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“I think that all women have been sexually attracted to another woman at some point. It’s natural to have connectivity and an appreciation for the beauty of women.” This was said by 41-year-old actress Cameron Diaz to Glamour magazine.
There have now been many misreports of Diaz saying that she has come out as a lesbian, but if you actually read the article and her 2010 Playboy article, you will see that this most definitely is not the case. “Sexuality and love can be different things. I can be attracted to a woman sexually, but it doesn’t mean I want to be in love with another woman […] If I’m going to be with a woman sexually, it doesn’t mean I’m a lesbian. We put these restraints and definitions on people.”
Reports of Diaz’s “coming out” are false, short sighted and potentially offensive. Sexuality does not necessarily follow from attraction, a recognition that sadly the reaction to Diaz’s statement has shown is not universally shared. Diaz’s openness is highly refreshing given the parameters of sexual discussion in celebrity culture, and it is a shame that the media has given in to its appetite to label people between the binaries of homosexual and heterosexual, rather than fully connecting with her statement.
The same can be said to have happened with Tom Daley. Initially widely reported as having come out as gay in December 2013, he actually declared romantic and sexual interest in both genders. The media’s awakening to his same-sex relationship seemingly invalidated any previous relationships with women as false, foolish, or as precursors to his real sexuality. The media machine loves to jump to easy assumptions, but the oversights are offensive and encourage a societal outlook that demands either, or, in terms of sexuality.
It’s a sign of the social progress we have made, yet the vast steps that still need to be taken, that a A-list celebrity feels comfortable enough to discuss her sexuality and attraction openly. The fact that the media misinterpret and prefer assumptions rather than depth or an open-minded approach to sexuality indicates the need to expose the sexual hesitance, biphobia, and underpinning reductive urges that lineate our media.
Cameron Diaz has made a strong statement. Ultimately, I agree, as I do believe that everyone appreciates a hot body, male or female. Hopefully it won’t be long until the mainstream media can appreciate this perspective.
