Should gay characters only be played by gay actors?
 

It's something I've noticed lately, backlashes against straight actors playing gay roles, it started with Nick Robinson in 'Love, Simon' and now it's come into play of sorts with Ruby Rose (who is, as far as I know, bisexual) who has recently been cast as Batwoman (who is a lesbian).

Personally I think it's ridiculous to limit actors in that way plus there's a level of hypocrisy there given that there would be a backlash if the situation was reversed as there's plenty said about gay actors being typecast for gay roles. I think the only time such limitations are right are in the cases of race, whitewashing should be a thing of the past. Even with transgender roles there should be some leeway if the character hasn't transitioned themselves, I think.

I think backlashes like the ones listed above hurt the cause more than it could ever help, it looks as thought the LGBT is cannibalising itselff and it gives ammunition to those that would hinder progress. Regardless of sexuality, everyone understands love and relationships and although a straight person can't truly understand what it's like to be part of the LGBT I think they can gleam a decent enough base understanding to portray a gay character. Plenty of straight actors have done it well already.

No, I actually think expecting actors to only play roles that correspond with their real life sexual orientation is absurd. People are so eager to be morally outraged.

No. I don't think there should be a limit. I draw the line at Caucasian actors putting on makeup to play Asian or black people obviously. But outside of ridiculous instances like that.

I can kind of understand the backlash against cis people playing transgender simply because transgender actors have so much fewer opportunities, so they should be afforded some of the much fewer available roles they have for them instead of having those taken too.

no what a load of rubbish, like lostie said, it’s as if people enjoy being offended nowadays

I don't have a problem with it because just as easily as a straight actor can play a gay character a gay character can also play a straight character. Unlike with whitewashing where there are already limited roles available for non white actors and making turning non white characters white is just a slap in the face.

They won't have an uproar over gay actors playing straight characters otherwise there'd be about 5 actors left. ;)

:laugh: true

I don't mind it personally. I mean, casting minorities in general is a good thing and something that needs to be worked on for equality reasons. Also, though, part of being a good actor is being able to portray different roles and that could include a sexuality. I remember people were offended when Eddie Redmayne played the transwoman in The Danish Girl & i genuinely see it as a non-issue.

Ridiculous. If people could only play their own sexuality, the world of theatre would disappear for one thing!

I think though, at the same time, there's a lot of people speaking out that trans people get typecast in trans role and should be considered more often for cis roles but you can't have it both ways I don't think. In the case of Scarlet Johansen for example, the trans character she was originally going to play never actually transitioned so I personally don't see a problem with a cis female actress to play that role (someone like the actress who plays Boo in OITNB would fit perfectly) because for me, expecting a trans man to play a female character would be like expecting a cisgender male to pass for female, I just don't think it really works.

I think there's leeway when it comes to certain trans characters and not for others basically.

Yup, I honestly think the extreme sides of it will end up putting us all back years. It's kind of worrying how it seems that we're heading towards 'positive segregation' in some ways.

I think it should be up to the casting director who they cast, and everybody else should mind their own business.

If this was the case we never would have had Brokeback Mountain.

Case closed.

Of course not. Straight people shouldn't only be portrayed by straights as well

I think its more of a problem that people expect the people who play gay characters to be gay

if we had this silly rule the possibility of david tennant and ryan reynolds making out in gay rom com is impossible and we all don't want that to be impossible

Oh definitely. I just think until such a time that trans actors being cast as cis (obviously if it works, as you say it won't all the time but then all actors have parts they don't work well in) is more common, giving them more opportunities, I can understand having the small amount of roles they are suited to taken away can be a bit frustrating on their part.

But the actors taking those roles, like Scarlett Johansen, don't deserve anywhere near the sh*t they get for it.

I don't think it's actually offensive for a cis actor to play transgender or straight to play gay, but maybe unfair in trans case to take those limited roles.

I think gay actors should only play straight characters and straight actors should only play gay characters.

Just to keep everyone on their toes.

Anyone who has watched Modern Family would know that Cameron is one of the funniest characters on the show, and the main reason is how well the actor does the role despite Cameron being gay and the actor being straight, and I'm sure there's plenty of other examples

As Long as they feel comfortable doing it...

I agree it is ridiculous to demand that actors only play roles to type. The whole idea of acting is being able to play a variety of characters who are not necessarily like you. Being type cast was always considered something to be avoided by actors in the past. These demands are an unpleasant form of bullying which needs to stop before more actors are forced out of roles that don't conform to type.

This ^

No, identity politics is bad for our society and should've been left behind in the 90's/00's as it was not well thought out. If we allowed that type of logic to go much further, then do expect that people who are gay/etc will be told they cannot play straight roles... because that's exactly the way the game is meant to be played if it is all really meant to be "fair". Which is why I think it is flawed. Its only outcome is expanding the cultural gap... not healing its cracks. I think the core of the LGBT have sadly been duped by politicians and misled with false promises, and unfortunately those folk have managed to hijack an otherwise pretty decent movement...

No, because it's called ACTING.
If the portrayal is true to story, I see nothing problematic about it.

:clap1::clap1::clap1: A GREAT post FULL of valid points, and the emboldened echoes what I have been saying for a long time.