Incidentally, the lead actor in "Chariots of Fire" was gay...died of AIDS. That did not diminish the movie or the story, though.
How about using a gay actor to portray Gandolf in "Lord of the Rings". Tolkien was a Christian...nobody had an issue with that. Very interesting.
It's about the story, the message, and not the actor, who did a good job, by the way.
Chad Allen had an opportunity to attend bible studies every day (on the set of EOTS). Chad was shown unconditional love and acceptance by Christians on this project. Where else would that have happened to him? Who knows what God intends to do with him, or through his experience here.
If memory serves, Tolkein was Catholic, and no, he didn't produce the Lord of the Rings trilogy nor get to select the actors who played the roles.