There were lots of pointers as has been pointed out, one of the things I noticed was how she dressed. She always wore stuff like pant suits apart from at big award ceremonies which at least to me was a sign. Also the way her private life was just so completely off limits was kinda strange. The male equivalent for me would be Kevin Spacey who has faced some of the same problems. Its so silly that people still have to hide who they really are in this day and age though.

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Uhh, an year of having no boyfriend with her being fairly attractive, everyone knows. They just don't say it openly.

Evidence Smevidence! Of course no evidence is required to be "straight", as that is the accepted norm and homosexuality isn't seen on equal terms. Sexuality isn't a court case, where evidence is required to prove if someone is guilty or not. The homophobic attitudes of many that require proof of being gay, is tantamount to saying they are committing an illicit crime.
Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:

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Had to look feminine? So, all lesbians look masculine, do they?
I was gonna let you beep me, but I got my rag, and I know how you hate a mess

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It was pretty obvious since day 1. Her demeanor5b4, her mannerisms, etc. Gaydar went off wherever she went.

Common knowledge on campus when we were all undergrads together at Yale that she was gay. She was a good person and it was a very permissive open minded campus in the days before social media so no one cared.

Source?

http://viverdecinema.blogspot.com.br/

Not at all

How did people know? Because you only have to study the person for yourself and see if the clues in their own behavior match up with the gossip you read about them. Also, stop believing in the stupid myth that most gossip is made up, actually a lot of it is true.

It's mostly a myth that she wasn't a very feminine woman (yes, she was butch as a girl, but probably also because Disney chose that look; just compare it with Taxi Driver for instance):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeUOUNNpYMc
I rest my case.

I remember years ago I was reading an old magazine, might have been something obscure like National Lampoons, or might have been Hustler, that had a one page article making fun of lesbians in the closet in Hollywood. They had a line up of some actresses and the only one I can remember seeing was Rosie O'Donnell. And this was years before she came out. So in Hollywood there are rumors based on who is seen with who, and rumors will spread to the general populace.
Plus, she wasn't a very feminine woman. I guess we're going into lesbian stereotypes, but she did dress down and didn't wear a lot of makeup or do much with her hair. Now, I'm not saying straight should or do dress like prostitute or should shovel on makeup like a Snooki clown, but a lot of lesbians dress don't dress like straight women.

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Not at all

Unfortunately there's a tremendous bias with fans and who they choose to believe is gay. Generally if the fan is straight they dismiss the idea that a favorite celebrity is gay. On the other hand, gay fans tend toward the other extreme of wanting the celebrity to be gay even if that isn't the case. I often try to reason with these people by saying, "A celebrity isn't straight/gay just because you are! Get over yourself!"

It's not really choosing what you want to believe, but kind of putting two and two together and just looking at one's behavior and what we know of their lifestyles. Jodie has never been linked to a man, but has been "rumored" to be dating or getting close to ladies. She carries herself like a "butch", but still feminine.
(_)
can't outrun your own shadow
I AM DEE BEE 10 years !

People knew Ellen Page was gay for years too, how did THEY know? It's mostly just rumors and choosing what you want to believe. Sometimes the rumors aren't true, this time they were.
I believe whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you
Stranger

It's funny you say this. I've always kind of wondered even years back. She just gave me that vibe. But I kept this to myself since no one else was talking about it.
Well, in 1995, I got tickets to see Jay Leno's show. Roseanne Barr was the guest. At the taping she made a joke about Jodie Foster being gay. That evening when it was on TV they edited that part out.

Jodie was dating Gina Schock from The Go-Go's in the 80s. People knew/gossiped about it. Then there were all the rumors about her and Kelly McGillis, sometimes involving a punch-up with Whitney Houston. She lived with Cydney for like 15 years, starting in the early 90s, so that should have confirmed it for everybody else. What did people think was going on? Jodie was pregnant with no man in sight and they were raising two kids together.

not all lesbians are butch

1976
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