Current Events > C/D - Only gay actors can play gay characters in movies and TV shows

(+) Yeah! (+)

Strong disagree.

Acting as a character doesn't mean you have to be exactly like that character in your real life.

(I'm listening to a podcast talking about how Ruby Rose was accused of not being gay enough to play Batwoman)

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Hard D.

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Thats stupid, this whole schtick is stupid, why? Because the job is literally ACTING.

If this was ever treated seriously, what are we going to also do next? Only murderers can play murders, only policemen can play as policemen...etc..etc, the list goes on.

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Deny.

That's fucking dumb and limiting. You're playing a character.
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Disgree. As long as they play the character respectfully. Same with gay characters playung a heterosexual.

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Deny. Its acting. Kinda the whole point. Also non gay actors have played gay roles before so what the fuck is the issue? I used to act in my earlier years of hs and if I continued I wouldn't want to be limited to a specific role.

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Big fat D

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Disagree.

Acting is acting. The best person for the role should always get it.

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D
I'd rather have the best possible actor for a role rather then someone who actually has things in common with the character.

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D, now awaiting some Cs to help make sense of why tf this is a thing

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StarReaper13 posted...

D
I'd rather have the best possible actor for a role rather then someone who actually has things in common with the character.

If you have things in common then wouldnt that make you the best person for the role?

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Feline_Heart posted...

If you have things in common then wouldnt that make you the best person for the role?

I'm a white straight cisgender male. That doesn't make me the best person to play the role of a white straight cisgender male character.

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Feline_Heart posted...

If you have things in common then wouldnt that make you the best person for the role?

Not necessarily. A character being gay isn't the only thing about the character.

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Feline_Heart posted...

If you have things in common then wouldnt that make you the best person for the role?

That would only be the case if every actor was equal, but that's not the case.

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OffTempo posted...

Not necessarily. A character being gay isn't the only thing about the character.

True

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OffTempo posted...

Not necessarily. A character being gay isn't the only thing about the character.

In fact, what stimuli enflames the genitals of a character seems to be an almost entirely unimportant trait in the context of a story...unless it's porn

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sevihaimerej posted...

In fact, what stimuli enflames the genitals of a character seems to be an almost entirely unimportant trait in the context of a story...unless it's porn

What if its a movie about a gay person who was shunned by their family once they came out or something? Wouldnt it be better to cast somebody who actually went through that instead of a straight guy?

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Feline_Heart posted...

What if its a movie about a gay person who was shunned by their family once they came out or something? Wouldnt it be better to cast somebody who actually went through that instead of a straight guy?

It'd be best to cast the best actor for the role, regardless of their experiences whoever can perform better should get the part.

If someone who went through that was the best actor who auditioned for the role/did the best job while auditioning then they should get the role, if they weren't the best/didn't do the best, then they shouldn't get the role.

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Deny. If it's deeply tied to the plot, you'd likely want to get someone with the lived experience if possible, but having this social contract shit is just stupid.

Feline_Heart posted...

What if its a movie about a gay person who was shunned by their family once they came out or something? Wouldnt it be better to cast somebody who actually went through that instead of a straight guy?

Most people experience some form of shunning in life, the reason is almost irrelevant when it comes to portraying emotional reactions to shunnings. Also, if that person is experienced with being shunned that doesn't mean they'll be able to pull it off on camera if they don't have the talent, or they may not be able to achieve other facets of the character more important than genital inflammation.

Also, hopefully that's not what the whole movie is about 'cause this hypothetical movie sounds like it would be pretty one note tbh

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D, that's ridiculous
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Agreed.
There are many trans and gay actors desperate for work.
I hate that Hollywood would have some heterosexual actor play a gay character simply because they're famous and would attract more viewers.

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D

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Nacen posted...

Hard D.

soft D

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D

I kind of get why it was a big thing that Ruby Rose was a lesbian woman playing a lesbian character, but I found it kind of dumb that they made such a big deal about finding a new lesbian actress to play a new lesbian character.

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people with X experience very well can use that experience to do a better job. so a gay person who had to deal with x issues might be the best person for the job, and they have a set of experience that allows them to hit certain notes better because of their ability to relate to their character. it's an advantage, not an instant win condition

that said, if a person without that experience does better (because they have more skill, they happen to play that character/look better for what the directors wants), then they should get the job.

EDIT: In terms of pure acting quality only. If the conversation is about marketing/profit, then there are other considerations, and acting quality isn't always super up there (the people who are the most famous are best at playing the game, not the best actors in the world in terms of skill, necessarily)

KINDERFELD posted...

Agreed.
There are many trans and gay actors desperate for work.
I hate that Hollywood would have some heterosexual actor play a gay character simply because they're famous and would attract more viewers.

There are plenty of straight cisgender actors desperate for work too. Theres a reason that moving to Hollywood to pursue an acting career immediately evokes the stereotype of a waiter/waitress at Olive Garden waiting for their big break. Why should gay actors get priority if theyre worse than straight actors auditioning for the same role?

Billy Eicher had a great interview where he addressed this issue. I bolded the more relevant parts and the parts where he addresses the eventual "Oh so straight people can't play gay characters EVER?!" responses. Also to any responses saying "Well why doesn't he make a movie to fix this issue", the interview talks about his upcoming movie where he plays Paul Lynde.

One of the main reasons I want to do this isbecause gay actors are never, hardly ever, I should say, allowed to play our own gay icons. Harvey Milk, Freddie Mercury, Elton John. Where are the gay actors? And its not to take anything away from those performances, which were all excellent. But why dont we get to tell our own stories? I have a lot of friends who are openly gay actors in Hollywood. Many of us are successful, and have carved out lovely careers, to varying degrees. But when it really comes to some big project about a gay icon, the one everyones throwing awards atwe love the spectacle of rewarding a straight actor, for quote unquote, transforming himself into a gay person.

I dont think there needs to be a rule, like straight actors can never play gay, but it is so lopsided. It never works in the other direction. And were not even allowed to play our own heroes. I can tell you right now, that a gay actor, a gay person in general, understands the nuances, the idiosyncrasies, and the emotional complexity of playing another gay person, especially a famous gay person, playing another famous gay person, than a straight person does. And we are never granted the opportunity to bring all of our life experience, as gay people, to the screen, and it has become a little bit frustrating to watch that happen over and over and over again.

https://deadline.com/2020/07/billy-eichner-paul-lynde-movie-man-in-the-actor-stigmatized-for-being-gay-eichner- feels-things-havent-changed-for-gay-actors-1202990876/


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I disagree, but I do understand that lgbt roles are sometimes given to lgbt actors to give that demographic a better chance at acting jobs. Straight actors greatly outnumber lgbt actors.

C for topic title and D for opening post.

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A lot of famous straight characters have been played by gay actors. I am not even sure how often the reverse happens, but if the actor is the right person for the role then by all means cast them. Discriminating against actors based on sexuality would be a bad precedent to set.

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I have portrayed both straight and gay characters before. I imagine most actors have.

pegusus123456 posted...

D

I kind of get why it was a big thing that Ruby Rose was a lesbian woman playing a lesbian character, but I found it kind of dumb that they made such a big deal about finding a new lesbian actress to play a new lesbian character.

She wasn't a new actress

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D and it's stupid we've come to this point. Gay people should be allowed to play non gay roles too obviously.

IndustrialTrudg posted...

D and it's stupid we've come to this point. Gay people should be allowed to play non gay roles too obviously.

And they do. David Hyde Pierce played a great Niles Crane.

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Feline_Heart posted...

She wasn't a new actress

What do you mean by this?

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D. I was fine with Nacho Libre

pegusus123456 posted...

What do you mean by this?

Sorry, I misunderstood your post

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If Neil Patrick Harris could spend years playing a straight guy, why can't a straight guy play a gay guy?

That's how equality works. It's a two-way street.
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Long and hard veiny d. Neil Patrick Harris and others played straight dudes and and straight dudes have played homosexuals

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D. It's literally called acting.

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Endgame posted...

If Neil Patrick Harris could spend years playing a straight guy, why can't a straight guy play a gay guy?

That's how equality works. It's a two-way street.

but many people are interested in equity, not equality

approaches touting "equality" generally tend to create inequality, ironically
same idea as "colorblindness" creating racial disparities

The problem is openly gay actors dont get a fair shake in Hollywood. They can never be leading men and actors are told to stay closeted. So we have straight/closeted actors swooping up most of the gay roles.

The most known gay movies:

Moonlight, Love, Simon, Call Me By Your Name, Brokeback Mountain, Rocketman....

Guess what each of these have in common? Straight/closeted actors playing gay lead.

This is one of the stupider things I've ever seen people get upset about. Theyre actors, their job is to literally act like another person.

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Hard C

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People can play other sexualities but it can be better to hire a gay actor since they are gonna understand growing up gay better. And will probably be able to play the part better, all else being equal. Also it's good for gay actors and actresses to get roles.

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sevihaimerej posted...

In fact, what stimuli enflames the genitals of a character seems to be an almost entirely unimportant trait in the context of a story...unless it's porn

Im sure you get equally outraged when you see a straight couple in a movie, right? Why do we, the audience, need to know what tickles their genitalia? Why cant they just be friends?

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D, it's called ACTING. The job is literally to pretend to be another person.

Now if you'll excuse, I'm gonna completely lose my shit over a black James Bond.

Evol posted...

The problem is openly gay actors dont get a fair shake in Hollywood. They can never be leading men and actors are told to stay closeted. So we have straight/closeted actors swooping up most of the gay roles.

@Evol
Do they not though?

If you think of it in a straightforward way, how are the recruiters supposed to know what your sexual preference is when you come in for an audition? Its not like they have the word HOMOSEXUAL printed across their chest.

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Endgame posted...

If Neil Patrick Harris could spend years playing a straight guy, why can't a straight guy play a gay guy?

That's how equality works. It's a two-way street.

Yeah Barney Stinson was a huge womanizer in HIMYM but NPH did a spectacular job at filling the role.

WTF triple quote <_<

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