time with any very early 20-something gay men lately. You'll enjoy their culture's sexual puritanism.

[newintown]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 2:35pm

"I would hazard a guess you have spent zero time with any very early 20-something gay men lately."

That's what was called in the classical world "a swing and a miss."

Also, prurience and puritanism aren't necessarily antithetical; in fact, they often skip together down life's path, hand in hand.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 2:47pm

I know what the words mean and I worked with a group of low-20-something homophiles this spring and summer and you'd be surprised about their attitudes about sexual behavior. My colleagues in 20 cities around the nation experienced the same thing.

[newintown]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 3:00pm

I confess - I can't see what you're getting at...

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 3:07pm

"I confess - I can't see what you're getting at..."

How about, you don't know what you are talking about no matter how much you believe you do.

I would however never want to play a game of scrabble with you.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 3:36pm

Are we seriously criticizing the man's DAUGHTER because she didn't get this week's memo on political correctness?

Let's leave her alone, or if we must react, celebrate her love and acceptance. I don't see where she said her father didn't love her mother or his children.

We can always torture one another for using the wrong terms and phrases.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/28/15 at 3:38pm

I'm pretty sure newintown is "anti-PC," whatever that means.