It feeds the ghastly “masc for masc” narrative: that gay men should only adhere to masculine traits in a narrowly defined representation. Whitehall’s character will be “hugely effete, very camp and very funny,” so it’s being slammed by some gay people for “perpetuating stereotypes”, squandering the opportunity to present an “authentic role model” and, in Omar Sharif Jr’s words, falling back on “tired stereotypes used as devices to make us laugh so we’re comfortable with otherness”. (Although from the seven figure sum Whitehall is rumoured to be paid, he could perhaps afford to squeeze in a donation to Stonewall, to get more LGBT voices heard.)īut the second reason for outrage over Disney’s gay character comes from a place of internalised homophobia.
But Jack Whitehall has no such homophobic record. If Disney hired a notorious homophobe to play the part, I’d have understood the outrage. And the very essence of acting is depicting the lived experience of someone else. The very essence of writing is to step into the world of someone different, using a combination of research, imagination and initiative to make it convincing, engaging and thought-provoking. Photograph: Laurie Sparham/APĪustralian author Richard Flanagan recently called out the damage this form of identity politics can do: when creative industries are ruled with fear of call-out culture it can restrict the space for new ideas to form, and destroy the craft. Josh Gad and Luke Evans as LeFou and Gaston in a scene from Beauty and the Beast, which featured Disney’s first (minor) gay character. Gay actors want a diversity of roles just like straight actors do. In a world where gay actors are still denied straight roles, it’ll just lead to typecasting of gay actors - the very thing they’re wanting to escape. It’s almost as if there’s some conspiracy going on where straight white men have more power and influence and access to great jobs than other people! Yes, I want that world and its twisted logic to change too.īut to demand that only gay actors play gay roles is not the way to correct an inequality.
It’s understandable people want to redress the balance – and when one of film history’s most significant gay roles goes to a straight actor too, of course it’s disappointing. I totally hear the argument: as Rupert Everett regularly reminds us, for aeons gay actors have been told by Hollywood to stay in the closet if they ever want to play a straight role. A gay character leading a Disney film would have been unthinkable, and momentous. This ship shouldn’t sink: it should sail with all the glory it deserves.īack when I managed UK campaign group Stonewall’s media office over a decade ago, fair and representative portrayal of lesbian and gay people in the media was a priority. To me, the outrage feels misguided: a buzzkill during a moment of welcome progress. Really #JungleCruise ? Your first significant gay role will be played by a straight white man perpetuating stereotypes? Fail! This ship should sink.