Actor Lee Pace made headlines last week after he begrudgingly came out during a recent interview with W magazine.
“I’ve dated men [and] I’ve dated women. I don’t know why anyone would care,” the 38-year-old actor said. “I’m an actor and I play roles. To be honest, I don’t know what to say—I find your question intrusive.”
Needless to say, the whole thing didn’t go over so well. Some people argued that actors and celebrities have a right to privacy, while others insisted performing in high-profile queer roles like in the Broadway reboot Angels in America demand a little honesty.
Related: Everyone has an opinion about Lee Pace coming out
In a recent phone interview, I was asked questions that I wasn’t expecting and found myself momentarily at a loss for the right words. My privacy is important to me, so I protect it. When interviewed by the media, I keep the focus on my work…
As a member of the queer community, I understand the importance of living openly, being counted, and happily owning who I am. That’s how I’ve always lived my life…
Just as it’s been important to me to portray queer characters with dignity for my entire career: A Soldier’s Girl (Showtime. 2003). The Normal Heart (Broadway. 2011). Halt and Catch Fire (AMC. 2014-2017). Angels in America. (Broadway. NOW.) Onward, with Pride.
In a recent phone interview, I was asked questions that I wasn’t expecting and found myself momentarily at a loss for the right words. My privacy is important to me, so I protect it. When interviewed by the media, I keep the focus on my work.
— Lee Pace (@leepace) March 5, 2018
As a member of the queer community, I understand the importance of living openly, being counted, and happily owning who I am. That’s how I’ve always lived my life…
— Lee Pace (@leepace) March 5, 2018
…just as it's been important to me to portray queer characters with dignity for my entire career: A Soldier's Girl (Showtime. 2003). The Normal Heart (Broadway. 2011). Halt and Catch Fire (AMC. 2014-2017). Angels in America. (Broadway. NOW.)
Onward, with Pride.— Lee Pace (@leepace) March 5, 2018
Smith David
I’ve dated cats [and] I’ve dated dogs. I don’t know why anyone would care,” However, today I am proud to say that I am now dating humans. I am today a proud and out humanist.
Thank you.
sidney3
LOOLLL
Loki
Well, otherkin does fall under the “queer” umbrella, doesn’t it…?
whatsaywhat
I actually don’t know who lee pace is… but good for him for accepting himself!
Coreydnyc
haha me either
Chevelter
If you want to see him in a terrific, amazing movie – watch THE FALL (2006)
UltimateSin
I was actually about to say the same thing.
simulations
Times three. I fell in love as much as one man can fall in love with an actor after watching Pace in The Fall.
wholelotanothin
He was in Soldiers Girl and did an outstanding job! He also was in the Twilight Saga’s.
cleancut123
The question was intrusive and unnecessary. He doesn’t owe you anything and you got no right to details of his private life. If he doesn’t wanna talk about he doesn’t wanna talk about it.
Coreydnyc
i completely agree about the question but he fumbled through the answer and tried to answer rather than just taking your point of view and shutting it down
DCguy
No, actually it isn’t unless you think being lgbt is something shameful that should be hidden.
Ask Jennifer Aniston, Timothy Chalamet, Daniel Day Lewis, Gary Oldman, Angelina Jolie, Denzel Washington, Francis MacDormond, DAniel Kaluuya, etc…
If they’ve EVER been asked about their social life. The answer is….of course they have.
The only people who pretend to be shocked are closet cases who were used to the Hollywood glass closet.
cleancut123
@DCguy are you serious? tons of straight actors choose not to discuss their personal lives with the press. What gives you or the press the right to demand that they share this part of themselves with you?! It is beyond entitled and oppressive. Let people live their lives like they want to and don’t force them into anything. It is none of your goddamn business. It is his and ONLY his choice if he chooses to shout it from the rooftops or keep it to himself.
DCguy
/@cleancut123
Except you’re a liar. Please point out the actress or actor who hides that they are a woman or man. Please point out the straight celebrity who has never used the words “Wife”, “Husband”, “Girlfriend”, or “Boyfriend”.
The ONLY people who think this is “Private” are the ones who defend the closet, hate lgbts or think being lgbt is shameful.
I’m sorry, you folks ALREADY have tried these EXACT same arguments with Anderson Cooper, Sean Hayes, Rosie O’Donnell, Clay Aiken, Ricky Martin, and many many many more. And you lost.
DCguy
Pace stated:
“As a member of the queer community, I understand the importance of living openly, being counted, and happily owning who I am. That’s how I’ve always lived my life…
————–
No, actually that wasn’t how you’ve lived your life although it seems to be the way you will going forward.
Congrats on publicly coming out, at least he did it better than Sean Hayes and didn’t spend years bitching.
Giuseppe
I have to agree, his coming out was forced, he’d have likely stayed right where he was had it not been for that question. Then came the damage control.
JamJewel
I agree as well. One cannot be “queer” [whatever the hell that is supposed to mean, anyway!] in this day and age and be surprised by a reporter asking a question like that; str8 or “queer,” one should be able to answer such a question forthrightly and with conviction without fear… all that stumbling around was ridiculous.
alfred
Its actually very clever of him (or his publicists) in using the term ‘queer’, and I think it will be a more common way of coming out for celebrities in the future even if they have never dated members of the opposite sex. It creates a certain degree of vagueness which people can squabble about (if they care) how ‘honest’ they have been in the past about ‘being out’ that coming out as gay doesn’t. Gay creates much more of a line in the sand. Younger people see gay as staid and or exclusionary and some die hard fan girls will still think they have a chance which they wouldn’t believe in if an actor says they are gay.
Jaxton
Even the word “queer” is dated.
Jaxton
Lee Pace shouldn’t have to apologize to you moralistic queens. He doesn’t wish to be owned by your GLBT morality, your Left-Wing identity politics.
If you moralistic queens are happy with GLBT identity politics, fine. Just don’t go imposing it on others.
Nothing worse than a moralistic queen….
twatburger
You seem much worse.
Brian
I love the irony of one of the biggest pearl clutching church ladies here saying “nothing worse than a moralistic queen”.
DCguy
How interesting, one of the right wing screenames defends the closet and uses anti-lgbt language to attack people who are done with it.
miserylovedme24
I don’t get why people made something out of this in the first place. Honestly, drama for no reason. I’d rather see posts saying BRING BACK PUSHING DAISIES. Cancelled before its time. He was great on that show.
DCguy
The show’s plot takes on a whole new meaning now….
About a guy, who can’t touch the woman he supposedly likes. Hmmmmm. lol
Apolodorus
Please marry me elk riding elf king. I’m ready to be Legolas’ stepfather.
Donston
The way he answered the question was rather corny, old-fashion and hypocritical. Some of the content but mostly the attitude of his response was what was problematic not his refusal to grab onto a “label” or his desire to not go into all his personal business. He said he believed gay actors should play most gay roles. So, being asked about the make-up of his orientation and lifestyle only made sense. Also, since he’s been a Hollywood actor he’s had several relationships with guys that have lasted for multiple years but has gone out of his way to hide them all.
When it comes to the entertainment industry it’s not about coming out to me. It’s about things like manipulating your public image or not claiming/trying to hide someone you’ve been dating for three or four years. If he wants to say that it doesn’t matter then act like it doesn’t matter.
Jaxton
It’s none of your business.
Donston
I’m pretty sure you didn’t read that post or didn’t actually comprehend it. Or you just felt like saying something bitchy to me rather it actually makes sense as a response or not.
But of course, you’ll forever try to find ways to defend anyone who says they’re not gay. Even if the problem most have with his comments have nothing to do with him stating an “identity”.
Regent12
Correction: Joe MacMillan is his character’s name in “Halt and Catch Fire” not “Angels in America.”
dash_board1
I’m just a regular gay guy, nothing too fancy, so I have a couple of questions that maybe someone can answer:
1 – If you meet someone and they say they are ‘queer’, what exact is it that they are saying? Does it mean they are bisexual/pansexual?
2 – It seems like these are the same people who say they reject labels. But ‘queer’ is just another label. I don’t get it.
Loki
Queer is an obfuscation. It doesn’t mean anything in particular – its definition changes depending on who’s using it. A str8 female who was a L.U.G. (“lesbian until graduation”) during college can call herself “queer” with as much right to the term as the gay-for-pay porn star who gets his dicked sucked for $100. Pace is doing this keep the fangurls from revolting/jumping ship. “Queer” gives them some hope that they still have a chance with him even though nearly every LTR he’s had during his adult life has been with men.
Donston
‘Queer’ is just a general term for non hetero or non cis-gender. Like almost any other “identity”, it means what the individual wants it to mean. “Queer” by itself is as vague as it gets.
I understand not wanting to “label” yourself because of career or life limitations and assumptions. And I also understand why many people (particularly men) are uncomfortable with gay and even bi/pan. The majority of people are simply not 100%, thoroughly, down to the last atom conventionally straight or gay. But most people (once again, specifically males) don’t have genuine, substantial and persistent attraction, desire, passion and romantic feelings and romantic satisfaction towards mulitiple genders. Therefore, “keeping it real” can be problematic. Lee Pace has been linked to a couple of females. However, his only rumored long-term relationships have been with men. And it’s hard to tell what’s actually going on when it comes to people in the entertainment industry.
In general, I get the “no labels” movement. I’m just not here for using different movements and identities to manipulate your public image or to shield shame, fear or internal phobias.
Loki
“Like almost any other identity, it means what the individual wants it to mean.”
And that’s the entire issue: hyperindividualism. Identity is not up to the individual. Identity is a negotiation between an individual and society. Just because you believe something about yourself (say, for instance, you’re the Chosen One of God) doesn’t mean I must believe that to be true of you as well.
When someone tells me they’re not into labels, I hear, “I’m not into that GAY label.” That’s the only one people seem to be running from these days.
Donston
The thing is many individuals add up to a society. And from a societal standpoint: straight, gay, homo, hetero, bi, pan, fluid, queer, flexible, etc. have all been muddled and convoluted and are all constricting in their own ways. And therefore, they’ve all lost any real concrete definition and there have lost a lot of their value beyond socialogy.
Also, people don’t want to keep it real regarding certain details for fear of judgement. No guy wants to admit that he’s gay or very gay-leaning but he’s been hiring beards or using people for a long time. Or that family or religious pressure got the best of him. Or that he had contended with or is still contending with self-loathing and internalized homophobia. Or that he was only with a woman because he wanted to have and raise children in a traditional hetero dynamic. Or that he’s obsessed with straight guys or “mostly straight” guys so much that he can’t have an authentic relationship with a dude. Or that he’s into individual body parts of someone sometimes but he doesn’t have desire, attraction, passion and romantic feelings towards the entirety of a gender. Or that he doesn’t mind dating a woman mostly for some companionship if he’s not in a real relationship with a guy. Or that he’s a straight or “mostly straight” guy who was gay4pay or a kept boytoy. Or that he is gay or “mostly gay” but was straight4pay or a woman’s kept boytoy. Or that he’s only into dudes sometimes cause he likes to feel like a woman sometimes. Or that he’s only into women sometimes cause he wants to feel like a “real man” here and there. Or that he’s just a sado-masochist with a ton of paraphilias. Or that he’s only into an age inappropriate version of a gender. Or that he only uses a specific gender for sex. Etc.
There are a lot of things within someone’s life, motivations, psychology, sexuality, instincts and ego that can leave people very uncomfortable with talking straight-forwardly and honestly about themselves. Those types of things along with the pressures of fame and wanting to maintain a certain image or career status or not be “defined” can equate to a lot of pussyfooting or manipulation.
Donston
The thing is many individuals add up to a society. And from a societal standpoint: straight, gay, hetero, bi, pan, fluid, queer, flexible, etc. have all been muddled and convoluted and are all constricting in their own ways. And therefore, they’ve all lost any real concrete definition and there have lost a lot of their value beyond socialogy.
Also, people don’t want to keep it real regarding certain details for fear of judgement. No guy wants to admit that he’s gay or very gay-leaning but he’s been copping beards or using people for a long time. Or that family or religious pressure got the best of him. Or that he had contended with or is still contending with self-loathing and internalized homophobia. Or that he was only with a woman because he wanted to have and raise children in a traditional hetero dynamic. Or that he’s obsessed with straight guys or “mostly straight” guys so much that he can’t have an authentic relationship with a dude. Or that he’s into individual body parts of someone sometimes but he doesn’t have desire, attraction, passion and romantic feelings towards the entirety of a gender. Or that he doesn’t mind dating a woman mostly for some companionship if he’s not in a real relationship with a guy. Or that he’s a straight or “mostly straight” guy who was gay4pay or a kept boytoy. Or that he is gay or “mostly gay” but was straight4pay or a woman’s kept boytoy. Or that he’s only into dudes sometimes cause he likes to feel like a woman sometimes. Or that he’s only into women sometimes cause he wants to feel like a “real man” here and there. Or that he’s just a sado-masochist with a ton of paraphilias. Or that he’s only into an age inappropriate version of a gender. Etc.
There are a lot of things within someone’s life, motivations, psychology, sexuality, instincts and ego that can leave them very uncomfortable with talking straight-forwardly and honestly about themselves. Those types of things along with the pressures of fame and wanting to maintain a certain image or career status or not be “defined” can equate to a lot of pvssyfooting or manipulation or vagueness.
HenryCameron
1 – All I know is that in kindergarten they called me a sissy, in grade school they called me queer, in high school they called me a homo, and in college they called me a fag. They all meant the exact same thing, and none of them intended it as a compliment.
2 – Give up. That irony is lost on them.
Brettly43
he messed up in the interview, he said gay actors should play gay roles, well, that opened the door for the interviewer to ask the question, which to be honest was a valid question while Lee is playing a gay role. People in the public eye should have a bit of privacy, but if you make a statement that contradicts how you live, u better be prepared to answer a question based on that statement.
JoeyRamone
He, or any actor, doesn’t owe anyone sh*t about his personal life. We didn’t make his career; he did.
That said, just saw him in Angels In America and was quite smitten. (Thought the production and cast, esp Lane and the actress who plays Pace’s wife, excellent.)
Donston
Once again, some fail to see why people were initially annoyed with him. He flat-out said that he preferred gay actors in gay roles. And then he got offended and defensive when asked about his orientation/private life. The hypocrisy and the contradictory nature of his comments was why some were agitated. It’s also an odd stance to take since he’s tried to shield all three of his long-term relationships with guys.
Sam6969
Donston, just a question: if Lee Pace is equivocal, because he is shameful of – and immature in not assuming fully – his sexuality (although not a youth anymore, as you wrote), then what do you want to point out with this statement of fact? And what is your feeling about it?
DCguy
It’s only an “Intrusive” question if you think being lgbt is shameful or needs to be hidden.
If he doesn’t want to get asked questions two things.
1. Don’t do interviews.
2. Don’t give an interview where you say that the character you’re playing should be played by a gay guy, then clutch your pearls when the interviewer asks a follow-up question.
Notright
Always happy to see someone finally accepting themselves. By the way take this survey to find out if you’re type A or type B personality. https://dumpdebt.info/type-type-b-financial-personality/
Wolfita
I once dated a tree. We met many times when I was drunk. Because I am a female and I consider the tree to be male, I identify as a queer heterosexual. As a member of the queer community, I understand the importance of living openly (the tree was in the open), of being counted (so, please, somebody count me too, I don’t want to be left uncounted) and I’m happily owning… who I am (cause my mum has disinherited me otherwise).
Hasta la revolucion siempre, with Pride!