out presenters in the US?

[burntcopper]

question for the americans. (yes, I've been reading too much Afterelton and out.com again...)

How many of your primetime/valued time slot presenters are gay? (this requires being out, not just suspected/open secret)

in the UK, most of the primetime presenters are comedians. And because they're high profile, articulate, quick and funny, they end up presenting a *lot* of stuff, including the one-off galas/festival coverage/etc, etc. Combine with relatively few channels and the ease of crossover between radio, tv, presenting, drama and comedy shows, and boy do you get saturation.

The current list of the out presenters :

Stephen Fry (QI, acting, _insert topical and comedy radio show_)
Graham Norton (_insert topical and comedy radio show_, anything on BBC that's a one-off like New Year quizzes, most BBC Saturday night variety shows, his own talk show)
Alan Carr (Friday Night Project)
Simon Amstell (Never Mind the Buzzcocks)
John Barrowman (slowly ramping up his presenting credits)
Sandi Toksvig (_insert topical and comedy radio shows_)
Derren Brown (Illusionist/hyponotist)
ETA:
Julian Clary (not as much as he used to, but talk shows, etc)
Paul O'Grady
John Sessions
Paul Gambaccini
Dale Winton (haven't seen him on tv for ages)
Michael Barrymore (rarely on tv these days)
A couple of the Dancing on Ice and Strictly Ballroom judges

Can't say much for news readers, since their sexuality *never* seems to be discussed - they're practically inviolate; the only time you hear anything about their sexuality is if they're on Desert island Discs and mention is made of their family (male) or get married/up the duff (female)

high profile comedians who aren't presenters : Mark Gatiss, Matt Lucas, James Dreyfuss (can't include Eddie Izzard because he's not a drag queen, he's a tranny.)

UK lot, yell if I've missed anyone.

Comments

[denorios.livejournal.com]

Ummm, Paul O'Grady? And John Sessions. And Julian Clary used to do a fair bit, didn't he?

[blue-monday.livejournal.com]

John Sessions is out? I missed that.

[denorios.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, he is. I love him on QI - he's so cute with all his names and dates!

[blue-monday.livejournal.com]

Me too, he is brilliant on it.

[andromakie.livejournal.com]

We've been discussing being out in the media here, it's a lot rarer than there. Loads of gay male stage actors, 3 out female stage actresses. Seriously, with my broadway knowledge, I couldn't come up with more than 3! And one of those is Rosie O'Donnell who only sorta counts. And Cynthia Nixon is more tv than theatre, but she won a tony, she counts. And this conversation happened because Miriam Margolys was quite happily talking about her partner back in the UK. Stupid puritanical country!

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

Is Andersen Cooper out yet?

[andromakie.livejournal.com]

I didn't know who that was, but my friend doesn't think so. I don't get CNN.

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

I've only heard about him because of the sheer amount of jokes/insinuations you get about him on the gay media and gossip websites.

Um. out actresses here... actually, I can only think of a few I definitely know - Fiona Shaw, Miriam Margolyes, Saffron Burrows. Huh. Similar situation, it seems. Still, at least jodie Foster finally bloody well came out.

[andromakie.livejournal.com]

Yes, and we were all terribly surprised about that. Someday I'd like someone to come out who doesn't make me go "they were in?" (my reaction to Nathan Lane, Rosie O'Donnell and Ellen)

[xenaclone.livejournal.com]

Eddie Izzard is straight, I believe, but loves wearing women's clothes and being camp.

Dale Winton.

Paul Gambaccini, DJ.

I think most of the cast of 'League of gentlemen' are gay.

James Dreyfuss? [My Hero; Gimme, gimme, gimme]

XC

[randomeliza.livejournal.com]

Ellen Degeneres is the only out female TV presenter I can think of. But honestly I don't watch that much US TV these days. Rosie used to be a TV presenter, but hasn't been on since she left the View a year ago. I can't think of any out men.

[blue-monday.livejournal.com]

Michael Barrymore, though he does appear to have mostly disappeared from public eye these days.

[blue-monday.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Alistair Appleton too.

If you're including sports presenters amongst newsreaders or presenters then Claire Balding. And I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting.