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***
