Jodie Foster Comes Out At The 2013 Golden Globe Awards

While accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award at Sunday night's Golden Globe Awards, Jodie Foster surprised many viewers when she officially came out as a lesbian. While she has alluded to her sexual orientation in the past (she thanked her partner back in 2007 during another acceptance speech), this is the first time she has made a public statement on the matter. Her moving speech made mention of the importance of privacy and acceptance, and she also explained why she waited so long to make the big public announcement.

“While I’m here being all confessional, I just have the sudden urge to say something I’ve never been able to say in public," Foster began. "A declaration that I’m a little nervous about. Not quite as nervous as my publicist, huh, Jennifer? But uh, you know, I’m just going to put it out there. Loud and proud. I’m going to need your support. I am — single."

Foster then noted that she was kidding (but only kind of) and continued, "I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago, back in the stone age. In those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends, and family, coworkers and then gradually, proudly, to everyone who knew her. To everyone she actually met. But now, apparently I'm told, that every celebrity is expected to honor the details of their private life with a press conference, a fragrance and a primetime reality show. You guys might be surprised, but I'm not Honey Boo Boo child. If you had been a public figure since the time you were a toddler, if you had to fight for a life that felt real and honest and normal against all odds, then maybe you too would value privacy above all else."

Click above to watch her amazing speech!