LGBTQ+ in Hollywood

[Karen]

Not much will happen when people as blind as Paul Haggis continue to be in charge:

"I have to say I find that view hysterical and absurd," says Haggis. "I thought Brokeback was a really good movie but, if you decided to vote for it, the best reason would be you thought it was a great movie about two human beings, not because it's a social statement.

"And if you wanted to see the gay community embraced by Hollywood, well, the fact is that happened a long time ago. I mean, look at the popularity of Will & Grace on television."

And his own movie wasn't a social statement? He wasn't being all important about hysterically over-the-top racism?

Asexual queens and sufferers are all we're going to get, it seems. I mean, there's Will and Jack! No need to do more, like show a bit of variety or give an existing character a sex life.

[twodollars]

Haggis is a clam, isn't he? Not surprised that he has that attitude.

[duskwolf]

That tears it. I'm not going to see Crash, no matter what anyone tells me.

(Aside from being a homophobe, he's a poor winner, too)

Topic: I've said it before and I'll say it again. David Hyde Pierce was teh sex in Spamalot.

[december]

TR Knight (George of Greys Anatomy) comes out

Where their rumors/blind items that could have been him? I find it odd that he is talking about the rumors and to my knowledge there nver were any.

[Deleted]

I thought the magenta hair a few months back was a bit of a give-away, but that was kind of a cool statement, saying it's the least-interesting part of himself, which is something with which I agree wholeheartedly.

[Deleted]

I think he came out because the actor who plays Dr. Burke got in a public fight on the set with the actor who plays McDreamy and told McDreamy guy that he wasn't his "faggot" like T.R. Knight. Man, I used to really like the actor who plays Dr. Burke. Now I despise him.

I actually hadn't guessed that T.R Knight was gay.

[forgetful]

kris said:

I think he came out because the actor who plays Dr. Burke got in a public fight on the set with the actor who plays McDreamy and told McDreamy guy that he wasn't his "faggot" like T.R. Knight. Man, I used to really like the actor who plays Dr. Burke. Now I despise him.

He said that, really? How disgusting.

[Deleted]

If reports are true, he did.

Link

[Binky]

Well, being 'outed' (sort of) by your co-stars getting in a choke-fight on set is certainly a new one. I hadn't made the connection to the incident and immediately assumed that they were going to make Knight's character gay and the actor was just announcing so he wouldn't have to deal with "what's it like to play gay" questions. I have no idea why, but that's what jumped into my head.

Man, I hate that show.

[kafka]

I'm fed up with all the constant Hollywood obsession with who is gay and who isn't. I'm even more fed up with the belief by some (see, e.g., that arse Perez) that "the need" to out people is akin to the release of information that will save the world.

But, okay, I accept that a lot of the country doesn't share my view of things. I accept that some gay actors --- particularly those marketed as action heroes --- feel the need to hide their sexual orientation due to various considerations, including future roles, etc. I also accept that people of all races may be homophobic because bigotry isn't limited to those with pink skin.

That said, I'm still shocked that a young(ish) black man could be such an arse as to be homophobic. African-Americans in all industries face prejudices and Hollywood actors are no exceptions. There aren't a dozen Denzels, although there are tons of Harrisons, Mels, Bruce Willises, Colin Farrells or whomever is the latest "action star." There aren't a lot of Morgan Freemans, although there are a ton of Alan Rickmans, Jeremy Irons, William Dafoes, Michael Caines, etc. Black actors should know a lot about prejudice, racial glass ceilings, stereotyping and limitations due to who or what they are. So when they too are virulent about someone just because some irrelevent issue... well, it's really and truly disappointing.

I'm not trying to excuse homophobia in any context, by anyone, but I just think it's worse when it comes from groups who have themselves been the victim of bigotry.