Ponder this: Is Karen gay?

I really enjoyed reading the comments on this thread. It seems that the consensus is that Karen was straight, or at least puting her brain together about what Martha had told her.
I think everyone (even I probably) misses the point entirely. Films can be about how we interpret them and all sides actually have some validity.

This is the way I see it (Spoiler alert):
The point of Karen's character is that she was a good person. She was the kindest person in the play/movie, so of course she would be loved by two different people of both genders. Audrey Hepburn was right for the role because who wouldn't want to be with someone like her. Even the way she looks at Martha when she gives her that last look before Martha locks the door to kill herself SHOWS what a brilliant actress Hepburn was and brilliant director Wyler was for including that. The look could substitute any amount of text for explaining the word EMPATHY. Every moment of her performance was perfection because WE as viewers are supposed to fall in love with her, too. She is SO giving, and SO loyal that she never even judges Martha when she finds out she IS a lesbian.

ALSO, no one has mentioned that throughout the film Karen never says anything mean about gay people or that being gay was wrong. Just that the truth was that she and Martha were not lovers. Wouldn't she be more homophobic if she wasn't gay? But Karen was not a self-loathing person. Even if she wasn't a lesbian (I'll explain why I believe she is in a second) it would seem out of character to be mean in any way to a person for such a petty thing as who they love. Maybe I'm wrong--- considering how many closet cases loathe themselves, but for the sake of the lack of ironies during that period of time (relative to today) lets say she would have said something more disparaging about gay people if she was completely straight.

Could her breaking up with Joe be a subconscious effort to sabotage the hetero part of her life and finally embrace the part of her she didn't want to face?

And Karen consistenty (at least toward the end of the film) choose to be with Martha. Over Joe (although maybe in a subtle indirect way)

They say that they love each other as if its no big deal. Like sisters. Or best friends. But wouldn't Karen have possibly acted homophobic? Even in an exchange like this? NO. Because part of her never really CARED. Or thought through the implications of homosexuality until Martha brings it up towards the end. In the end it was so exhausting that she just loved being with Martha and wouldn't have given up the friendship no matter what.

SHE afterall, asked Martha to come away with HER. Basically saying to her, I accept you as you are. I understand what you are saying, and I love you anyways.
It could also subtley mean: if the world were fair, I would be with you. And since we both are in the same boat. We both have suffered for being gay (or rumored to be gay), even when we never realized what being gay truly meant, I am still not afraid of being with you.

So YES, I believe Karen was gay, maybe not exclusively lesbian, but in love with Martha because after the whole experience she realized how ridiculous the labels truly were. LOVE is LOVE. Karen and Martha know each other like a husband and wife might anyways since they've known each other for so long. And Karen is obviously not as afraid of the feelings Martha was talking about. Maybe in the end she felt that what Martha was saying was REAL. And maybe as a previous poster stated, Martha was the one that Karen should have loved all along. Martha was not Joe, who was also fairly devoted to Karen. But Martha loved her and suffered so much more than any character for her love, and Martha would have been happier if Karen just started being more receptive of that love. So Karen decided to be more receptive in the end. BUT Martha dies, so we never know how happy their lives might have been.

Also, Karen represents us(the viewers of this great movie)! Everyday people who should be more honest about relationships. We come to the realization that it doesn't matter who we love. Life will continue. Even when we have to struggle. We can be gay or straight. It doesn't matter, because we survive either way. We all have our individual struggles.

Martha, the self-hating person is still good but never found love other thatn Karen's. They are basically two sides of the same coin, but one takes her feelings to a darker place while the other tried to celebrate her relationships in a positive way. Or at lest explore the possibilities. The story could also be a lesson in how we should be more like Karen and less like Martha when loving. Being receptive to the feelings we feel. And learning to live through the pain.

This is just an interpretation. It might be wrong, but it's my own truth I guess.