Rebel Wilson’s coming out tainted by Hollywood homophobia

For millions of LGBTQ+ people, coming out has always been a deeply personal journey riddled with societal hurdles. One would hope that denying individuals this milestone, especially on an international media stage, would be antiquated by 2022.

Horney has since issued an apology with an article titled ‘I made mistakes over Rebel Wilson, and will learn from them’ – a move that The Guardian’s Eleanor Morgan described as ‘quick [and] admirable’.

I’d say praising a cis, heterosexual man for acknowledging his mistakes is a bit of a stretch. But it highlights our bleakly low standards when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights.

Pride itself is testimony to this. Slapping a rainbow on a brownie is deemed ‘activism’. Large corporations have swept in and commercialised another political moment. Amongst all the rainbow-coloured food and corporate branding, it’s hard to remember that Pride is still a protest.

Despite a growing ‘who cares’ attitude toward sexuality, a blind celebration of LGBTQ+ rights that often begins and ends at parades and flags, we forget that this community still faces marginalisation. That for them, coming out can be paved with trauma, fear, and ridicule.

In his original article, Horney stated ‘In a perfect world, ‘outing’ same-sex celebrity relationships should be a redundant concept in 2022. Love is Love right?’. But as Morgan stated, mantras like these ‘are a luxury for anyone who isn’t part of a minority community and has to face the sometimes-complex reality of being ‘other’’.

Wilson’s experience is a reminder that homophobia still exists – in both its micro and macro-aggressions it shapes the spaces we can (or can’t) inhabit, dictates the borders of inclusion and exclusion, and maintains a monopoly over the content we consume.

It’s through this content that we view the world – if journalists like Horney excerpt a laissez-faire attitude toward LGBTQ+ rights and experience, it creates a ripple effect.

It cultivates the message that queer suffering is outdated, and we live in a harmonious society free of oppression. In denying the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, this ignorance is an act of oppression in itself.

Other media experts have criticised Horney’s approach. ‘This is a story that should not have seen the light of day’, said Dr Sacha Molitorisz, law and ethics academic at the University of Technology Sydney. But the reality is that it did see the light of day.

Dr Molitorisz concluded this can still be seen as an isolated incident, exacerbated by wrong decisions at the top.

‘Personally, I’ve worked with editors and journalists who are extremely sensitive and aware, and others who had about as much empathy as a cricket bat,’ he said.

Perhaps it’s naive to assume these subtle acts of homophobia are unusual in 2022. They still simmer beneath the surface, proving we have a long way to go in order to ensure LGBTQ+ rights are no longer under threat in our society.

More effort needs to be made amongst the straight, cis-gender population. Treating actions like those by the SMH as ‘stand-alone incidents’ absolves us of responsibility to make that effort.

If Wilson’s experience has taught us anything, it’s that queer people face societal ridicule regardless of their professional success. If you’d like to make a change this Pride month, you can donate to Out & Equal, a non-profit ensuring all workplaces – regardless of industry – provide cultures of belonging, so LGBTQ+ individuals can feel safe to be ‘out’.