Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black slams A-listers who lie about their sexuality
Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black is striking out at A-list Hollywood stars who remain in the closet.
The 42-year-old Milk screenwriter, who’s currently engaged to British diver Tom Daley, says that stars who won’t reveal their sexuality should just stay quiet altogether instead of falsely declaring that they’re straight.
Talking to Attitude, he says, “I have no respect for someone who lies about their sexuality. At the very least, say ‘no comment’, just keep your personal life personal. If you’re going to closet yourself, that sends a negative message.”
He also reserves his most potent ire for the agents and reps who persuade their star clients to stay closeted.
“I’ve never encountered homophobia in casting from the studios or networks,” he says, “not once, not ever. Where you encounter it is with the agents and the managers, they’re the ones who have an outdated notion of the price an actor might pay if it’s discovered that they’re LGBTQ.
“Often they don’t want to see anything happen that might compromise their investment. I think they cripple their actors because they stunt the star’s ability to be open and honest, and an audience can feel that.”
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12 Comments
Francis
January 06, 06:06I partially agree. Some peeps will lie and in the process of lying, paint this very bad picture of homosexuals. Na those ones I get issues with.
Mandy
January 06, 09:11I do believe everyone should come out in their own time. But being in the spotlight it is important to come out. We have made so much progress in the past but the more we stand up and make ourselves known it will continue to get better.
tee
January 06, 09:12I strongly disagree with the statements that homosexual celebrities (or any homosexual people what so ever really) has any kind of “responsibility” to come out. While coming out may help some young people with self-acceptance, and with general acceptance overall, why in the world would that make them responsible? It’s not their duty to stand up for strangers.
It’s most likely harmful to their career, as people tend to focus on the fact that out celebrities are gay, not for their talent.
Apart from that though, almost all of us have been hiding. How come so few of you lack any kind of understanding or empathy of what it’s like? Have you forgotten?
They might not be comfortable with showing it. That’s okay. People have to do what they think will make them the most happy, and it’s not YOUR job to decide what that is. Though you obviously keep strong opinions on what other people should and shouldn’t do with their lives, judging from the vitriolic BS that’s so common when people discuss people staying in the closet. Is it a case of “one of us!”, or what? Because they’re not and we’re not. We’re all individuals.
Delle
January 06, 12:20I don’t think you got what he meant. He isn’t saying they should come out whether or not they want to. In fact, it’s clearly stated here “At the very least, say ‘no comment’, just keep your personal life personal.”
He is just against those ones that create a false image of themselves consequently painting homosexuality bad as something that no one should be proud to be.
Canis VY Majoris
January 06, 09:44Oh he wrote Milk! Why ever did I think he wrote Whiplash?.
Mitch
January 06, 09:57Coming out or not is nobody’s business but your own. Where we’ll have a problem is if you begin to cast aspersions, directly or indirectly, on the community in your bid to remain in your closet. I will so wash your destiny, even God won’t be able to recognize it when I’m done.
Francis
January 06, 10:02????????
Delle
January 06, 12:13Evil being!!!????
DarkSide
January 06, 11:03Isn’t it interesting that WEAK humans are the least capable when it comes to understanding human weakness? kontinu
Delle
January 06, 12:16Well, I totally agree with him. If you don’t want to be out, no one gives a rat’s ass but when you start claiming what you are not…thunda!!!
Haiku
January 07, 16:27How sensible is saying “no comment”? That’s just synonymous for yes. If they don’t want to reveal their sexuality, that should not bother you. It’s not not like you tell the world about all the crazy things you do behind closed doors. He is quite the hypocrite.
hafsah
January 07, 21:48I am inlove with tom daley and lance and i want to have their babies. I also respect lance as an intellectual and thinks everying he says is gold(he wrote milk for fuck sake) . I dont think gay celebs shuld be forced to be idols or roleodels because it shouldnt matter who they like. Its fine to not want to make a Make a statement until you are ready like colton haynes did but you shouldnt lie cos that implies there is something to feel ashamed about.