The acting profession and homosexuality

[Jim Schue]

For the purposes of this thread, I'm really only talking about actors, not actresses.

 

While re-reading the outstanding book "How To Lose Friends and Alienate People," I was struck by a passage where author Toby Young describes how in interview he did for Vanity Fair with Nathan Lane went horribly wrong. Mostly because as far as he could tell, the subject had never been broached (this was the mid-90s) in an interview, Young asked Lane flat-out, are you a homosexual? Lane ended the interview, and his handlers called editor Graydon Carter to complain. Before the homosexuality question, Young asked Lane if he was Jewish as well.

 

When back at the VF offices, Young met with Carter.

 

"What were you thinking?" asked Carter, too staggered by my ineptitude to work himself up into a proper rage. "You can't ask Hollywood celebrities whether they're Jewish or gay. Just assume they're both Jewish and gay, OK?"

 

Why is the acting profession so heavily homosexual in comparison to other trades? And don't suggest that it's Hollywood that does it to them. Male theatre majors at most every college are also disproportionately gay.

[woodsrider]

For the purposes of this thread, I'm really only talking about actors, not actresses.

 

While re-reading the outstanding book "How To Lose Friends and Alienate People," I was struck by a passage where author Toby Young describes how in interview he did for Vanity Fair with Nathan Lane went horribly wrong. Mostly because as far as he could tell, the subject had never been broached (this was the mid-90s) in an interview, Young asked Lane flat-out, are you a homosexual? Lane ended the interview, and his handlers called editor Graydon Carter to complain. Before the homosexuality question, Young asked Lane if he was Jewish as well.

 

When back at the VF offices, Young met with Carter.

 

"What were you thinking?" asked Carter, too staggered by my ineptitude to work himself up into a proper rage. "You can't ask Hollywood celebrities whether they're Jewish or gay. Just assume they're both Jewish and gay, OK?"

 

Why is the acting profession so heavily homosexual in comparison to other trades? And don't suggest that it's Hollywood that does it to them. Male theatre majors at most every college are also disproportionately gay.

How do you know this to be true?

[cch5432]

This smiley was made for this thread.

 

:popcorn:

[Jim Schue]

How do you know this to be true?

 

C'mon now ...

[woodsrider]

C'mon now ...

Oh, because you said so, got it.

[RowdyRedRam]

I think it is cultural. The gay culture is remarkably more flamboyant than straight male cultures, this flamboyance and use of and mastery of exaggerating emotions plays well in the acting field. So in other words the ways they act in order to better fit in thier community, also serve them in becoming better actors.

[Michael Corleone]

How do you know this to be true?

 

I think its a legit question. I'm trying to think of gay actors and can't come up with that many. Maybe I'm just not as aware. When I was in college most of the journalism majors were homosexual.

[Jim Schue]

Oh, because you said so, got it.

 

No, general observation should tell you that. Do you not think the acting profession has a higher prevalence of homosexuality than most other professions?

[cch5432]

When I was in college most of the journalism majors were homosexual.

 

:lol: Was this intentional? This just gets better and better.....

[Jim Schue]

I think its a legit question. I'm trying to think of gay actors and can't come up with that many. Maybe I'm just not as aware. When I was in college most of the journalism majors were homosexual.

 

That's a new one on me.

 

But there weren't a lot of gay theatre majors where you attended?

[sidelinedoc]

:lol: Was this intentional? This just gets better and better.....

 

I'm with you on the smiley face. You need more butter? :popcorn:

[woodsrider]

No, general observation should tell you that. Do you not think the acting profession has a higher prevalence of homosexuality than most other professions?

I don't know because I haven't taken a poll to see the percentage of gay bankers or firefighters or insurance brokers.

 

I understand what you are getting at but the perception is that there are more gay actors at first glance because they are in the spot light. But can you really say that for sure?

[Jim Schue]

I don't know because I haven't taken a poll to see the percentage of gay bankers or firefighters or insurance brokers.

 

I understand what you are getting at but the perception is that there are more gay actors at first glance because they are in the spot light. But can you really say that for sure?

 

I feel pretty comfortable in saying that homosexuality is more prevalent among actors than men in most other professions (save for hairdressers, interior decorators, fashion designers, etc.).

[Irish Cat]

No, general observation should tell you that. Do you not think the acting profession has a higher prevalence of homosexuality than most other professions?

 

While I attended the University of Evansville, theater majors appeared to have a higher percentage of homosexuals than say engineering or business majors. Like JS, I have no statistical evidence to back this up, but I feel very certain that it is true.

[Irish Cat]

I think its a legit question. I'm trying to think of gay actors and can't come up with that many.

 

Keep in mind that actors encompasses more than just the Hollywood celebrity types. If you consider Broadway actors as well I think that only supports JS hypothesis.