Privacy and Secrets:
As a public figure, one who is in the media, should there be any privacy? What is the difference between privacy and secrets?
In America, the land of the free, everyone has the right to privacy. The problem comes if you are hiding something (a secret) and that gives others a power over you that influences your decision making you don‘t have your freedom. Don Lemons distinction that secrets are something that can be held against you is important to understand. A loss of a persons free choice as a result of a desire to keep a secret can have far ranging consequences. This is especially significant when the person is in a position of influence. Historically Gays were considered a security risk because it was thought that they could be back mailed with the disclosure of their sexuality. As sexual orientation has become less and less of an issue for most of us the need for privacy about it has diminished.
Rumors have circulated for sometime in regards to the sexuality of various celebrities. Each has had to deal with it in their own way. Cultural differences in regards to acceptance of sexuality have played roles. As a Latino/pop idol, Ricky Martin tried to deny his sexuality in order to protect his career. His denial caused him to give up a degree of his freedom and opportunities for happiness. He has more recently reclaimed his freedom by his public acknowledgement of his sexuality. It doesn’t mean that he is free of discrimination, as can be seen in a recent attempt to keep him from performing in Honduras.
Another highly visible person, in a position of influence, about which rumors have circulated is Anderson Cooper. His stance is different in that he has not denied anything but rather gone towards the perspective of privacy. As a journalist he says that he is trying to maintain his impersonality in the stories that he covers. He also has a history of growing up in an environment that was very public creating a desire to have a private aspect to his personal life. While he may or may not be gay only he can know what the choice to maintain his privacy is costing him.
We have choices in regards to what to keep private and what we want others to know about us. The balance is in what freedom we may have to give up as a result.
Joseph Osborne & Bill Schoenleber Social Curators
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