Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black is striking out at A-list Hollywood stars who remain in the closet.
The 42-year-old Milk screenwriter, who’s currently engaged to British diver Tom Daley, says that stars who won’t reveal their sexuality should just stay quiet altogether instead of falsely declaring that they’re straight.
Related: Tom Cruise Offered Zac Efron Some Candid Advice On His Future
Talking to Attitude, he says, “I have no respect for someone who lies about their sexuality.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
At the very least say ‘no comment’, just keep your personal life personal.”
“If you’re going to closet yourself, that sends a negative message.”
As The Daily Express reports, he reserves his most potent ire for the agents and reps who persuade their star clients to stay closeted.
Related: John Travolta Grants Rare Interview On Gay Sex Allegations
“I’ve never encountered homophobia in casting from the studios or networks,” he says, “not once, not ever.”
Where you encounter it is with the agents and the managers, they’re the ones who have an outdated notion of the price an actor might pay if it’s discovered that they’re LGBTQ.
Often they don’t want to see anything happen that might compromise their investment.”
“I think they cripple their actors because they stunt the star’s ability to be open and honest, and an audience can feel that.”
MacAdvisor
On the other hand, if one is famous and wants to stay in the closet, then one should not take advantage of facilities of the gay community. Go out dancing at a gay club, expect to see several pictures on Instagram. Get handsy in public, expect the paparazzi to take pictures. Have a relationship with a someone of the same sex, expect him or her to talk (this is true for straight people to, date someone, they will talk about it). Eventually, the sheer weight of your life will make staying in the closet impossible. Rock Hudson couldn’t manage it with an entire studio working to keep the secret.
If one is a public figure, the closet is truly unsustainable. The question is not whether to come out, but how and when your coming out will happen.
Kangol
@MacAdvisor: True, though it has worked (sort of) for allegedly gay people like John Travolta, Kevin Spacey, GOP Senator John Barrasso (outed on Queerty, I think, among other places), and others. They get all the benefits of gay liberation and the fight for equality, and in the case of Barrasso, have done everything they can to oppose LGBTQ people too.
Jere
If you want to hide something about yourself as big as your sexuality, then don’t go into a profession that involves having a spotlight on you. It’s as simple as that. No one cares who the plumber or the librarian is dating. No one is forced into a profession that makes them a public figure.
He BGB
As Dorothy Parker once said, scratch a actor, find an actress.
MacAdvisor
@Kangol:
Kangol, I am not sure closeted people, particular those in the media, really do get the benefits of gay liberation. One can hardly marry a person of the same sex while claiming to be straight. One can really sue for discrimination based on sexual orientation if one won’t admit to being gay. Moreover, while I don’t know, neither Travolta (who joined one odd religion) or Spacey seem very happy trying to stay in the closet. For all I know, they could be straight; neither has asked me to dance.
I have seen little, let alone convincing, evidence Barrasso is gay. I rather hope not.
montserrat
Ummm didn’t his boyfriend hide his sexuality from the public for a long time??? Wtf.
Doughosier
It was different in Rock Hudsons time. There were no cellphones or internet and the press wouldn’t mention something so shocking. I think a big star today would really have to live a life behind closed doors to stay closeted. And meet very few lovers.
Arconcyyon
Sorry iis more about age age is age hollworld in ! My ! Am I They list very very time comport is oky ! ups my age face age ! sexo ! orgasmu !
Arconcyyon
Money Dollar´s bank card visa tuor is !
Heywood Jablowme
It’s actually very uncommon for a screenwriter to be known to the public. Hardly any screenwriters are celebrities, in any sense of the term. Nothing wrong with that, they do important work behind the scenes. But they aren’t “celebrities.”
Why is DLB talked about at all, or even known about, much? I don’t get it.
Kangol
@MacAdvisor: You do realize that “gay marriage” is only one of many successes that LGBTQ have achieved over the last 30 years, right? For example, until 2003 and the successful Lawrence v. Texas ruling it was illegal to have gay sex in 13 states. Every closeted gay person benefits from all the laws passed that protect LGBTQ from job and housing discrimination, that prevent people from losing their children if they have them, and so on. Gay marriage is only the most recent success. And yes, Kevin Spacey has been outed, as has Republican US Senator John Barrasso, on this site among others.
Dawson
Hummmm what actor(s) do you think he is talking about that deny it so strongly???? Jeremy maybe.
Derekj07
I do believe everyone should come out in their own time. But being in the spotlight it is important to come out. We have made so much progress in the past but the more we stand up and make ourselves known it will continue to get better
RadChad
I strongly disagree with the statements that homosexual celebrities (or any homosexual people what so ever really) has any kind of “responsibility” to come out. While coming out may help some young people with self-acceptance, and with general acceptance overall, why in the world would that make them responsible? It’s not their duty to stand up for strangers.
It’s most likely harmful to their career, as people tend to focus on the fact that out celebrities are gay, not for their talent.
Apart from that though, almost all of us have been hiding. How come so few of you lack any kind of understanding or empathy of what it’s like? Have you forgotten?
They might not be comfortable with showing it. That’s okay. People have to do what they think will make them the most happy, and it’s not YOUR job to decide what that is. Though you obviously keep strong opinions on what other people should and shouldn’t do with their lives, judging from the vitriolic BS that’s so common when people discuss people staying in the closet. Is it a case of “one of us!”, or what? Because they’re not and we’re not. We’re all individuals.
JamJewel
@Heywood Jablowme: Because the gay press made him the celebrity he is today. Simple! The straight press would have mentioned it and moved on because, like you said, screenwriters are nobodies unless somebody makes them a celebrity.
joe
@RadChad: a persons sexuality is their own business. who they wish to share it with is their own business. while i have some gay friends they are not in the town i live or work in, a town that i’ve lived in for almost 25 yrs. no one at work has ever asked about my sexuality, why would they its work. enjoy the actor or entertainer for what they are an actor or an entertainer, they are not responsible for anyone’s issues. people who force others to live by their standards (ie outing a person) are disgusting people. the only exception to any of this is if a person openly works against the community while hiding their own gay life..they dont deserve support. live and let live. what worked for you and your family and in your work place and with your friends does not mean it will work for any other person.
Tulare
@Heywood Jablowme: Probably because of the very public relationship with his fiance. Tom is a celebrity in the UK who has a large social media following.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTcG1C1be7I
Tulare
@montserrat: He was 19
stanhope
@Heywood Jablowme: indeed and why is tom daly in nearly every column here..if not, sure feels like it. Are either or both investors?
stanhope
@RadChad: agreed..only if the closeted gay person works against gay people should he be outed and then for being a hypocrite…like miss downto abbey congressman who is on trial now. Her wheels have been up so much that plane will never land.
Captain Obvious
That’s cute but those in glass houses really shouldn’t throw stones. What about all those barely legals(and actual minors) he and his out A list friends are surrounded by at Hollyweird sex parties?
This isn’t a witch hunt. You’re not doing anything wrong by being closeted. Wrong is dating little boys you can take advantage of when you’re a grown man. Get up off the casting couch and put your rocks away.
lazlicious
But it is OK for Ms. Black to chase every teenaged twink from Los Angeles to London. Me thinks she should STFU and let people live their lives as they see fit. Nobody anointed Lance Black queen of the gays.
BriBri
Honestly, it’s none of his GD business how someone handles their sexuality. He needs to STFU and worry about his prissy little self.
Black Pegasus
I’m just tired of seeing this guy’s name printed in most of the gay media I consume. He’s like that annoying media whore Davey Wavey as far as I’m concerned.