George Clooney: I will never deny gay rumours
George Clooney has said he will never deny rumours that he might be gay because it would be ‘unfair and unkind’ to the gay community to give someone the opportunity to make it ‘seem like being gay is a bad thing’.
Talking to the Advocate, the actor, now 50, says he believes equality “will soon be the law of the land”.
On marriage, Clooney is clear that he believes it is a civil rights issue to give gays the same rights as straight couples.
He said: “When you say someone chose to be gay […] you can say that it not a civil rights issue. But I believe that portion of the argument is so rapidly changing, especially with young people. Once thatās absorbed, when people realize that you donāt just wake up and decide to be gay, I believe that the next step will follow very naturally.
“Weāve had a very successful past few years. People get frustrated with the Obama administration, but ādonāt ask, donāt tellā is gone, and a lot of states are changing their policies on marriage equality. Iām very optimistic that equality will soon be the law of the land.”
Adding that Brad Pitt jokes he would not marry until Clooney could marry his own partner, he says: “I think itās funny, but the last thing youāll ever see me do is jump up and down, saying, ‘These are lies!’ That would be unfair and unkind to my good friends in the gay community.
“Iām not going to let anyone make it seem like being gay is a bad thing. My private life is private, and Iām very happy in it. Who does it hurt if someone thinks Iām gay? Iāll be long dead and there will still be people who say I was gay. I donāt give a shit.”
On topping People magazine’s list of the Sexiest Men Alive, he adds: “Iām still shocked that Ryan Gosling didnāt get Sexiest Man Alive last year. I thought he worked hard and ran a very solid campaign, so I feel that he was ripped off.”
Clooney is set to appear in a production of Dustin Lance Black’s play about California’s Proposition 8 public ballot on gay marriage this weekend.
