Suze Orman: for the Young, Fabulous and Gay!
“Gay liberation? I ain’t against it… it’s just that there’s nothing in it for me.” — Bette Davis
Over a year ago I wrote a post about how I loved hearing the “born-agains” go on and on about following the advice of Suze Orman. Those of us with gaydar have known for years that she was a bona fide lesbian.
The haircut was the first clue… all “golf lesbians” that I know wear that style, plus if you poke around the scrapbook section of her web site it was easy to figure out that she had a “partner” and a knack for sporting visors as a fashion accessory. Trust me; straight women do not wear visors unless they’re playing the back nine on a windy day.
So the news certainly wasn’t a surprise, but it was finally official when Suze came out of the closet on Sunday in The New York Times magazine. Jim at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity provided some humor from the personal finance blogosphere. He writes, “They mention that she has a female life partner and has never been with a man (as if that has any bearing on her credibility when it comes to personal finance advice, I have a female life partner, I’ve never been with a man, and you all still read my blog).”
Most queers are applauding her coming out as a brave step and I’m sure she’s probably already been slated for the cover of The Advocate magazine. If she’s smart and she is, then she’ll leverage the buzz and that’s good for the queer community. So at first glance, hurray for Suze! But at the same time, I believe her fessing up is long overdue.
This is my opinion (and it is categorized above as such): some might comment that this post is just a rant about celebrity and what if anything, does it have to do with money? But her coming out has everything to do with money.
Suze is 55 years old. She’s written dozens of books including five consecutive New York Times bestsellers. She’s been with Kathy Travis, her life-partner for seven years. People, listen up… seven years! She hasn’t been famous for much longer than that. Wasn’t The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom published in 2000?
So the entire time that she’s been building the brand of Suze, she’s been in a committed and hopefully loving relationship. And yet all these years, she pretended to be the single, empowered woman. Yes, she’s a powerhouse (and an empowered woman), but why did she have to pretend to be the straight single gal making it on her own?
I can guarantee that she was counseled by her publisher and executive producer for years to be discreet about her lifestyle. Believe me, Anderson Cooper will not be busting out of the closet anytime soon for the same reason: his career is still full throttle.
Last week on NPR, Frank Deford had an excellent commentary about why John Amaechi remained in the closet during his NBA-playing days. He reports, “Why do so many gay male athletes keep their sexual orientation a secret? Is it a fear of teammates, or of public reaction?”
It all boils down to money and earning potential in their prime. I would suspect that Suze felt and feels the same way. So why has Suze decided to come out now? With $25 million in the bank, she has her nest egg tucked away and it doesn’t matter if she alienates her base. At the same time, this opens up a new niche for Suze… I bet she’s already working on a book called Queers & Money! And yes, of course I’ve already inquired if she’ll consider being interviewed for our Ten Money Questions series. Let’s see if being “family” still has any clout.
As a lesbian, I’m thrilled that she finally came out. However, she stayed in the closet because of what it meant to her pocketbook or wallet or whatever she might be carrying these days. I end with a quote from Suze’s web site: “People first, then money, then things.”
Sound the trumpets: It’s nice to know there’s authenticity now attached to those words. Better late than never!
Be sure and catch Paula’s post, John’s post and Rich’s post on Suze Orman coming out.
Wow, I had no idea. I just thought she was just a mouthy, money-obsessed straight woman! Well, I am glad to see her come out!
As I saw mentioned somewhere (maybe it was at BFP), she’s now got a really powerful opportunity to demonstrate the impact that marriage (or lack thereof) has on your finances. I don’t think she’ll be tooting the rainbow horn much, but I’m just happy to have someone I admire very much be out and proud. And I love her YF&B book. I’m so YF&B!
Are there any books out for queer finance? We really are a huge untapped market, but if Suze were to write a book about/for us, she’d definitely alientate a chunk of her readers.
Okay, I’ve got to ask……… Why do gay women wear golf visors? Is it a secret sign or something? I’m glad she’s come out. She’s well respected in her field and hopefully this will be one more sign to us straight folks that gays are real people too.
Part of this week’s Carnival of the Insanities:
http://drsanity.blogspot.com/2007/03/carnival-of-insanities.html
suze, i told a friend of mine that i thought you were, are gay, just because of your strong personality, and the fact that i can’t vision you with a man. when i talked to her yesterday she told me i was right all along, which wasn’t a surprise to me. it had nothing to do with your hair style, or the golf visiors that you wear. so tell me does this mean my mother’s gay also? i alway’s thought she was, but she’d never admit to it openly. i’m her gay openly daughter, only child, that never wanted to be with a man.i thinkyour a woman that knows what she wants, and knows how to make it happen, good for you, thank you for coming out, your a big inspiration to me, i knew along time it would be ok, and i guess you knew it also. it takes ppl like you to break the silence.
Please tell us which way queers want it because I’m confused. Do they want acceptance from the “born-agains” or do they prefer to be castigated so they have a cause and someone to blame for their problems? I thought it wasn’t supposed to matter what goes on in someone’s bedroom.
I had always thought she was straight, but I did know she wasn’t a Christian (like me). I believe I read she was Bhudaist, but like you said it doesn’t matter. Her financial advice is mostly right and I enjoy listening to her when I have a Saturday night off from work, which isn’t very often.
You are also correct, when you say, whatever my moral convictions are, have no bearing on my enjoying reading your PF advice. Again, like Suze, it mostly jives with what Dave Ramsey and John Cummuta teaches.
I have known from you websites name that you and all the writers on this blog were queer. Still, I continue to come back.
Keep up the good PF work.
Had no idea about the golf visor, I wear them because they don’t flatten my hair like a baseball hat. :-). Personally, I’d rather not know whether she is gay or straight, it just doesn’t matter either way.
The opening paragraph is what caused me to stop by and read this post. I just wanted to comment that this Born Again Christian must have excellent gaydar, because while Suze’s sexuality never really mattered to me, I never thought she was straight. And even with my suspicions, I still like watching her program, although I don’t agree with much of her advice.
Same with Rosie and Ellen… when each of them came out, the only thing I was surprised at was the number of people who were angry because they supposedly tricked the public into thinking they were straight – when in fact, the public just missed all the clues.
I guess I don’t see the big deal. We aren’t all bigots, you know!
Had no idea, right on Suze!
Not sure why it’s still a big deal when celebs come out though. With all the problems in the world and our own country due to Bush, it’s kinda pathetic that ppl’s sex. preference is still the biggest talk.
Btw, f..k the bigots (like Ted), they’re a dying breed.
Don’t be so quick to judge. Of Course she is concerned with being financially stable…have you not read her life history???, born on South side of Chicago-parents poor, she worked in a “bakery”. Come on now-we ALL do whatever we NEED to in order to be or feel secure. AND, Especially being a Woman-We HAVE To.
Don’t be haters.
WE, of all people should know that ALL people (regardless of “THEIR PERSONAL CHOICES”) are entitled to do what is necessary to Protect themselves before taking on the needs of others. It’s basic survival.
Oxygen mask on YOU then whomever is with you