In case you missed the internet today, a Sunday Mirror interview with reporter Sharon Feinstein quoted Kristen Stewart‘s mother, Jules Stewart, as having spoken sweetly about her daughter’s rumored girlfriend, Alicia Cargile. But US Weekly is reporting that Jules claims she didn’t say any of the things The Mirror quoted her on.
“I spoke to Sharon Feinstein about my film K-11 that has been put on display in the Hollywood Museum,” she told Us Weekly. “It’s currently there under the LGBT banner on the third floor. She also asked me about my views on gay rights, which I was happy to express. Then we talked briefly about the fundraiser I am hosting for TheWolfConnection.org. Never ever did we discuss Kristen!”
The Mirror quoted Jules as having said:
“What’s not to be accepting about her now having a girlfriend? She’s happy. She’s my daughter, I’m just her mom so she knows I would accept her choices. I’ve met Kristen’s new girlfriend, I like her. What’s not to accept? She’s a lovely girl.”
But The Mirror reporter is saying she has “every word” on tape.
“I stand by everything,” she told The Advocate. “I have a considerable amount of similar quotes which were not used as I was trying to keep it as discreet as possible but this is a taped on the record interview.”
The Mirror also ran a companion piece called “Who is Alicia Cargile? Kristen Stewart’s new girlfriend is her personal assistant,” which linked to Jules having “confirmed” the relationship.
While it’s unlikely Kristen or Alicia will be making any kind of statements or clarifications about the situation, it’s clear how much we as a community are hoping they will. It’s a case of the glass closet that has existed around so many other public figures in the past, one that still exists despite the progress we’ve made in the last 20, 10, or even two years. With out celebrities, politicians and much-needed successful power players, of course we want a talented leading actress of our generation to be openly gay and proud. And isn’t she, in some regard, if she’s holding hands or kissing her female partner in public? That’s still highly debatable, but a new issue in “outing” as items used to be more based in rumors and gossip than public displays of affection.
Kristen Stewart is not one to talk about her personal life ever, no matter who she’s dating. But it’s always a different story when someone who is queer and keeps their lives quiet, because that is usually the case. It’s rarely straight-identified people who do not want to bring their partners on red carpets or to events or make a mention of them in interviews. Even if they aren’t interested in talking about their relationships, they at least make references to them in conversation on talk shows or interviews. That simply does not happen with those who are LGBTQ. Instead, it’s like they are asexual but would never even subscribe to that identity.
As queer women, we want Kristen Stewart on our team because, well, she is. We want to hear her say it. We want her mom to say she’s proud of her, and that she supports her. We want that for Kristen like we want it for ourselves. Some will argue it’s wrong to put so much into a stranger’s identity-and we’ve been burned before. But it’s not wrong to be giddy over the idea Kristen is in a happy relationship with a woman, and that someone close to her is thrilled for her, too.
So many of us have had to find acceptance from outside of the people we grew up with-family, friends, our churches, our schools. Every time someone we know or feel like we know says, “I’m one of you,” it’s encouragement, empowerment and affirmation. Even if Jules Stewart didn’t say she loves and supports Kristen and her rumored relationship, we enjoyed the idea of it. Maybe it was too early to celebrate, but just know your jubilation came from an okay place. It’s not selfish to look for more role models in a world where we weren’t provided any until too recently.
I doubt we’ll ever see Kristen Stewart coming out on the cover of People magazine, but hopefully some day in her future, she’ll feel ready enough to do something that says, “I see you, because I am you, and I represent you, without having asked to.” And that will have to be enough.
