Audrey's love Ron Palillo has passed.

Yes, the same thing happened five years ago when character actor George Grizzard passed away. People read the obit that said "partner" and it was like, huh? wha?. (Ironically one of his most prominent film roles was in Advise and Consent as a nasty politician who blackmails a colleague who had a gay relationship in while in the military.)

Fortunately that is changing. These days an actor or singer is judged more harshly for being closeted than being gay, and they wind up looking foolish when it's apparent to everyone but them. (Sean Hayes, Ricky Martin) But when Palillo was a TV star was a totally different time. Actors were told by their agents in no uncertain terms that it would be the kiss of death for their careers. (A certain Oscar winner who was a teen star during this time obviously watched and learned, and is now one of those ridiculous "no comment" closet cases.)

Now we have Matt Bomer and Zachary Quinto, and Portia DeRossi getting roles in major motion pictures and television shows, recording artists like Chely Wright and Adam Lambert. But still, the pattern is become successful first, then come out--so there's still progress to be made, but the trends are encouraging .

And to all those who say, "Hey, it shouldn't matter!" or "It's nobody's business!", that's true. And if something doesn't matter, then it should be okay and totally natural to talk about, right? (And as for it being nobody's business, tell that to Brad and Angelina or Charlie Sheen before you go wagging fingers at gay people.)



"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns

If I remember correctly, they were together for over 20 years.