Should straight actors play queer roles?

 Many performers who are out are still facing deep discrimination in an industry in which homophobia, transphobia and misogyny are rampant.

By Joanne Vannicola

The film The Prom with Meryl Streep and James Corden made headlines last week because of Corden’s portrayal of the main gay character. For many critics who saw the film, Corden’s depiction came off as offensive, lacking in authenticity and reliant on stereotypes.

As a nonbinary actor who has spent decades trying to raise awareness about the LGBTQ2S+ experience, I’m relieved ­– and yet frustrated – with the reality that straight and cisgender people are still playing queer and nonbinary/transgender roles.

That’s not to say that actors like Corden who identify as straight or cis are not capable of providing good performances in “gay-face.” But such performances lack the lived experience that queer and nonbinary people could bring to these roles. 

There is a double standard that exists in the film industry. Many performers who are out are still facing deep discrimination in an industry in which homophobia, transphobia and misogyny are rampant.

Many queer and transgender actors live below the poverty line. The hatred, violence and systemic oppression we are forced to deal with on a daily basis only add to the pressure and hardships we face. Meanwhile, straight and cisgender actors are often seen as brave and showered with awards and adulation for their performances as queer or trans people.

There have been some amazing films and television series that have cast straight and cisgender people to play our roles. Brokeback Mountain, Carol and Will & Grace are a few that come to mind.

But the same opportunity is rarely afforded LGBTQ2S+ actors. Instead, we are constantly faced with the same old question, “Yeah, but do you believe they are straight?” 

In recent years, we have seen a rise in hate-based crimes against LGBTQ2S+ people. And we’ve seen the replacement of the Ontario sex-ed curriculum and the conferring of university status on the Canada Christian College, whose president Charles McVety likened gay love to pedophilia and bestiality.

LGBTQ2S+ people absorb these messages on a daily basis. We must push back against hatred constantly. Queer and trans youth are thrown out of their homes by their parents because of their identity.

By comparison, it may seem less important that straight people play gay parts in films and shows. But it is important to queer creatives who are trying to maintain careers and live full lives – not to mention, queer youth who need to see reflections of who they are on screen. Our stories deserve to be told and they should be told by us.

There has been much in the news these days about Elliot Page coming out as nonbinary and transgender. I applaud him. That is true bravery. Yes, Page has a platform, fame and money. But it is no less difficult to come out in a country where people are murdered for being trans and where gay rights are being rolled back.

It’s taken decades to get to this point. We are tired of being left behind. We should not only be hiring queer actors to play queer parts, but opening the gates so that more screenwriters, directors, and filmmakers have queer stories produced and distributed.

I grew up in the film industry at a time when there were few lesbian or nonbinary actors out at all – and fewer queer role models on screen.

Many people think that actors should be able to play any role regardless of sexuality or gender, but we can do better than that. Diversity includes LGBTQ2S+ people, too. Stand with us and support us.

https://nowtoronto.com/movies/should-straight-actors-play-queer-roles