Jodie Foster has long been silent on her sexual orientation. It didn’t seem to bother people until the last couple of years, when there has been an intense scrutiny placed on the sexual orientation of stars. It seems that the people who won’t talk about their orientation get a lot more press than those that come out. The attention paid to Foster’s orientation seemed to swell when she got pregnant with her son Charles ten years ago but refused to talk about the father or the conception. People talked a bit before then, but that seemed to be when it really became water cooler conversation. Foster has steadfastly refused to talk about her private life. However it’s long been assumed that her friend Cydney Bernard is also her lover. And after fourteen years together, it seems Foster may have finally acknowledged Bernard… in a way.

Jodie Foster has finally come out as a lesbian to pay tribute to her girlfriend of 14 years… after winning an award at a Women in Entertainment breakfast, she broke her taboo to thank “my beautiful Cydney”. Her emotional speech brought tears to the eyes of some of her audience at the Beverly Hills Hotel, revealing a vulnerable side to a star who has long resisted calls from gay rights activists to clarify her personal life. Miss Foster, 44, a double Oscar winner, praised her film producer partner Cydney Bernard “who sticks with me through all the rotten and the bliss”.

Accepting the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, she offered an insight into the insecurities that haunt her. “I feel fragile, unsure, struggling to figure it all out, trying to get there even though I’m not sure where there is,” she said.

Last night Kathy Belge, of the website Lesbian Life, said: “I never thought I’d see this day. Perhaps it was because her children are getting older and she didn’t want them to think there was anything wrong with being gay. Perhaps she was simply sick and tired of life in the closet. Whatever her reasons, we are pleased that Jodie found the courage to be true to herself.”

[From the Daily Mail]

I’m a big believer in people’s right to choose how/when/if they disclose their sexual orientation. If Jodie wants to keep it to herself, that’s her business. The only way in which that would bother me is if she felt she HAD to keep it a secret, whether for her career, for her audience, or because she felt ashamed. Though I’m not necessarily her biggest fan, Sharon Osbourne once gave a speech at a gay pride event and talked about her kids’ attributes. She noted, “My only regret is that none of my children are gay.” And while she was trying to be funny, she wasn’t being sarcastic. I liked the attitude that being gay wasn’t just something to deal with, but just another one of a person’s many attributes. I hope that if Jodie Foster ever wants to come out completely, she will. She’s well respected not just as an actress but as a person, and could do a lot of good.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Jodie Foster and Cydney Bernard are shown out in Berlin at the aftershow party for the German Premiere of Flightplan on 10/12/05, thanks to WENN.