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Where Is It 'OK' To Be Gay?

Flickr Creative Commons, brainchildvn

http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Commodore%20Skahill/Colin%20McEnroe%20Show%2007-07-2011.mp3

Everybody knows who Paul Marcarelli is. They just don't know they know.

Marcarelli was the Verizon guy. The "can you hear me now" guy with the Buddy Holly frames. During the heyday of those commercials, he wasn't comfortable letting the world know his sexual orientation. When homophobic kids drove by his Guilford home screaming taunts, he decided not to file a police complaint because if he did, he'd have to acknowledge what they were taunting him about.
 
Now Marcarelli is out, but he recently told the Atlantic that he never tested what it would have meant to be out when all that Verizon money and his oddly iconic status were on the line.
 
That's the theme of today's show -- that a lot of gay and lesbian people still aren't sure what it would mean to be all the way out.
 
In their line of work, in their circle of acquaintances, is it safe yet? 
 
Leave your comments below, e-mail colin@wnpr.org or Tweet us @wnprcolin.
 
***Today's episode was produced with help from Tucker Ives***

Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.