To be outraged at reports/mentions of Johnson's sexual attraction to men, to affirm that's akin to an "accusation" on his character or "kicking him while he's down," says much more about the outraged ones than about any writer/journalist reporting that fact. And it's a FACT.

But even if true, why should Johnson's sexual orientation be discussed in an obit or be mentioned at all? Well, would any anti-gay bigot ask the same question had I mentioned in the above post Johnson's (even if only rumored) love affairs with actresses?

A few years ago, I wrote a biography of actor Ramon Novarro, who happened to be gay. I heard from more than one woman who insisted that Novarro was NOT gay — despite all evidence to the contrary. Why? Because they were obsessed with him. And he played Ben-Hur. And he made love on-screen to Myrna Loy and Greta Garbo and Jeanette MacDonald and Alice Terry and Joan Crawford. And Novarro was so charming. How could anyone in his right mind ACCUSE him of being gay or kick poor Novarro while he was down/dead?

Well, Novarro WAS gay, as any *sane* person who knew him can tell you. And there was NOTHING wrong with that.

If Novarro's bigoted fans couldn't get over that fact, that should be neither my problem nor Novarro's. The same goes for Van Johnson.

Also, I am forever defending gay rights and all I wanted to know was why so much fuss over his sexual preferences? I don't believe Van was 100% gay or straight as he was like a diamond with multi-facets of personality. Yet I have to learn the name of his male lover…if he had one. I think he did love his ex wife all the rest of his life and kept it quiet.

June Allyson was a gem as well and her voice and smile with those twinkly eyes were only hers to own. She truly loved Dick Powell.

Are you out of your mind? Ask most people out there. They'll have NO idea who Van Johnson was. That's fact. It's their loss as well, really. But let's not fool ourselves. If you're not an Old Hollywood lover, the name Van Johnson means nothing.

Whatever is mentioned in this article is not "unsubstantiated gossip." If you choose not to believe the information found in it — e.g., Van Johnson's homosexuality — because of your own prejudices, that's your call. But the fault lies with you and your Technicolor view of old Hollywood movie stars, not with me.

I've done extensive research on Hollywood history and gays in Hollywood for my book on Ramon Novarro. As anyone who has read that book can tell you, gossip, innuendo, and unsubstantiated claims are hardly my thing. Much to the contrary, I've actually been criticized for being too much of a myth/gossipbuster.

Now, one thing I've learned during my research is how bigoted and hypocritical most people are: they have no qualms when they read about a male star's female lovers — that's fact, that's important, that's respectful — but they freak out if male lovers are mentioned. Suddenly the information provided becomes a) unsubstantiated, b) unimportant c) a hatchet job.

By the way, the "swipes" at June Allyson — an actress I've always admired — will seem gratuitous only to those who choose to believe that the off-screen June Allyson was just like her characters in "Little Women," "Music for Millions," or "The Glenn Miller Story." In fact, the remark about Allyson was actually an indictment against people such as yourself, who choose to believe the lies fed to you by the major Hollywood studios' well-oiled p.r. machines.