[bohoboy]

Here's an answer to the question as why people "need" to know. When you are born you are considered straight and then at some point in your life you become aware that something seems a bit different and you search out for examples of this difference in others lives, trying to form some form of connection to understand what it is that you're experiencing. I would hazard a guess that a lot of people asking is such and such gay are only asking because they're looking for someone to identify with.

And before anyone jumps on me this was only AN answer not THE answer.

[Jaccobabe]

Originally Posted by Casual

Probably not a good idea to read them then.

Love you

[VoodooChic]

She's having an affair with Councillor Nugent

[gmphmac]

Originally Posted by VoodooChic

She's having an affair with Councillor Nugent

That's news to me. I could've sworn that Hyacinth was shacking up with Mrs. Fortescue

[Glowbot]

Speaking of old sitcom stars, I always thought Stephanie Cole was! but it says she isn't.

[soundstory]

Does it matter whether she is or isn't

[Saltydog1955]

Originally Posted by Glowbot

Speaking of old sitcom stars, I always thought Stephanie Cole was! but it says she isn't.

In fact she's been married twice.
From Wikipedia.

Cole married fight director Henry Marshall in 1973. Marshall was one of the founders of the British Academy of Dramatic Combat and was a Master at Arms at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[5] They have a daughter Emma who was born in 1973. They divorced after thirteen years of marriage in 1986.
In 1998 Cole married fellow actor Peter Birrel after meeting him again by chance, thirty years after they first appeared together in a production of Richard II at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She remained his wife until his death from cancer in 2004.

[barneyboy]

Non topic, it shouldnt even need to be adressed in 2012. Who f*cking cares! She is human. Its like saying ooh that lady from that shows got freckles... I mean seriously.....

[angelic_misha]

Originally Posted by tabithakitten

Irrespective of any facts (or not) surrounding Ms Routledge, I admit that I find a person's sexuality (whatever it may be) an interesting piece of information.

No, we don't ask if someone is straight because that is far more usual and therefore treated (as I saw someone else put it) as the "default" setting - we assume it to be the case unless we hear otherwise. Asking whether someone is gay to my mind is no different (or at least it isn't for me) to asking whether someone is left handed, colour blind or partially deaf to name but three examples. It's merely a piece of information that doesn't really matter a damn in the big scheme of things but is interesting to know as it is different from what is usual. I'm not going to apologise for wondering if someone is gay or straight any more than I'd apologise for wondering if someone was seeing someone else. I find out, I think "That's quite interesting" then I move on and possibly start speculating about something else.

That quote is more or less the reason behind my curiosity of famous people (not only regarding their sexuality, but also if they're married, what they're cultural background may be etc etc). I mean obviously if the information is not generally in the public domain because the person doesn't want it to or whatever, then fine. But...I dunno, it's just another aspect of someone's life that is interesting to know.

I take offense to sensationalist stories about a personal aspect of someone's life (I can still remember the front page of The Sun newspaper when Mark from Westlife said he was gay) but I think on the whole it's just a normal part of curiosity. It's a shame that merely asking a general question like this brings out so many people criticising it.

As an aside, when I read the topic title I immediately thought of Patricia Hodge until I realised peeps were talking about the lady who played Mrs. Bucket.

[PacinoFan]

Could not care less if she is gay, straight or Australian. Love, love, love The Bucket Woman!

[ceefax2]

Originally Posted by shelleyj89

I have no idea if she's gay, but I did speak to her on the phone at work once. Claim to fame!

How did she answer the phone? The Bucket residence, the lady of the house speaking?

[LYNN(E)]

Yearsago when the Hunting laws were going through Parliament & there were the Protest marches a Gay friend of mine was a Regional Manager of an Off Licence chain
He was in an off licence near trafalgar square & Patricia came in got chatting & during their conversation said "Darling I'm a raving Lesbian" !!!!
Good on her live & let live

[Grouty]

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates will always be one of my faves

[welshwaltzer]

Originally Posted by barneyboy

Non topic, it shouldnt even need to be adressed in 2012. Who f*cking cares! She is human. Its like saying ooh that lady from that shows got freckles... I mean seriously.....

I don't think the thread was meant like that. I always like to know who peoples partners are if they are well known, whether they are gay or straight. The trouble is you have to be so careful how you word things these days.

[wilehelmas]

Originally Posted by gmphmac

I'm suddenly hearing lots of reports about this on the internet. I'd be quite shocked if it were true...not that it's a problem.

Why would you be? Middle-aged witty British actress, gay?

She'd just be gay, that's all.

Heard this eons ago. Also that her partner is/was Betty Boothroyd. Dunno if true or still applicable (if true).

That was the talk a few years ago tho'!

[wilehelmas]

Originally Posted by ItsTimmyTime

From now on people should just make "_____ ______ straight?" threads, then people won't be hounding on about people focusing on sexuality. If the person is gay, someone will post "No, they're gay".

That got tried.

It sank quicker than Eamonn Holmes on a lilo.

[gmphmac]

Would the far left lemons kindly refrain from posting in MY gay thread.

Some of us would like to discuss Pat's sexuality!

[wilehelmas]

I really hope you've got your left and right muddled up there.

Left = rainbow land. Right = erm, Mitt Romney territory.

[gmphmac]

Originally Posted by wilehelmas

I really hope you've got your left and right muddled up there.

Left = rainbow land. Right = erm, Mitt Romney territory.

Hehe, well I just can't stand this "don't you dare discuss someone's sexuality" attitude. It's OTT and if anything, quite offensive to us gay people.

[wilehelmas]

Originally Posted by gmphmac

Hehe, well I just can't stand this "don't you dare discuss someone's sexuality" attitude. It's OTT and if anything, quite offensive to us gay people.

So they're right wing lemons then.

Sounds good! If subtely ironic (you could have picked another fruit! lol).

[jzee]

Originally Posted by gmphmac

I just meant that it's hard to distinguish Patricia from the snobby and prudish Hyacinth Bucket. I know the Bucket woman is just a character, but many of us instantly think of Hyacinth when Patricia Routledge comes to mind.

I have no problem with her sexuality at all

I think it's partly that she's not the camp/loud/crude stereotype of a lesbian, but also that she played a conservative character. Other people who have played conservative characters who were actually gay are Raymond Burr (Ironside/Perry Mason) and Grandma & Grandpa Walton which might surprise people. I think we are mostly a bit thick on this issue really, not being able to distinguish acting from reality.

[Sweet FA]

Originally Posted by barneyboy

Non topic, it shouldnt even need to be adressed in 2012. Who f*cking cares!... Its like saying ooh that lady from that shows got freckles... I mean seriously.....

And there's nothing wrong with discussing that either. If you're not interested in a topic, do not click - simple.