Should straight actors still play gay characters? 'It's complicated'

NBC News / Comcast ^ | January 2, 2020 | By Julie Compton

[cnsmom]

I remember the BirdCage movie being very entertaining.

[jeffc]

This article is nonsense. Actors are people who get paid to pretend to be something they are not - it’s their job! DUH!

[Jim Noble]

No straight man should play a gay character. End of story.

[Ge0ffrey]

Should gay actors play straight characters?

[I want the USA back]

Since when does the actor portraying a character have to really possess the characteristics of the character? Ever since drama started, an actor was known as an actor portraying someone, but not actually being that someone.
Only in today's insane polarized world does anyone consider this a problem.
It's OK when a gay portrays a semi-straight sheldon cooper, or a straight leslie winkle. That's no problem for these demented people.

[FES0844]

What next? Rapists playing rapists, real murderers playing etc?

[Joe 6-pack]

"So no gays get to play straights right?"

Rock Hudson was unavailable for comment.

[midwest_hiker]

It is illegal to ask anyone their sexual preference during an interview. It is also illegal to for a job requirement to be gay. So now some people want to get mad either way.
This proves some people are pre-pissed off at all times.
Then justify their anger after the fact with twisted logic.
If you call out their twisted logic, they just revert to name calling.

[kearnyirish2]

I don’t watch reality shows, but commercials are packed with perverts now.

Pray for them; seriously, what a sad affliction. When all is said and done, they know they aren’t well; that is why no amount of “tolerance” or “acceptance” will end the problems with substance abuse and crushing depression. I thank God I don’t have the urges and impulses these people feel.

[Clutch Martin]

The whole point of acting, and getting degrees in acting and Fine Arts is to portray anything, interpret any part for any number of circumstances. It’s theatrical that way. But I guess there’s a difference between stage screen and video. Heck, dispense with the Graduate Studies because they’re no longer needed.

[Alas Babylon!]

Harrison Bergeron, you’re up in five minutes!

[sipow]

If a “straight” actor plays a role where he has to kiss or be otherwise intimate with another man then he ain’t really straight.

[unread]

Freak Show.. 5 cents... Excellent.! :)

[Old Yeller]

Like there is a shortage of homo actors.

[pangaea6]

No gay characters. Problem solved

[minnesota_bound]

On Modern Family one of the “gay” actors is straight.
The other calls him a pay to be gay actor.

Solution is the show should be taken off the air while the straight actor is digitally erased from the show and replaced by a cgi gay bot. Also no residuals for the straight actor.....

[rlmorel]

Posts like yours are one of the reasons I really enjoy Free Republic...:)

Short, and straight to the heart of the matter. If someone were to ask that question to the homosexual community, the indignation would be over the top.

But, if one is to accept that mindset-how could that question itself, and the prohibition of homosexual actors to play heterosexual roles would be a completely valid one.

[rlmorel]

"...While straight and cisgender actors are given many opportunities to play roles outside their own gender and sexuality, many gay and trans actors say they are given far less leeway..."

I don't ever think I have ever seen a more horsecrap-loaded statement than that one. And that is saying a lot.

[rlmorel]

Great post, Get.Blather.

Great post.

[minnesota_bound]

#12 See “Schitt’s Creek” <- stupid title, it is on Fox channel and one of the actors Dan Levy who also produces the show is way animated as you described. He is a caricature of gay people, of himself.