Historically some people wanted to keep their sexuality private because they felt they might lose sales / votes / whatever if people knew their sexuality.

Don't forget that homosexuality has only relatively recently become legal in England.

The Jason Donovan case is particularly interesting.

(http://www.independent.co.uk/news/sad-about-the-boy-1270092....)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Donovan)

(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000/apr/17/law.claredyer)