Kristen Stewart on The 'Only Gay Actors Should Play Gay Roles' Debate'

[p0uritup]

Comments

[angriest_girl]

I don’t know. I feel like there’s a difference between only gay people playing gay characters and only disabled or trans people playing disabled or trans characters. For one thing, a lot of gay people in Hollywood are not out, so that’s a whole can of worms. For another, not to dismiss what gay people have been through, but in the entertainment world they are not as overlooked or marginalised as disabled performers, trans performers, particular ethnicity performers (Indigenous, for example), etc. when it comes to getting roles.

[slinkydinks]

Well, also, the dynamic doesn't work the same way in the opposite direction. A gay actor playing a straight character isn't taking away rare opportunities for straight actors who have trouble landing gay roles. They're not being lauded for pretending to embody a lived experience of oppression while gay actors get neglected. So, I'd argue until the playing field is level, gay roles should go to gay actors, disabled to disabled actors, and trans to trans actors, etc.

[angriest_girl]

I get it, but what about closeted gay actors? What about bisexual actors? What about actors who identify as “queer” but have only ever been in hetero relationships? Also, at what point in an audition is it okay to ask an actor if they are gay? Like I said, can of worms.

[nemophilist]

Exactly. A gay actor who can't/won't/doesn't want to come out should still have a chance of getting a role without having to prove their sexuality.

[a_files06]

I dont think only gay actors need to play gay roles but it's never an easy answer imo. You shouldn't have to give your sexual orientation for a job but at the same time with Hollywood, they need to be more open to gay actors playing straight roles but how do you ensure you have you have that right representation without asking for sexual orientation.

[frickinawesome7]

[qaladriel]

i'm gay and i think straight people can play gay (they just might not be better at the nuances etc). I like Luca Guadagnino's take on it:

'I honestly don’t believe I have the right to decide whether an actor is straight or not. Who am I to know what somebody is thinking of himself or herself within themselves.'.

[spellmanian]

I agree. This take (not Kristen's, the "only gay actors should play gay characters") would force actors to out themselves and I'm not about that.

[nemophilist]

Having to prove your sexuality, gay or straight, to get a role is wrong and will lead to so many issues. We just need more opportunities/roles/stories available and discrimination taken out of casting so that there's equal chance for a gay actor to play a straight role as there is for a straight actor to get a gay role.

[poordat]

How would it force them to out themselves? They could just... not audition for the role. And audition instead for any of the other much more prolific straight roles.

[ladyminya]

I don't think it's a black and white issue as such (only gay may play gay etc). It's an issue of opportunity. Why are we giving roles to people who have no lived experience when there are actors and actresses out there who may not otherwise have an opportunity to play a role they can identify with. Especially given that, until recently, giving roles to actual trans people didn't happen. Now that the door is open, there's room for both trans and cis people to play these parts but why not give the opportunity to those who are the under-represented? Let them carve their way into the industry and use that platform to empower themselves and have a voice? I definitely get what Kristen is saying, and I think she makes a valid point, but for the sake of opportunity I think the roles should go to those who best understand them.

[vintage_boom]

I think the gay/straight aspect of the debate is more of a gray area than the trans/cis aspect. Personally, idt people should feel like they need to be outed or closeted to have access to more/different roles that's asking a lot of people who might not be ready. However, these bigger named straight cis actors need to get their heads out of their asses and own up to that when they're offered "meaty" gay or trans roles its purely because that film needs financing and their name attached and not because they're the best for the part because they rarely are.

I think people need to start calling out studios, financiers, and casting agencies for not taking chances of lesser names. this is a systemic issue not exclusively an individual one. Some of the actors who've spoken up have production companies...fund some projects and use your name in a more constructive way than just getting headlines for tapping out.