A profile in the Evening Standard of Lord Browne of Madingley, battered departing chief exec of BP, employs all the usual gay cliches about him - "confirmed bachelor", "devoted to opera and ballet" and "fellow aesthetes": the only thing missing is a Bosie for that latterday Oscary touch. The pity is that a mighty business baron cannot simply be called gay, especially when he's riding high and not just on his way down: the media have become very interested in his private life since his stock fell over the Texan and Alaskan scandals, among other things.
A few years ago an ex-boyfriend of Browne's took his own life - nothing to do with Browne I should add, but what a pity he couldn't freely talk about it in the media even as his company ravaged the global environment.
5 comments:
British Petroleum (Jelly)
A big problem for Browne was that he was always dealing with the two most homophobic constituencies on the planet: Arabs (regardless of their private behaviour) and Texans. Of all businessmen, it was he who could least afford to come out.
The perverse effect of this being that, if you're a confirmed bachelor, devoted to opera and ballet and a fellow aesthetes, you'll be tagged gay whatever the truth is. Hard times, indeed. Baudelaire should come back to see that !
nsfl makes a fair point ... not an easy one for sure. As to Duralex's point, it just so happens Browne is gay and hopefully he'll discuss his sexuality once he's got his unfeasibly large pay-off banked. If he chooses not to, fair enough. But the story of his progress to corporate heaven (and "fall" - or, he basically out-stayed his welcome) is a very interesting and singular one, especially given the primitive sophistication of blue chip multi-nationals.
The Standard's queer codes are just so old man scrote.
Arcati said:
[it just so happens Browne is gay and hopefully he'll discuss his sexuality]
Deep sigh...
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