I think that Jodie Foster’s coming out speech at the Golden Globes was irritating, defensive, and long past due. However, it was also raw and interesting — meaning that a coming out speech dominated the news of a major Hollywood evening. Her belated coming out makes it a bit easier for others to follow in her footsteps.

All we need now are the gays from the Space-o-tologist cult to come out and we’ve won the war.

The good news is that the stigma of homosexuality is falling away and it is no longer seen as social death or career suicide — so even people like Foster can step out. More good news: I really like her movies. So — welcome out Jodie. Now, if you can stop hanging out with that supreme asshole Mel Gibson I would like you even more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efYg0vQyPGA&feature=youtu.be

GLAAD President Herndon Graddick:

“When one of the most critically-praised actresses speaks about her identity and relationships on one of the largest stages in the world, it shows just how much the tide has turned. Given Jodie Foster’s lifetime of achievements, this is a significant moment for LGBT visibility. As more and more high-profile LGBT people like Jodie speak openly, those who do not accept LGBT people will continue to fall behind the times.”

Mike Signorile’s column:

The defensiveness was there last night as she seemed to be trying to jab at us, the public, even while finally giving us what she believed we wanted, and while seeming to announce that she’s retiring. The responses on Twitter were as all-over-the-place as Foster’s speech itself. Some lauded her for saying she was “proud” and said she came out with “grace,” while others shrugged off Foster’s coming out as “too little, too late” and still others expressed anger and indignation for her casting it all as so private and never saying the “L” word.

Michael Musto, Village Voice:

I’m still trying to figure it all out (especially since, where I saw it, there was a weird sound glitch that cut out what she was saying for about 10 seconds–though I looked it up later).

All I can say is I love Jodie’s work and understand the pressures she’s been through since child stardom. Also, I’m glad she never faked an opposite-sex partner or tried to convince the public she was straight.

But instead of this cockamamie speech, she could have just said “Yep, I’m gay.” Twenty years ago.

Andrew Sullivan, his blog:

What unadulterated bullshit. She never came out until, very obliquely, in 2007. And virtually every coming out these days is low-key, simple and no-drama. I do not remember Anderson Cooper’s press conference, fragrance or reality show.

Deb Baer at Huffington Post

What do our readers think of her odd coming out speech?