It's great that public figures are coming out, but to me, it doesn't make it any easier. When seeing a total stranger come out, it is easy to say, "Good for her," but when someone you know and love reveals that they've been keeping a huge secret for years, it's completely different. Public figures coming out may even make loved ones feel guilty about expressing their negative feelings.
There is a distinct advantage to public figures coming out, though -- people talk about it. You can ascertain people's feelings on the subject to some extent, without bringing it up out of nowhere.
