How can you have a revolution without revolutionary consciousness?

For numerous reasons, there doesn't seem to be a drive to breakdown the barriers within the gay community. Heck we haven't decided if even want to be apart of that community.
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I take the comments by these actors at face value. While they should be well aware of the struggles faced by SGL folks, it's understandable that until they were put into that role they were impacted by it. Yes, I can understand the struggles of being a Jew, but I suppose if I had to play the part of a Jew in a Nazi camp it might enlighten me to a higher level. But I do agree that sometimes they can come off as not very genuine. But then again, I have no clue why America has this fasination with actors as if they are expected to be super intelligent, thinking beings. Most are actually fairly stupid, so you shouldn't get too worked up if they say something stupid.

*Excellent points. Bernie, work it the fuck out.

I think part of the reason straight people play all the gay parts is because of the homophobia that still exists among producers, directors, casting directors, network execs, etc. which keep gay actors in the closet or at least discreet in their public actions. There is still the perception that an openly gay actor will not be acceptable to "Middle America" and thus find a harder time getting work. You'll get boxed into a little corner where you'll only work again when the role specifically says "gay" (in other words, campy sitcoms and art films). Thus a gay actor going up for a gay role is only going to draw unwanted, possibly career-damaging attention. Black straight actors have a hard enough time finding work. You can imagine then how a Black gay actor might shy away from such casting calls, not that a lot of those parts are being written.

And about Catface St. John:
I think his "as a black man" preface is totally appropriate. If something about his experience as an African-American helped him connect with his character's experience of discrimination, I think that's worth foregrounding. Maybe it helped him understand marginalization in broader terms than he had access to prior to the role.

*It seems like needless self-identifying. I can see he's black and I am assuming that his experience has been informed by it. But I could be wrong.

Plenty of people go through life preoccupied with reacting to/against the handicap that's constantly acting upon them. So, yeah... maybe they see the gay bashing and hear the homophobic jokes. But who has time to host a pity party for someone who's chosen a deviant lifestyle when you yourself are engaged in a daily battle against being made to feel inferior because you're black and poor and fatherless and unattractive and not-so-intelligent?
I dramatize here, but it's only to make the point that its fairly easy to be blinded enough by your own marginalizion that you never take time to imagine that of your neighbor. Playing gay on film, at least for Catface St John, is one way to allow for such an experience.

*Good point. I am Steven Allfeeling so I get blinded by my own arrogance around how people should/could respond to the plight of others.

Does this mean that donning gayface for a camera gets you an automatic lifetime membership in the legion of queer-friendly progressives? Hardly.

*In some cases, it seems for the moment or as long as the role lasts.

Is it possible that your role has afforded you a more expansive understanding of marginalization and heightened your sensitivity to homophobia? Sure.

*At best.

Why the hell not?
Are the public statements made by queer-sympathizers political? You bet cha. But we can't presume that actors are privy to and actively engaging this politic. Shiiiit, dem niggas busy memorizing lines and trying not to trip on the red carpet!

*and get jobs.

Seriously though, we all know what you're supposed to say after having an experience like playing a character that is in some way handicapped (pardon the use of the word).
"it was eye-opening... i have a new apprecation for the day-to-day struggle... i never could have imagined..." blah blah blah.
Yeah, we know the script. However, the fact that their comments correspond to the pre-existing script does not mean that
1. their feelings are any less authentic than any other feeling any of us experiences.
2. that they're cognizant of the fact that a script exists in the first place
What I'm saying is that all of our lives and nearly all of our conversation are in dialogue with a pre-existant script that we've been fed through our socialization, and I don't expect actors to be any more adept at subverting it than any other individual.

*well put. Again my own impatience with a revolution that ain't going the way I want it to.

i share your annoyance with actors who are "situationally pro gay" and thank you for adding the phrase to my GCV (gay critical vocabulary. see also: pomosexual).

*why thank you.

plenty of us think we are itching for a revolution. in reality, i think we've just become impatient with the revolution that's already in the works. i'm not one of those people who believe that visibility = larger acceptance. i do not believe that the mere sight of a gay character on prime time television means that the nation is finally embracing me and my sodomy.

*I know you are right about a revolution in progress. It just sits uneasy with me because of the reality of being played like fools for several centuries as a black folks and coupled with this homophobic bullshit.

[sidebar: would vintage entity books be interested in an edgy children's book, "Sodomy and me"? pitch it to the higher-ups; i'd definitely be on board]

*I will look into it.

anyway, i'd sooner say that the revolution has to crawl before it walks. the various sitcoms and series that exist, whitewashed and featuring straight actors in gayface, represent the beginning crawl of bourgeoning revolution. so, rather than advocating the cancellation of the existing shows, i welcome the barrage of additional programming that explores a fuller range of sgl ways of being (rather than harping upon the stereotype of promiscuity and exploiting femininity for the sake of schtick), addresses and engages communities of color BEYOND THE GOD DAMNED DL and features gay actors (gactors? hehehe) exclusively.

*well, there's Rodney Evans (Brother to Brother) Patrik Ian Polk (Noah's Arc) and Maurice-Jamal (Ski Trip), not to mention Cheryl Dunye (Watermelon Woman) among other black LGBT filmmakers who are trying to make shit like that happen. I think we should support them, maybe host a film festival in 2007?

graffiti:
In unrelated news, I love you and couldn't imagine a better partner to share the rest of my life with.

*ditto.

cant really add anything here...I agree with everyone's points..

It hasbeen irritating for me and I used to love watching Six Feet Under and Matthew St. Patrick (Keith on the show)...

but I do get frustrated when I hear straight actors talking about how enlightened they are for playinga gay or lesbian character...im glad for you to be so "enlightened" about what youre doing..but your still straight. you are playing a character so you arent really experiencing what I and so many other non-heterosexual folk go through on a daily basis, so get stuffed! :)

what can I do? i dont know..Im trying to figure it out right now as I type this...

And about Catface St. John:
I think his "as a black man" preface is totally appropriate. If something about his experience as an African-American helped him connect with his character's experience of discrimination, I think that's worth foregrounding. Maybe it helped him understand marginalization in broader terms than he had access to prior to the role.
Plenty of people go through life preoccupied with reacting to/against the handicap that's constantly acting upon them. So, yeah... maybe they see the gay bashing and hear the homophobic jokes. But who has time to host a pity party for someone who's chosen a deviant lifestyle when you yourself are engaged in a daily battle against being made to feel inferior because you're black and poor and fatherless and unattractive and not-so-intelligent?
I dramatize here, but it's only to make the point that its fairly easy to be blinded enough by your own marginalizion that you never take time to imagine that of your neighbor. Playing gay on film, at least for Catface St John, is one way to allow for such an experience.
Does this mean that donning gayface for a camera gets you an automatic lifetime membership in the legion of queer-friendly progressives? Hardly.
Is it possible that your role has afforded you a more expansive understanding of marginalization and heightened your sensitivity to homophobia? Sure. Why the hell not?
Are the public statements made by queer-sympathizers political? You bet cha. But we can't presume that actors are privy to and actively engaging this politic. Shiiiit, dem niggas busy memorizing lines and trying not to trip on the red carpet!
Seriously though, we all know what you're supposed to say after having an experience like playing a character that is in some way handicapped (pardon the use of the word).
"it was eye-opening... i have a new apprecation for the day-to-day struggle... i never could have imagined..." blah blah blah.
Yeah, we know the script. However, the fact that their comments correspond to the pre-existing script does not mean that
1. their feelings are any less authentic than any other feeling any of us experiences.
2. that they're cognizant of the fact that a script exists in the first place
What I'm saying is that all of our lives and nearly all of our conversation are in dialogue with a pre-existant script that we've been fed through our socialization, and I don't expect actors to be any more adept at subverting it than any other individual.

I think part of the reason straight people play all the gay parts is because of the homophobia that still exists among producers, directors, casting directors, network execs, etc. which keep gay actors in the closet or at least discreet in their public actions. There is still the perception that an openly gay actor will not be acceptable to "Middle America" and thus find a harder time getting work. You'll get boxed into a little corner where you'll only work again when the role specifically says "gay" (in other words, campy sitcoms and art films). Thus a gay actor going up for a gay role is only going to draw unwanted, possibly career-damaging attention. Black straight actors have a hard enough time finding work. You can imagine then how a Black gay actor might shy away from such casting calls, not that a lot of those parts are being written.