Question: Why did you decide to come out publicly
at age 81? James Randi: Oh, well. I did it, first of all, my next book is to
be called, this is a plug, "A Magician in the Laboratory." And I’m working on that currently right
now and it’s more or less autobiographical because so much of my life is spent running
around the world and sitting around in laboratories and watching, in many cases, watching scientists
make total fools of themselves. But I forgive them for that, they’re just
not informed. I tried to inform them and such. And I thought, "Well hey, before I publish
the book, I should really come out and say to people, yes, I’m gay. I’ve been gay all of my life." I don’t have any problem with that whatsoever. The point that I came out so late in my life
is only due to the fact that I never got around to it. All my friends and family have always known. All of my office people and such have always
known about this. And I’ve never made any refusal to discuss
it, and if anyone has every asked, I said quite frankly, “Yes, that’s the situation.” And for 25 years now, I’ve had a faithful
companion and we get along just fine. We’re very attached to one another, I’m
very happy in that relationship and it doesn’t enter into my work at all though. Question: How has the public reaction been? James Randi: Oh, the public reaction has been
wonderful. I anticipated that it would be, frankly, but
it’s been much more, much better than I even dreamed it could be. I’m still getting emails months after this
happened. I’m still getting email from people who
say, "Oh I just found out about so and so, and bang on, that’s the way to go." And these a people who can or cannot be gay
one way or another, it doesn’t make any difference. They all accept it. And a couple of sour grapes out there, but
I could ignore them safely. But a very, very small minority. People have understood and we are in an enlightened
age. Now, when I was a teenager, oh, that would
have been the last thing I could have possibly have done. I would have gotten stoned, I would have gotten
beaten up every day, I’m sure, by the kids at school. But not anymore. That day, I hope, is passed. Question: Will coming out be easier for the
next generation? James Randi: Yes. And not only that, in that respect as a matter
of fact. I’ve found one thing that I did not anticipate. I’m getting a lot of correspondence from
young gay people who say that I’ve served as an example of how it can be done and they’ve
determined that they’re going to do it too. And that’s very encouraging. I think that relieves them of a bit of a burden,
you feel somewhat freed up. Now, I didn’t notice the difference at all
because I’ve been out all of my life if anyone asked. That’s all there is to it. And nobody ever... well some people did ask,
or sort of hinted at it. And I would come out with it right away. I had no problem with that. I still have no problem with it whatsoever. Here I am. And people often will say, “But you named
your car Sophia, after Sophia Loren.” A little blue Miata, a beautiful little jobbie. And they said, “Well, you keep on talking
about Sophia Loren.” And I say, “Yes. You see, I’m gay, but I’m not blind." After all, you know, that is not Oil of Olay
that Sophia uses. That’s got to be witchcraft.
I say prove it.
Whoa, mind blown, I had no idea. Though this is actually good news to me, this whole time I always thought he was alone in life when it came to love, makes me feel glad for him that this was not the case.
I must confess when I read that I thought he had "come out" as an atheist. That seemed like a fairly useless announcement. Then I watched the video and had a great smile. I'm thrilled to hear that he's been with a person he loves for 25 years. Rock on!
I believe he says, he actually came out much sooner than that. Everyone who knows him personally has known, but it is simply a non-issue.
Still, it's good of him to put it out in public like this, i'm sure it will encourage alot of people.
Why am I not suprised? He is rational, considerate, intelligent guy. That's gay.
Both Amazing and fabulous.
I could understand him coming out so late, it would've probably undermined his efforts at exposing some of the fraud especially the Christian evangelicals.
You just cost me an hour of my life (well spent) watching all the other videos linked after this one.
Wow, I had no idea. Guess it wasn't big news? (That's a good thing, right?)