“Coming out” used to be a thing. For a celebrity to admit to any kind of unconventional sexual orientation could end their career. But now? It’s not a thing. Coming out is either celebrated or simply ignored. Heck, Broadway is so openly gay that they joke about it at the Tony Awards. I’ve often thought, if I ever received a Tony, I’d begin by saying, “I’m so grateful to work in a field where even an openly heterosexual man can be accepted for who he is!”
Being a conservative, on the other hand, holding any conservative views, much less actually being a Republican, is seen as career suicide. Still, some do. Celebrities who’ve come out as politically conservative (though not necessarily Trump-ites) include: Robert Downey Jr, Caitlyn Jenner, Mindy Kaling, Bruce Willis, Big Boi, Kurt Russell, Johnny Ramone, Cindy Crawford, Peyton Manning, Chuck Norris, LL Cool J, Kid Rock, Hillary Duff, Alice Cooper, Clint Eastwood, Melissa Joan Hart, and Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, who is considering a future run at the presidency!
Personally, when I was young I was liberal. When I was a little older I was conservative. And now? I’m officially coming out as a “radical moderate,” meaning I sometimes lean to the left and sometimes lean to the right (“stand up, sit down, fight, fight, fight!”). That’s right, today I am openly acknowledging that my political orientation is…
Non-binary.
Mitch Teemley 
Just remember, you didn’t have to fight for the right to be who you are. See, some in society give crap, and still do, to people who are LBGTQ. They are treated like lesser because of it. I see that someone who recently came out, Elliot Page, is still getting grief for being transgender. So, where you can come out joking, some are still coming out struggling. Just some point to ponder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Jean, just to clarify, I’m not joking about sexual orientation, I’m joking about the entertainment industry’s aversion to political conservatives.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Seems like the logical next step. They are more open and accepting to people being different. So, I can see celebrity being more likely to not be conservative in their political leanings….rather than putting a public relations spin on things. 🙂
LikeLike
Are you saying that conservatives are less likely to be open to people who are “different?” What do you mean by different?
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/11/08/transgender-issues-divide-republicans-and-democrats/ guess you tell me. Have a great day, let me know what you think of the article!
LikeLike
Do you have anything more recent than five years ago? I guess my main point that I didn’t make very well in my last comment is, do you really feel making blanket statements about any group of people is productive? I would argue that sort of behavior does nothing more than promote division.
LikeLike
It’s not something that either party hides….Democratics are generally more liberal while the Republicans are not as open.
Sadly, not a lot of change in 5 years….
I’m pretty sure the parties would agree that they stand for what they stand for….might be some folk that feel differently, but in the meantime, they switch the floor if they don’t agree. Apparently cooperation and running the country so that EVERYONE has rights and freedoms is not exactly an agreed upon method of doing things. Anyway, I hate politics…half the time it is just dirt and pointing fingers and as my Grandmother said….it’s a dirty bird that does its business in its own nest. http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/politics/difference-between-democrat-and-republican/ Have a great day 🙂
LikeLike
Sorry, should clarify, I think my Grandma was a tad more blunt about the saying. She would have been more blunt with the saying…telling someone where the bear did it’s business in the buckwheat too… It was politically driven…so I stuck to the topic. Can’t take apples and spaghetti and put it together and call it fruit salad…though I’m sure some people might argue that too. Have a great day 🙂
LikeLike
By the way, if the Gravatar pictures is your picture, it’s a nice one. Looks very intellectual.
LikeLike
Love it! 😂
LikeLiked by 3 people
I know, right? 😆
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fabulous read, Mitch!! :’)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Hannah!
LikeLike
What about celebrities who come out as Christian? That can be a real career-killer. According to people in a position to know these things, many of them stay in the closet for fear of the backlash.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Too true, BoB. Believers like Denzel Washington and Hugh Jackman either keep a low profile, or go out of their way to distance themselves from judgmental evangelicalism like Chris Pratt has.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Too funny! Thanks!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Welcome to the Radical Centrist fold, brother! If you want to make it official, add “non-binary” the Wikipedia page 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
;>)
LikeLike
So good to find another fellow traveler in the radical middle. As an Episcopal priest, I can tell you that it’s a careful walk… even though we’ve historically touted ourselves as the”via media.” Best and Blessings,
Len
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Len, best and blessings to you, as well.
LikeLike
Seems Bob Dylan was a radical “Middler.” The left castigated him for talking about Jesus and the right criticized him as being too worldly to be “real.”
Wonder what Jesus will say to him when they meet! 😁
LikeLiked by 3 people
Only Jesus, and maybe Bob, knows.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love this, Mitch. Great read.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Nancy.
LikeLike
Haha same! Everyone hates me when I talk politics 😂
LikeLiked by 3 people
I call myself a conservative hippie…I thought that would cover all grounds.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Pretty much. ;>)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought I was the only one! 😀
LikeLiked by 4 people
A party of two!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ha…. I thought I was the only one who calls myself that.😊
LikeLiked by 3 people
Enjoyed this, Mitch.
LikeLiked by 2 people
On this subject my dad always used to comment that, “The middle of the road is the easiest place to get run over.”
LikeLiked by 5 people
I’ve thought of getting a tee shirt with either concentric circles (a target) or tire tracks printed on the back.
LikeLiked by 2 people
OMG, you are SO COURAGEOUS!!! My parents would SO freak out if I did this! WHAT an inspi-RA-tion… 🤣👌
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love it. I guess that “you’re stuck in the middle with me.” I’m also a radical moderate in much the same ways, feeling strongly for issues on both sides of the political spectrum.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Are there different preferred pronouns that go with that? If I have unintentionally offended you, I do apologize.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hmm, working on it, Sarah. I’ll get back to you.
LikeLike
“We” 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
YES! LOL! This describes my feelings on politics perfectly!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t know what conservative means this decade. There seems no underlying principle. I am also getting less and less to know what progressive means, though I have a good feeling about what it should mean. Thus, I do not really have a clear feeling about what people mean when they declare as one of these labels. It seems the only authentic stance is to have a position, a thoughtful one, about every issue of consequence. This can be achieved, still, in today’s peculiar world (information access wise). But having achieved that… good luck trying to map it satisfyingly or convincingly onto a party or political platform, either local or national. I would add that a very important element which helps get a handle on a person, politically, is to ask them to rank their top 5 issues — regardless of stance — just the bare issues.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a ‘centrist’?? If that label is understood or accepted on any front – at all – All for fiscal reponsibility and social justice – etc. But even that, is often, a dangerous thing to say out loud – thus, to me, I’m first off, “A history buff” and I think, “Well, great! Iive in the beginning days of rule by division, informants and shame/blame/force’ – now where in history has that taken place, before, many times – – oh,,,yes – – LOL Well, okey-dokey – guess I’d rather go out in first wave of ‘force’ than be quiet and wonder, just when ‘they who are in power’ on any front – at any level, will come for me – 😀 Sigh – yellowstone caldera will blow, someday, most say – me? If I can? driving straight towards it – figure it will be wide open highways for awhile – – 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
P.S. – I will speak, even though I risk forceful attack from others who wish to ‘force’ others – I needed to clarify that – I don’t go looking for a fight, on purpose, but if someone brings to me, because I ain’t agreeing with their every word spoken? Well…sigh – if this is what must be – – so be it – – I guess – now – where did I put my sword and do I fall on it or hold my shield tight, so I may be buried with it? I am at home – thus, not like I traveled for this stuff – LOL
LikeLiked by 2 people
Spot on no need to be on the extreme right nor on the left
LikeLiked by 1 person
Question is what’s a Republican these days?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed.
LikeLike
It’s ironic, isn’t it. The more ‘enlightened’ we become as a species, the less that knowledge makes us happier (content). (Eccles/ Solomon). The benefit of Age, for me, is just wanting to live our lives without trumpeting causes, politics, or opinions (on social media). Mostly, leave me (alone) to my beliefs, practices, and attitudes that do not harm others. What have I become?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m with you in the radical middle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post! The only conservative I noticed that you missed was Chuck Norris.
LikeLiked by 2 people
He’s there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too funny! 😄 Great post, Mitch.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Jim!
LikeLike
It is ironic how there is a push for acceptance on one hand, but a promotion of not accepting conservatives on another. I bet that can seem a tad bit hypocritical to the celebrities coming out as “Conservatives” hopefully one day it will not be considered “career suicide” for them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Political leanings aside, I’d vote for The Rock any day! Did you see how he saved California in San Andreas and survived Jumanji like a rock star, no pun intended? Man, I’ll never forget how he literally saved the world from global devastation in Rampage and was willing to sacrifice himself in Jungle Cruise. Remember how he got framed for that horrible fire in Skyscraper yet ended up clearing his name and saving his family who were trapped in the inferno? He can tear people limb from limb as Hercules yet tenderly carry Moana to safety in those same strong hands and sing “You’re Welcome” like nobody’s business. And last but not least, let’s not forget he can clean just about anybody’s clock in the wrestling ring. Yep, The Rock can do it all quite well. I stand with The Rock!
LikeLiked by 1 person
;>)
LikeLike
Although you are writing about a serious subject, you did so with such humor, I found myself chuckling many times. 🙂 Still — this was a courageous piece.
LikeLiked by 1 person