Some suggest that homophobic cultural pressure drove Whitney Houston to self-hatred and self-destruction, but it's probably not that simple
Whitney Houston certainly paid a high price for fame. We all know about the drug abuse that dogged her for years, with the genesis of her addiction often laid at the door of her former husband, Bobby Brown. He says different, as he would, and claims that Houston married him in order to hide her lesbianism. Others concur. An afterlife in the glittering pantheon of tragic gay icons beckons.
It's horrible to think that homophobic cultural pressure drove Houston to self-hatred and self-destruction. Homophobia is a vile and inexcusable brand of hatred. Still, it's a huge leap to suggest that, out and proud, Houston would have lived happily ever after. Sadly, countless heterosexuals can attest that being comfortable with your sexuality is no panacea – as can some gay people, too. Even if life can be made fair, it cannot always be made simple.