Dan O’Neill is a wildlife filmmaker, TV presenter, and PhD candidate biologist who recently shared his experience encountering antigay discrimination in the workplace.
In a first-person piece for the U.K.’s i news, O’Neill explained that, “like most LGBT+ people, I’ve been called names all my life. I’ve been advised by people in my industry to ‘play down’ my sexuality — and I have done.”
He went on to give some details, recalling how “once, I was in a meeting at a production company in London to pitch ideas for a new program. I guess I was getting excited about an idea and talking about it in an excitable way. I found out afterwards that one of the leaders of the meeting said: ‘He’s gayer than we expected.’ I never got a call from them again.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CM9TqLQAIyW/
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The experience stuck with O’Neill, and for a long time he worried about how his demeanor might be affecting his opportunities.
Luckily for him–and for everyone–he eventually realized that being true to himself would ultimately lead to a more fulfilling life, personally and professionally. Now he hopes to inspire the next generation of kids interested in a career in biology and filmmaking.
“I loved David Attenborough documentaries, ” he said, “and wanted to be a biologist and wildlife presenter when I grew up. But there was nobody like me on screen — that I knew of. As the saying goes, you can’t be what you can’t see — and so I couldn’t see a possible future for me in that field.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJTUHSoApIn/
O’Neill can be seen most recently in Snow Leopards: Ghosts in the Snow airing on BBC.
Here’s some more from his very adventurous looking Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGUeQtTgNdQ/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFpvW-vAmYo/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFP-SMIgE15/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEM63BiASCG/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-cj4l9gdlC/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B85tvgxAYmX/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Yq5cdgNdu/
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByIKk7bALj2/
Heywood Jablowme
Remember Jeff Corwin on Animal Planet? I thought HE was the gayest guy on TV, then I was shocked to learn he was straight!
Dan is hot and I hope his BBC show turns up on PBS.
benwa
Oh my Gosh, I was so right there with you on Jeff. I may have even touched myself inappropriately a few times thinking of him. Then I saw his wedding ring and he started talking about his wife, I stopped watching after that…Thanks for the stroll down memory lane…
Donston
He just came off as goofy and over-the-top rather than stereotypically gay/queer to me. Though marrying a chick hardly equates to someone being hetero and “straight”.
mz.sam
Whether gay or str8t I’m was glued to Jeff’s early series adventures, especially whenever he goes snorkeling or sea diving. Btw, Dan O’Neill need to hit the gym and take some jock lessons for out and proud Colton Underwood.
RyanMBecker
I’m too young to know who Jeff Corwin is but I saw some archival footage of Jarod Miller, and he definitely pinged my often-faulty Gaydar™.
winemaker
What a handsome young man. That being said, where was this awesome advice years ago when I was working tried to keep my home life private and subsequently worried about my employer finding out I’m gay. I live in California where sexual orientation was added to the list of things that can’t be discriminated against. Tell that to many employers who, if they don’t like gays ‘ll find a way to make the job miserable or fire you on some BS charges. As far as I’m concerned, i don’t want to work for anyone where I can’t be my true self. And since i recently met a wonderful guy who i hope will become a significant part of my life and me his, i want to be able to invite him to office functions without raising eyebrows.
Heywood Jablowme
@winemaker: That’s great, and it’s great you met someone in San Francisco, but you’ve told us a few times that you’re leaving California because the liberals have ruined it. So you’ll be starting over in some gay-friendly paradise like Texas or Idaho, lol. Good luck!
Brexit
Oh for pity’s sake mz.sam, stop perpetuating this gay stereotype that if you don’t have muscles on muscles, you’re not fit to be a member of the gay community. Not everyone wants to be a gym bunny! And, not being so doesn’t make you any less attractive. That attitude is why so many gays are body dysmorphic.
muscl954
I didn’t think his speech or mannerisms appeared “gay”. Most British men sound that way. lol
Mr-DJ
“Gay man” = Likes men.
“Too Gay” = Likes men TOO much “to be on TV”..??
MiguelInVanCT
This guy seems epic, good thing with media now is that you can take control of your content using most platforms and not fall under other people’s whim.
damendo
I didn’t think you could ever be too gay for BBC TV? But for real, F the haters. I would definitely watch your show. To be this adventurous would be amazing!!! Best of luck to you!
RyanMBecker
Yes, the BBC is super gay-friendly but he didn’t say that the homophobic incident occurred at the BBC.
Essie
I hope this happened like 20 years ago because I cannot imagine producers or anyone in charge of hiring TV personalities saying stupid sh!t like that. This guy is super handsome and looks good on camera. Plus, he seems to know what he’s doing. Hope to see him on PBS or somewhere in the U.S. soon.
Donston
I mean, I could see it happening now. If the producers are looking for a studly “straight” or at least “straight passing” dude that the girls will dawn over, I could see them passing over an overtly gay/queer guy. However, being rather stereotypically “gay” didn’t stop Colton whatshisname from being cast as a Bachelor.
Creamsicle
I wish you were right, but there is still a lot of homophobia in media and entertainment, despite the progressive image the industry as a whole tries to put on for the public.
If that weren’t the case, then established actors and entertainers coming out wouldn’t be a big deal at all. Gay people have been tolerated in entertainment, but a lot of productions are still hesitant to celebrate and center a gay person, because homophobic traditionalist values still dominate many parts of the world, including the developed world.
enlightenone
I totally agree. I’d go on an adventure with this talented, brave, handsome MAN any day!
RyanMBecker
I don’t know how he acts or sounds but he looks pretty butch in those photos. More so than most men in the field since it takes a certain level of vulnerability and sensitivity to appeal to an animal-living TV audience. So among TV hosts of animal shows, I’d place him at the hypermasculine end of the spectrum.
Donston
That’s probably how the producers tripped up. They likely thought he was more “masc” or “straight passing” or whatever based on photos and were surprised he was more “overtly queer” in person. There’s actually a lot of guys who are like that.
GayEGO
This sounds terrible. I knew I was attracted to guys when I was a baby in 1941 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I learned to be myself, joined the Navy, kept business and pleasure separate. I played the flute in the Navy and was harassed but used humor to push it off. I met my lifetime partner in 1962 when I was in the Navy, was honorably discharged, went to work in the computer business in 1963, advanced to retirement in 2008. We got married in Massachusetts in 2004 and lived the American dream. Be yourself, but don’t make people around you uncomfortable by being a dishy queen!
Hdtex
Gorgeous