Whitney Houston death revives old gay rumors

Whitney Houston's death on Saturday has revived the old rumors about whether she was a lesbian or bisexual.

From The Daily Beast:

Long before she married Bobby Brown and became a crack addict, long before “doodie bubbles” on Being Bobby Brown, long before her supposedly clean comeback, Whitney Houston was rumored to be a lesbian. Like Gayle and Oprah, Whitney had an ultra-close best friend, Robyn Crawford, who was also her personal assistant.

Queerty has posted an old video interview with Houston in which she discussed performing at New York Gay Pride in 1999. “It’s their pride they’re celebrating…I’m just there to entertain,” Houston said in the interview.

And British gay activist Peter Tatchell posted on his Facebook page:

Whitney Houston RIP. She was happiest & at her peak with her female partner in the 1980s. They were so joyful together. I met them at the Reach Out & Touch HIV rally in London in 1991, organised by Vernal Scott. Whitney spoke very movingly; supporting people with HIV, when many other stars kept their distance. She was pressured into the Bobby Brown marriage. Disaster. Her life started going downhill soon afterwards. Whitney’s death is a tragic loss.

Comments

[scallywag]

Really, did it ever matter if Whitney Houston was a lesbian or anything else that may have momentarily caused Hollywood or for that matter you to jeer? In fact why should the singer’s sexuality even have been a question? The proof is in the vast bank roll suddenly re jiggered. Clive Davis must be one happy bixch.

http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2012/02/was-whitney-houston-a-secret-lesbian-did-self-disgust-fuel-a-drug-binge/

[Denise]

I don't think it would have affected her popularity one way or another, it hasn't hurt Melissa Ethridge or other openly gay women entertainers, it was her family that probably put her in such a state of fear of coming out

[ashley]

Melissa came out in a different time though and sings a different type of music, IF Whitney was really a lesbian, she would have lost a ton of fans, and since her family background was in the Church through Gospel music, it would have been seen as a shame for them. Whether she was or wasn't, what a waste of talent and life, nothing is worth throwing your life away to get high, or to stay rich by pretending to be something you are not.

[Nancy]

For anyone who thinks her being gay wouldn't gave affected her career must not live in the real world. She made history being a female pop icon. That itself is big. Artist wasn't out during that time. She wouldn't be who she became if she came out. Even now gay people have a hard time. I can def believe this because Robyn appeared gay and was always around. They seem fond of each other and usually when there is a rumor like this it's a little truth to it. But the thing that people don't seem to understand is ms Houston stated that she's not bisexual or gay. This was probably a woman who just loved and didn't go by titles. If we get rid of the titles then we can accomplish something. Why use a title when we don't know what the future holds. Some people are straight GAY and don't want any other sex but the same sex. You have some who like both sexes and you have plenty who just fall in love with who they fall in love with and I think this was her. Now I do believe she loved Bobby and she admitted to oprah that Their relationship was in a bad place during the bodyguard which means they weren't happy long at all, but she was so he'll bent on proving the world wrong. Her loving Robyn probably played a part in her turmoil but we must also look at the media who tortured and tormented her every chance Rey got with rumor and lie after another. So with all of that, plus the miscarriages, Bobby being abusive, her wanting to be normal and love and accepted, I'm sure there is a list of many other things to add to that lost that we don't know. Whatever all of it was is way too much for anyone to bare without something eventually happening.

[Nancy]

Sorry for the spelling mistakes I'm responding from iPhone..what I meant at the beginning of my post is she was a black female pop icon and that itself wasn't common at all.