Friday, December 14, 2007

Jodie Foster and the speaking of love’s name

You read the reports, now see it for yourself. Jodie Foster’s thanking of “my beautiful Cydney” heard around the world now have video. And from CNN, no less. It’s been quite interesting to see how Jodie’s pseudo self-outing has played out in the mainstream press these past 10 days. While it’s impossible to say for sure whether Jodie’s thanking of her heretofore unpublicly acknowledged longtime partner Cydney Bernard was a deliberate coming out, but I tend toward yes since she is too smart and too savvy to not realize the reverberations it would have. And now that CNN has a hold of the story, I think we can safely say that closet door is off its hinges.

Of course, it was the gay press that first picked up on her simple thanking of “my beautiful Cydney who sticks with me through all the rotten and the bliss.” From the first reports in the LA Daily News, to the gay sites, to the gossip sites, to the tabloids and now CNN. And, for the most part, reaction has been positive and a bit like, “Duh.” Which is a good thing. Call it progress. Call it acceptance. Call it the world not ending if the public finds out that a respected, acclaimed and influential superstar is gay. I think one of the best things we can take away from all of this is how extraordinary the mundane act of thanking the person you love can still be. The love that dare not speak it’s name is no more. Which, after all, is how it should be.Jodie Foster and Cydney Bernard


[Hat tip, Cappuccino Girl, Cailean and Ace!]

7 comments:

Jen said...

"I think one of the best things we can take away from all of this is how extraordinary the mundane act of thanking the person you love can still be. The love that dare not speak it’s name is no more. Which, after all, is how it should be."

You said it all right there. Bravo.

Amanda said...

Wow. This is great and let me say I love the British anchor woman. She said it all.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Jen. I think the most wonderful thing about all of this is how wonderfully mundane it truly is. And all the photos I've seen of the four of them together -- just a typical family doing typical family things.

Even the mysterious Cydney, as wonderful as I'm sure she must be to end up with the fabulous Ms. Jodie, well, Cydney just seems kinda .... average. (And I hasten to add -- as am I!)

Anonymous said...

Is it wrong that I just want to run my tongue from Jodie's shoulder, down the spaghetti strap, and around the edge of her dress? Is it??

Seriously, as much as this seems like a "duh" to so many of us, surely it is not to Cydney. No matter how secure their relationship may be, (and I am not questioning that in the least), there must be some relief ... pride ... pleasure ... there must be SOMETHING, that comes with this public acknowledgement of their relationship. Something. I know it sure as shit would mean a lot to me.

Anonymous said...

Jodie came out? Sorry, I must've missed it while I was busy drooling over that sexy Brit. I want her to keep saying "homosexuality" over and over! LoL

But seriously, yay! for Jodie.

Anonymous said...

I envy Jody and how no one seems to care. Happy for her and encouraged, but still...

"The love that dare not speak it’s name is no more."

Not exactly true; it's called "Don't ask, don't tell".

Unknown said...

I don't see the coverage as progressive--although I agree the CNN woman is hot. I think it shows confusion in the media about how and when to report on the sexuality of gay and lesbian public figures.