Some public figures still feel they must hide who they are to be taken seriously.
In 2025, that feels like a failure of us all.
Sexuality should never be a story—competence, compassion and conviction should be.
But for many in the public eye, living openly still feels like too big a risk.
Whether it’s politicians, entertainers or athletes, the fear of being judged for who they love rather than what they do still lingers.
The rumour mill churns on, often fuelled by nothing more than assumptions and whispers.
And it isn’t just cruel—it’s exhausting.
“It’s like performing two full-time jobs,” said one former political adviser, who lived closeted for over a decade.
“You’re constantly managing how you speak, where you go, and who’s watching.”
The public rarely sees that side of things.
We see the polished speeches, the rehearsed interviews, the public persona.
Behind that, many wrestle with the weight of keeping part of themselves hidden.
The emotional toll can be enormous.
Living a double life can lead to anxiety, burnout, and fractured relationships—personally and professionally.
And it’s not always about fear of rejection from the public.
Sometimes it’s about family, party culture, or the media waiting to pounce.
When coming out is treated as a scandal, we’ve got a problem.
We need to grow up.
Being gay, bisexual or anything else is not a weakness.
It doesn’t undermine credibility or leadership.
It doesn’t make someone any less worthy of trust, respect or support.
It just means they’re human.
And yet many still feel they must trade authenticity for acceptance.
That’s a toxic equation.
The right to privacy is important—but so is the right to be yourself without consequence.
There’s also a myth that being open about sexuality means making it political.
It doesn’t.
It’s not about headlines—it’s about breathing freely.
“I spent years hiding,” one retired MP once admitted privately.
“It didn’t make me better at my job.
“It made me worse.”
When people are forced to deny who they are, nobody wins.
Let’s stop treating sexuality like a secret that needs to be uncovered.
Let’s stop pretending it matters more than honesty, service and skill.
And let’s start giving people the space to live without fear of how they’ll be judged.
It’s long past time we focused less on who someone loves and more on what they stand for.
That’s the mark of a mature society.
