The issue of straight actors playing gay roles has become something of a talking point in recent years.
Last week, comments made by Adam Lambert re-ignited the debate on the issue. Lambert responded to the rumor that White Lotus actor Theo James might play George Michael with the comment “Yay another straight man playing a gay icon.”
Speaking to Queerty over the weekend, Lambert clarified his comment.
He said, “I think my comment in no way suggests that I feel straight actors can’t play gay roles, because I think they do it really well … For me, the thing that I was trying to say is: It’s definitely a step in the right direction that these stories are being told, but I would just love to see an out actor play an out icon—it’d just be nice, because you don’t really see it.”
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.
Related: Adam Lambert elaborates on THAT comment about the rumored George Michael biopic
He’s right. Gay actors must be able to come out and not worry about how it will impact their careers. Let’s see more out-gay actors cast in gay and straight roles (and everything else along the spectrum).
Whether related or not, one Twitter user added his voice to the debate when he posted a photo of “the only straight man allowed to play gay.” It showed Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker on Modern Family.
he’s actually the only straight man allowed to play gay pic.twitter.com/bwJQj8Too0
— mitchy (@mitchoo_oo) January 19, 2023
Fans shocked to discover Eric Stonestreet is not gay
That tweet had over 200,000 likes and thousands of comments. For sure, Cameron Tucker was a beloved character. In fact, from the response to the tweet, it’s clear a lot of people had no idea the man behind him (Stonestreet) is not gay.
Not me finding out he’s straight via this tweet
— IG: @bigworldlittlekidd (@thotlikekidd) January 19, 2023
Many agreed with the praise for Stonestreet. Some even said he made a better gay man than, well, many gay men.
Shit hes better at playing gay than me
— Capn Coop (@COOPERNlCUS) January 19, 2023
I’m rewatching the series and his portrayal of a gay man is stereotypical, but it feels real and not just some gay clown. The writing is good in that he can be swishy, but the moment he must protect his family he becomes ultra butch. He also loves football. Well written.
— Pink Mielies (@evanner07) January 19, 2023
Pretty soon, others offered their own suggestions.
Cameron Monaghan and Noel Fisher, who play Ian Gallagher and his husband Mickey Milkovich in Shameless, are also very well-liked.
But what about them🥹 pic.twitter.com/9VvhLANGJh
— 🧚🏾♀️ (@LanaisLi) January 19, 2023
Stanley Tucci has many fans. He played gay in The Devil Wears Prada and Supernova.
he’s not straight he’s italian 💕
— mitchy (@mitchoo_oo) January 19, 2023
The iconic performance of Lafayette, by the late Nelsan Ellis, was praised by many.
Don’t forget about the late Nelsan Ellis’ Lafayette from True blood pic.twitter.com/u2PR9xVIIs
— Shiver MeTimbers (@ShiverMeTimbs13) January 20, 2023
Another much-missed actor is Robin Williams.
THIS IS THE ONLY ANSWER
Robin Williams in Birdcage!!! pic.twitter.com/mShAibGDoX
— Brandon Hilton (@BRANDONHILTON) January 20, 2023
Other iconic performances
Here are a few other suggestions.
Agreed, but also J. Alphonse Nicholson is bringing an incredibly nuanced & unafraid to go gay gay gay performance in P Valley. I believe he’s in love with Uncle Clifford. pic.twitter.com/tBMimcEAWd
— IdeaGuy (@IdeaGuy69) January 19, 2023
Guy Pearce erasure pic.twitter.com/tP2oUBeGtN
— Jasmin Mandi-Ghomi (@JasMandiGhomi) January 20, 2023
What about Eric McCormack? pic.twitter.com/C4A9K2ec6k
— Jonathan 💭 (@ultimategeo45) January 19, 2023
I know it’s a teenage tv series but Darren criss also very good at this pic.twitter.com/tcyZ23QXaH
— clementine |-/ (@prisonclem) January 19, 2023
But also Andre Braugher is amazing and I love Captain Holt with my whole heart (and both of my weighty breasts) pic.twitter.com/11m0WnyTsk
— Amy 🏳️🌈✨ (@MojoWitchcraft) January 20, 2023
I hate to say it but after looking at this thread 🤷🏽♂️ let them heteros play gays some of these are too good . pic.twitter.com/xR2CQMboQy
— Chris Bliss (@Chris___Bliss) January 20, 2023
Do you have a favorite from the above? Or others to add to the mix?
cuteguy
I just wish more out actors played straight roles. Look at Wednesday’s boyfriend on Netflix hit show. Wednesday. Pull up the actor’s Instagram and it shows him and his husband. He’s a little effeminate irl but he butches it up on the hit show. It’s called ACTING and he does a great job
LumpyPillows
You hit the nail on the head. It is nice when LGBT actors get the role. I’d like to see it more often. It does not mean only gay actors can play gay parts.
Joshooeerr
Eric Stonestreet’s mincing flapping turn in Modern Family is one of the worst examples of gay-face ever. Give us a break.
LumpyPillows
Wildly funny and entertaining. Hit show. Everyone on it is a caricature. Some comedies are designed that way.
Franky100
Yeah, I agree, seeing him always made me cringe. I don’t mind when straight actors play gay and vice versa but I found the actor who plays Cam who in real life is straight was playing up all of the stereotypes, appearing more as a caricature than a real person.
I mean it is unfortunate like a double edge sword that for most of America that did not know another gay person in their lives that this was their introduction. I will say thanks to shows like Will & Grace and Modern Family as it did help the LGBTQ+ community develop more support for gay causes but at a cost of pushing the message of, hey look gay people aren’t threatening. Also just want to say there is nothing wrong with being effeminate just wasn’t a fan of the caricature they painted in the show.
I did find the show at the beginning to be funny and power to the people who still enjoy it.
Pistolo
First of all, nobody in the press ever says *straight women* shouldn’t/can’t play gay roles even though they do that ALL THE TIME. What makes it different when it’s men? I kind of think people are more accepting of the notion women could have fluidity in their sexuality just innately but not men. It points to a definite, regressive bias.
Secondly, it’s not just “gay or straight” when it comes to the actors playing the roles. There are plenty of male actors who are bisexual but have been commonly accepted to be “straight” and try to avoid attracting scrutiny/prejudice by remaining closeted. Viggo Mortensen even said “You don’t know how straight I am” when pressed on this exact issue. It’s not fair to interrogate someone’s personal life when they assume a role like that, they don’t owe you their little black book. It’s like any other job.
Finally, if there were just more gay roles or queer roles then we wouldn’t have this problem. If it wasn’t so shocking or “hard to believe” gay actors as straight characters, we wouldn’t have this problem.
Cam
Sweetie, if you’re going to troll please try not to make it so obvious. Scarlet Johansen had to back out of roll for that very reason.
But nice try at a strawman argument.
Franky100
How is what he is saying a troll comment?
If you are going to argue his point at least offer a counter-argument. Also, Scarlett Johansen dropped out of a role (Movie: Rub & Tug) because she was cast to play a trans not playing lesbian. I still stand by that the best actor for the part should have been cast for the role.
Cam
@Franky100
Wow, still defending each of your screenames? Cute, But as I’ve said multiple times in these articles. The absolute RAGE that Hollywood gets into at the very idea that an LGBTQ roll should be played by an LGBTQ actors shows the bigotry is still there.
There would be no need to worry about this if Hollywood hadn’t been and still continues to screen out Queer actors from parts, and then turns around and says “Oh, gosh, the reason we can’t cast a Queer actor here is because there aren’t any big Queer names for us to cast……you know, because we screen out younger Queer actors so none of them ever have a chance to get big.”
But, nice to see you’re still trying.
Donston
I mean, he was sometimes funny. (Modern Family itself started to really flop for me from its second season on). But it’s not really that difficult to play an over-the-top queer stereotype unless you’re simply a poor comedic actor. Also, most people’s issue is not about a “straight” presenting actor playing “gay”. It’s about how almost all high-profile, prestige “queer” roles mostly go to “straight/“straight-ish” presenting actors who on the hunt for awards. It’s also about the industry’s hetero pressures, male masculine privileges, internalized phobias, “straight” worship.
Kangol2
There are some great actors and acting performances on this list, including ones like Robin Williams’, which is a little too fey but perfect for the film The Birdcage, but J. Alphonse Nicholson wins hands down for one of the most astonishing performances of a gay man by a straight man that I’ve seen. He doesn’t fit any stereotype, he is willing to perform in sexually intimate scenes, and he exudes a tender hardness, that translates into a sexiness I’ve seen in real life but rarely on screen. He encountered online abuse after some of P-Valley’s most explicit episodes featuring him, but he hasn’t backed down and has affirmed LGBTQ people.
Another straight actor who gave a performance along these lines was Michael K. Williams as Omar in The Wire. Absolutely legendary, and the complexity that he brought to the character has rarely been matched since. He should be at the top of the list.
bsg1967
You mean that 1970s stereotype of a gay man on modern family, nope
bachy
As straight actors go, I’ve always felt that Nathan Lane was very convincing at gay-for-pay roles. Sean Hayes is another straight actor whose performance in gay roles are never betrayed by the fleeting or unconscious straight gesture or facial expression. They’re both always very believable from where I’m sitting.
Vellala
Wonder what Devlin Elliott and Scott Icenogle, respectively, have to say about that regarding their husbands!
Boo Radley
I don’t know…you’re either joking, or you’re one of those people who was shocked to learn that Clay Aiken and Rosie O’Donnell are gay.
mastik8
Agreed. Look how well Lil Nas X is doing. Has he announced that pregnancy yet? The Moz won’t ever admit to his kid. He’s doubled down too many times and can’t afford to lose the audience that he has. A mark, a yen, a buck, or a pound, a buck or a pound – it makes the world go round.
Jim
I found Eric Stonestreet’s character offensive and this did not watch the show
LumpyPillows
So easily offended…part of what’s wrong with people today.
Cam
@LumpyPillows
Right wing troll account defends mincing stereotype.
How surprising.
Ronbo
Cam, your incessant process of demeaning people (with whom you have a different opinion) as “right wing troll(s)” is repugnant and disrespectful. Going out of YOUR way to insult and demean individuals for their thoughts indicates that you can’t discuss issues in a calm and reasonable way.
Please give us your thoughts on issues instead of just hating on people. Attacking people personally does NOT invalidate their thought and opinions. It only shows that your education isn’t up to using reason and logic. It’s as if you are stuck in the 7th grade as just another mean gurl, like tRump, trying to hide her insecurity and shortcomings with insults, abuse and lies.
Cam
@Ronbo
I love how you think that because you’ve changed your tactics it isn’t still obvious you’re one of the troll screenames. From defending every Republican bigot to now crying and again pretending that calling out an anti-LGBTQ troll is bullying, sweetie, your trolling, as always, is sad and weak.
But, one thing I see, is that you still can’t resist posting to defend all of your screenames. Awww, it’s nice when things stay consistent.
Ronbo
Cam, Sorry that your hate and fear is soooo strong that you can’t stop making accusations and lies. It looks like you and tRump are on the same page. Turn the page and move on with love for your fellow men and women. You aren’t elevated when you put down others.
Cam
Wow, I know Queerty KEEPS trying to push articles complaining about LGBTQ actors being given LGBTQ rolls, but to use Eric Stonestreet as your poster boy?????? The show got backlash for his portrayal, he came out and defended the fact that the characters never showed affection, and even said he based the character on his mother.
Additionally he was called out by two other LGBTQ actors as the type of offensive stereotype they tried to stay away from.
The main issue is, the absolute rage we get from Hollywood at the very idea of an LGBTQ actor being given one of the one or two LGBTQ rolls that come out every year shows that the bigotry is still deeply embedded.
There wouldn’t be this problem if they hadn’t been preventing Queer actors from working for the last 100 years.
Cam
This is Hollywood’s game….
There is no bigotry, we just don’t cast LGBTQ actors because we need to hire a big name actor for this role….oh, by the way, since we never hire any LGBTQ actors, they never have the chance to become big name actors, so we never have to hire any of them. (Repeat).
Aunt Sharon
I was blown away by Jeffrey Wright’s Belize in “Angels in America”. Masterful.
Ronbo
The two Angels productions were the type of shows that, to me, are true art – the kind that sticks with you and expands your perspective. Tony Kushner and Jeffrey Wright are uniquely talented; we are made better by having experienced them.