Celebrities have gotten very vague in their coming out announcements since “queer” became a word LGBT people call themselves and not just something we got called on the playground in middle school. Now it seems like every time a celebrity gets in trouble with the broader LGBT community they come out as being vaguely “queer” without saying what they mean by that and hope everything is good. It’s the Kevin Spacey technique, only without all the sexual assault.
So Rosario Dawson and her mother are accused of a hate crime, a trans gentleman who worked for them accused them of assaulting him while telling him he wasn’t a real man, and Rosario announced in Bustle that she’s “coming out,” though not what she’s coming out as. I’m guessing not trans.
“People kept saying that I [came out]… I didn’t do that,” she says. “I mean, it’s not inaccurate, but I never did come out come out. I mean, I guess I am now.” She quickly pivots to remove herself from the equation, clarifying, “I’ve never had a relationship in that space, so it’s never felt like an authentic calling to me.”
Maybe I’m being unfair to Dawson, who sounds like she’s saying she’s bisexual, but the way people talk about this stuff is too funny to me. It’s not particularly difficult to say “I’m bi.” Four letters. Sure, saying them means that both gay and straight people will be just a little shittier to you, but at least you’re being honest to yourself and we’re so going to dunk on you if you come out with some cheesy s**t like “I think love is about spirits and not bodies.” But when you’re dating Cory Booker being a huge dork has to be part of the package.
I like Rosario, though. I hope that the allegations against her aren’t true and I hope that she’s happy with her corny-ass boyfriend.