I definitely don’t think a gay leading man would have the same opportunities as a straight leading man. I don’t think that. Not for a single second. I don’t know if that’s offensive or not, but that’s my thought right now. It shouldn’t be that way. I don’t think you’ll have as many opportunities. And I think you could say the same for minorities. What a word, “minority.” Have we taken that word off the list yet? ‘Cause it should be. Anyway, no, I think that this is still a very conservative business.”— Jared Leto to GQ Style when asked if America would accept a gay leading man.
Pistolo
I’ve never wanted to make love to you more, Jared Leto. Exactly.
Brian
Jared is correct but he fails to ask why. The why is the really offensive thing, and here it is: women won’t accept a leading man who is anything other than 100% attracted to women. Even if he is 5% attracted to men and 95% attracted to women, women won’t see him as leading man material.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: women are the predominant homophobic driving force in society, especially as far as male homosexuality is concerned.
Hank
of course employment discrimination is offensive.
ErikO
It depends upon who the actor or actress is, and what role they are playing.
Hussain-TheCanadian
The Gay community needs to be pushing for a federal law that bars work discrimination, especially protection from firing (if you’re gay) and hiring discrimination.
Kangol
@Hussain-TheCanadian: It’s called ENDA, and Teddy Kennedy and others have advanced it repeatedly.
President Obama has said he would sign it. But the Republicans in Congress will not let it get a floor vote in the House or Senate.
I’ll say that again: Democrats have proposed an employment non-discrimination act (ENDA) that President Obama will sign, but the Republicans in the US House and Senate will not let it get a floor vote in the House or Senate.
judysdad
Well, there IS Matt Bomer, who played the lead very successfully in the series Blue Collar, which lasted for several seasons, and he has TONS of female fans who adore him, even though they know he is gay. And he has the lead role in the upcoming Amazon mini-series The Last Tycoon.
Granted, there have been no starring roles in feature films, but I could see it happening. Besides, TV has become almost, if not possibly MORE influential as Hollywood fare.
broadshoulder
The man is an idiot. Do these celebrities activate their brains before putting their mouth into motion.
IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou
@Kangol: No they had republican vote for it but they added transgenders and that killed it. Millions of us were thrown under the bus for an outside group that has nothing to do with sexuality and only holds us back.
Alistair Wiseman
@Kangol:
First of all, ENDA will have no impact on casting choices in Hollywood where most productions are produced.
Second, in California there are already discrimination statutes to cover sexual orientation in employment. Republican Governor Pete Wilson signed the law in 1992 which was later amended in 2000 and again in 2004 to include gender identity.
Third, if this issue was been so important to Democrats, why didn’t President Obama sign it into law when Democrats controlled both Houses of Congress? Oh that’s right! He was to busy passing his signature domestic “achievement” – the disaster known as Obamacare.
But to you, it’s all the Republicans fault. Like a broken record.
Brian
Matt Bomer played a heterosexual, didn’t he?
In any case, Hollywood is based on the casting couch wherein sleazy straight guys bed desperate, silly women on the make. Male homosexuality has no place in this grubby model.
I say leave it to them. Women on the make and sleazy straight guys deserve each other.
Karlis
Neil Patrick Harris played a skirt chaser on TV for a great number of years, didn’t seem to be a problem for him.
Tobi
@Brian: The casting couch works both ways, historically and well documented both Mae West and George Cukor were notorious for insisting on a Hollywood handshake before an actor gained a part in one of their movies.
stanhope
@Pistolo: if you are a bottom, he has a BiG pistola
jaack
No “out” man will get the same opportunities as a straight leading man. Fear that a producer or director MIGHT be labeled a “gay” lover is always a part of the decision-making in Hollywood and NYC. We must have ENDS passed. Until the LGBTQ community becomes a VOTING block Congress will NEVER allow ENDA to become law. Right now Republicans are blocking the Supreme Court replacement for Judge Scalia. Now ENDA faces even greater opposition. Gays,queers,friends get out and VOTE in November nd change the status quo.
WE MUST DO SOMETHING TO HELP OURSELVES, Govt relies on voters sitting at home on their asses doing nothing!