It's been an ~interesting~ journey for queer people in the movie and television industry. Once upon a time, gay and homosexual woman actors, specifically, had to stay in the closet, and there were next-to-no gay parts on screen.
The idea that openly homosexual actors can play het characters is a relatively new phenomenon. Previously, out gay actors could only really work when roles for them a) existed, and b) weren't creature given to heterosexual actors.
Now it seems much more acceptable for an openly gay actor play a straight character. In evidence, here are 18 times an actor has played a straight character on screen, despite being openly gay or queer in real life...
4.Andrew Scott as The Priest in Fleabag
5.Amandla Stenberg as Ruby Daly in The Darkest Minds
6.Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton
7.B.D. Wong as Wally Lin in Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens
8.Portia de Rossi as Lindsay Bluth Funke in Arrested Development
9.Ben Platt as Evan Hansen in the Dear Evan Hansen movie
10.Justice Smith as Simon Aumar in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
11.Luke Evans as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast
12.Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks in
When the original L Word launched, “which of these actresses are gay in real life” was a common interrogate asked of the cast members at press junkets and interviews. It was a different period, then. Leisha Hailey was the only out lesbian in the main cast. Kate Moennig was also a queer woman but it wasn’t okay yet to say so, at least not anywhere important or general or in publish. Karina Lombard, Mia Kirshner and Laurel Holloman had all hinted at or embraced the double attraction label at some point, but both Laurel and Karina have since redacted the identification. Karina’s statement hurt the most, perhaps, as she indicated that being on the show was what convinced her she wasn’t bisexual anymore. Laurel, who’d identified that way after having an experience with another woman accompanying her part in The Incredibly True Adventures of 2 Girls In Love, eventually came to feel that that relationship was a one-off and it wasn’t right for her to continue identifying as bisexual.
The L Word: Generation Q, however, is a VERY gay cast. So we’ll get through the first series and then shift gayly onto the second!
Most recent update: May 2023
Here are the
Living Out Loud: A Salute to Soaps’ LGBTQ+ All-Stars [PHOTOS]
Love Wins
In honor of LGBTQ+ Pride month, Soaps.com is saluting the stars of The Young and the Restless, Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, Beyond the Gates and General Hospital who are living their truth.
Greg Rikaart
In 2013, the Young & Restless and Days of Our Lives leading man (as Kevin Fisher and Leo Stark, respectively) came out following the Supreme Court’s decisions in favor of same-sex marriage and equality. Since 2015, the Emmy winner has been married to writer/producer Robert Sudduth (Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies), with whom he has a son, Montgomery.
Joanna Johnson
Just before Bold & Beautiful revealed that Bill Spencer’s sister Karen is a lesbian, her portrayer toldTV Guide that she is, too. For years, “I was so worried I wouldn’t be employable as an actress if people knew,” she said, “or that I wouldn’t be believable in romance stories. I had to deal with a lot of self-loathing.” Now a TV producer, Johnson has been married since 2008 to club promoter Michelle Agnew, with whom she has two childre
Top 20 Famous Queer Actors of Hollywood 2024 [LGBTQ+ Icons]
Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen is an acclaimed star known for his versatile performances on stage and screen. Beyond his acting prowess, McKellen is also recognized for his activism, particularly in LGBTQIA+ rights. His career did not suffer post-coming out. Instead, it flourished, with McKellen taking on a range of more emotionally resonant roles that resonated with audiences worldwide. McKellen came out during a BBC radio broadcast in 1988 as an execute of protest against Section 28, a proposed law in the UK that sought to prohibit the "promotion of homosexuality." His spontaneous revelation was a bold move during a time when gay rights faced significant legal and societal challenges. Reflecting on the impact of his coming out, McKellen noted that it changed his life "for the better," strengthening his relationships, personal satisfaction, and even his approach to acting, allowing him to embody characters with greater authenticity.
Ian McKellen's contributions to LGBTQIA+ culture and history extend far beyond his personal coming out story. He co-founded Stonewall, a UK-based LGBTQIA+ rights organiz