Too Gay To Functn™ | Mean Girls: The Mil Amo Amo

too gay to function mean girls

Ten years after the release of the film, an actor who played Damien Mean Girls has e out as gay.

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FOR MEAN GIRLS ON BROADWAY, "TOO GAY TO FUNCTN" IS A MANTRA

15 years sce Mean Girls' release, the actor reflects on Hollywood's "gay glass ceilg," holdg out for eper queer characters, and his favore moments om the inic film. * too gay to function mean girls *

“He’s almost too gay to functn. ”In 2004, when Mean Girls was released, characters like Damian — also known as the Gay Bt Friend trope — were few and far between.

The stg director that put me Party Monster lled me for Damian; the script said that he was “probably fat and fely gay, ” which I thought was hysteril. Nobody was gog to stop do you thk Damian f to the leage of the “gay bt iend” trope film? I thk Damian was the first gay role I saw where the character was jt fortable beg himself and there wasn’t too much foc on his beg gay.

You knew he was gay. But they told her that my character was gay and that’s why she let me sg the movie. But then, bee my character was gay, Lda Perry allowed me to sg “Betiful.

‘TOO GAY TO FUNCTN’? MEAN GIRLS ACTOR OUT LETTER TO CHARACTER TEN YEARS AFTER FILM RELEASE

Grey Henson, who plays Damian the Broadway productn of 'Mean Girls,' tells how he updated the inic gay character for 2018. * too gay to function mean girls *

But I don’t thk would have affected the role at all if I was out or not bee I thk Ta probably thought I was gay when she first hired me anyway. As soon as the movie was over, I kept meetg the gay glass ceilg. I prayed about a b and if I was gog to do a gay role, was gog to be this one.

NOT TOO GAY TO FUNCTN

* too gay to function mean girls *

But then, immediately after, I was offered all the other gay parts that were all so stereotypil — jt makg fun of gays.

But I felt that there was a progrsn gaysploatn cema. It jt felt so serendipo — felt like somethg I was supposed to be dog, to be on a set where ’s not only okay to be gay but was ol to be gay.

And the actor who plays him — Man, GA native Grey Henson — was certaly up for the challenge, havg honed his mil chops tourg wh The Book of Mormon for two years before jog s Broadway pop culture wasn’t pletely void of queer characters 2004, for Grey and so many others who grew up watchg Mean Girls, the openly-gay and overly nfint Damian felt like a revelatn. Wh Grey at the helm, the mil’s Damian go beyond beg “too gay to functn” — Grey gets to lean to his queerns a way he simply wasn’t given the chance to the film. As a gay man, seeg Damian out and proud as a teen was a really awome experience, bee g om Geia you never saw embodi that sort of theatril weirdo every high school had.

TOO GAY TO FUNCTN

Defn of too gay to functn. A man who has gay terts (dancg, sgg, a gay dialect, sex wh other men) that make him not f wh others|농담으로 쓰는 표현입니다^^ "To functn" means "to n/to work" 와이파이 잘 안돼는 The wifi isn't workg(/functng) well. I'm so gay. I'm too gay. 실은 너무 게이나 엄청 게이라고 하면 이상하겠죠? 그냥 어떤 취향이나 취미가 있으시면 농담으로 "I'm so gay"라고 하는 사람 있습니다. 또는 어떤 친구가 엄청 예쁘다고 칭찬으로 "Wahh I thk I'm gay for you."라고 하시면 "와~ 나는 남자가 좋아하는데 너가 너무 예뻐서 어쩌지?" 그런 것 입니다. ㅋㅋ 너무 깁숙게 생각 안 해도 돼는데 이거 친구사이에 쓰는 표현입니다. 안 친한 사람에게 쓰시면... 이상할 수도 있습니다 괜찮을 수도 있고요 ㅋㅋㅋ. * too gay to function mean girls *

I’ve spoken to a lot of queer men who’ve sgled out Damian as one of the first openly gay characters they ronated wh onscreen. Before the ter and social media took off, beg gay was jt somethg you didn't hear about.

Lots of kids, quote un-quote Damians themselv, have told me 's amazg to see someone reprented and celebrated on such a big platform that isn't a geo, okie-cutter, tan, bleach-blon gay guy wh abs.

TOO GAY TO FUNCTN :TM: BURNOUTS FOLLOWG FRIENDS FOLLOW UNFOLLOW CHAT 161 REPUTATN 6 FOLLOWG 105 FOLLOWERS B SCE JUN 2018 (5 YEARS 72 DAYS) "FUGLY W" HI FULL B READ MORE POSTS (4) WALL (2) TOO GAY TO FUNCTN :TM: 06/21/18 I CREATED A CHAT ROOM :O OH MY GOD! SO I, THE NEWBIE I AM. CREATED A CHAT ROOM! PLEASE JO! 7 0 TOO GAY TO FUNCTN :TM: 06/19/18 FAN ART POLL! 82 VOT · VOTG HAS END JANIS 35.4% REGA 24.4% CADY 8.5% GRETCHEN 9.8% KAREN 21.9% 8 0 TOO GAY TO FUNCTN :TM: 06/17/18 MY FIRST POLL! 60 VOT · VOTG HAS END BE ORIGAL, MAKE NEW NTENT! 56.7% QUIZZ/POLLS/FANART 43.3% 13 1 TOO GAY TO FUNCTN :TM: 06/17/18 "FRH MEAT G THROUGH!" HIYA GUYS, I'M NEW HERE AND I'M OM PHILIPP AND JAPAN BUT CURRENTLY LIVG AT JAPAN. I WILL BE POSTG LOTS OF QUIZZ AND NTENTS! IF YOU HAPPEN TO LIKE MY STUFF I WILL BE POSTG MORE :) I'M SORRY IF MY ENGLISH IS BAD. CURRENTLY LEARNG JAPANE. PLEASE FOLLOW ME! I'D LOVE TO HAVE A BIG AMO... 14 5 NEXT PAGE COMMENT :SPARKL: вROOĸE LOнѕт :DIZZY: SO IS YOUR B SCRIBG YOURSELF OR JT A LE OM MEAN GIRLS READ MORE 0 REPLY 06/21/18 ☆IMMIGRANT × EEDIE☆ OH, YOU'RE NEW!☆HEY, STOP RIGHT THERE!☆HEY THERE, THE NAME'S EEDIE! ONE OF THIS LOVELY MUNY'S CURATORS. NEED HELP? FEEL EE TO MSAGE WH ANY NCERNS!HERE THE MEAN GIRLS: THE MIL AMO, WE ALLOW POSTS CLUDG COSPLAYS, FAN ART, EDS, COVERS AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!WE HAVE A FEW CHATS YOU N JO TO HOPEFULLY TERACT WH ONE ANOTHER AND MAYBE MEET A NEW PAL TO BE FETCH AND S WH!HAVE A GREAT TIME HERE AT THE AMO, 'LL BE FETCH! READ MORE 0 REPLY 06/09/18 YOU ARE BLOCKED OM FOLLOWG THIS ER AND VIEWG THIS ER'S POSTS. MEAN GIRLS: THE MIL AMO

A great memorable quote om the Mean Girls movie on - Janis: This is Damian: he's almost too gay to functn. * too gay to function mean girls *

As vic as girls n be, the gay muny n be pretty vic too, pecially as you go through your 20s. The biggt thg for me g to the show was not to make him a stereotype the way you thk of the "gay bt iend" like a flamboyant, over-the-top queen wh purs fallg out of his mouth.

When he isn’t phg the gay agenda, you n ually fd him talkg about Big Ltle Li or Lryn Hill to anyone willg to listen. Damian: Janis Ian - Oh, that's "Too gay to functn? Ten years after the release of the film, an actor who played Damien Mean Girls has e out as gay.

In a letter to the character, dubbed “too gay to functn” the h teen edy, Daniel Franze has wrten a letter to the character addrsg issu such as typestg. In the letter, origally published on IndieWire mends the character Damien for beg “lghed wh stead of at”, but says he turned down other gay characters for fear of beg trapped by the “gay glass ceilg”. I might’ve been easier to be gay growg up.

TOO GAY

A male who is blatantly gay but acts like he is still the closet and no one knows, when around other mal, he nnot help but be fltered and out of sorts" name="Dcriptn" property="og:scriptn * too gay to function mean girls *

But this was a natural and te reprentatn of a gay teenager – a character we lghed wh stead of at. I was meetg a “gay glass ceilg” stg.

MEAN GIRLS: ALMOST TOO GAY TO FUNCTN ESSENTIAL T-SHIRT

Somethg that is over the top gayns." name="Dcriptn" property="og:scriptn * too gay to function mean girls *

However, I did turn down many offers to play flamboyant, feather-boa-slgg stereotyp that always seemed to be lghed at BECAUSE they were gay. How uld I go om playg an spiratnal, progrsive gay youth to the embarrassg, cliched butt-of-a-joke? I didn’t go to any gay bars, have any flgs and I lied to anyone who asked if I was gay.

MEAN GIRLS STAR DANIEL FRANZE OUT OPEN LETTER TO DAMIAN, HIS GAY CHARACTER OM THE 2004 FILM

Tellg me I gave them fort not only beg young and gay but also beg a big du.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* TOO GAY TO FUNCTION MEAN GIRLS

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Girls</em>' release, the actor reflects on Hollywood's "gay glass ceilg," holdg out for eper queer characters, and his favore moments om the inic film.</div><div class="ContentHearByle-kmPyCa emiglw"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW jvZaPI rponsive-asset ContentHearContributorImage-cvjZXn epCAJC"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa ContentHearContributorImage-cvjZXn epCAJC rponsive-image"><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 80w" siz="66px"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 90w" siz="66px"/><img alt="" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></picture></span><div class="ContentHearByleContent-dpPmNn DRFq"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl ContentHearByl-cZqgyJ bHLeKI"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH hdWCIC byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span><a class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM ByleLk-gEnFiw iUEiRd hSmufO skIR eErqIx byle__name-lk button" href="/ntributor/michael-cuby">Michael Cuby</a></span></span></p></div><time data-ttid="ContentHearPublishDate" dateTime="2019-04-30T08:00:00-04:00" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentHearPublishDate-eIBicG iUEiRd dCoEhu bDGyxQ">April 30, 2019</time></div></div><div class="SocialInsWrapper-hKMEXV ffgPVr social-ins social-ins--standard ContentHearAccredatnSocialIns-jorO fPzfaa ntent-hear__social-share"><ul data-ttid="socialInslist" class="SocialInsList-cHVTIA ivmblD social-ins__list"><li class="SocialInsListItem-mbhR fxaFQj social-ins__list-em social-ins__list-em--twter social-ins__list-em--standard"><a aria-label="Share on Twter" class="external-lk SocialInExternalLk-huuzOU blkfJb social-ins__lk social-ins__lk--twter" 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bDeLJQ"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa ContentHearRponsiveAsset-bREgIb hONbnm rponsive-image"><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w, 960w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w, 960w, 1280w, 1600w, 1920w, 2240w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="MEAN GIRLS Ldsay Lohan Lizzy Caplan Daniel Franze 2004" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></picture></div></div></span><div class="CaptnWrapper-jSZdqE hTTfoq ptn ContentHearLeadAssetCaptn-hPWmSN hfnsqH"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ CaptnText-bHjzlu iUEiRd kvieLQ iXWezO ptn__text">MEAN GIRLS, Ldsay Lohan, Lizzy Caplan, Daniel Franze, 2004</span><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ CaptnCred-ejegDm iUEiRd eNhSMp fNaHcW ptn__cred">©Paramount/Courty Everett Collectn</span></div></div></figure></div></div><asi class="PersistentAsiWrapper-VGrR oEIBz persistent-asi 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16.888C10.0027 17.5404 10.411 18.1109 10.961 18.5197C11.5109 18.9286 12.1749 19.1552 12.86 19.168C11.6971 20.0805 10.2611 20.5754 8.783 20.573C8.518 20.573 8.257 20.558 8 20.528C9.5011 21.4921 11.248 22.0038 13.032 22.002" fill="black"></path></svg></div></a></li><li class="SocialInsListItem-mbhR gQILrJ social-ins__list-em social-ins__list-em--email social-ins__list-em--has-background"><a aria-label="Share via Email" class="external-lk SocialInExternalLk-huuzOU etOOvH social-ins__lk social-ins__lk--email" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"mailto:?subject=Playg%20Damian%20%20Mean%20Girls%20Ma%20Daniel%20Franze%20A%20Star%20(But%20It%20Hurt%20His%20Career%2C%20Too)&" href="mailto:?subject=Playg%20Damian%20%20Mean%20Girls%20Ma%20Daniel%20Franze%20A%20Star%20(But%20It%20Hurt%20His%20Career%2C%20Too)& rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><div class="SocialInContaer-huXzUC pMzVC social-ins__in-ntaer"><svg class="SocialInNetworkInComponent-cZaKGz dlOAhZ in in-email" focable="false" viewBox="0 0 32 32" width="32" height="32" xmlns="><tle>Email</tle><path d="M6 23h20V9H6v14zm3.631-12H22.37l-6.368 5.661L9.631 11zM24 12.227V21H8v-8.773l8.002 7.109L24 12.227z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg></div></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></asi></hear></div><div data-attribute-verso-pattern="article-body" class="ArticlePageContentBackGround-cNiFNN kJkLmH article-body__ntent"><div class="ArticlePageChunksContent-etcMtP bwyLBj"><div data-ttid="ArticlePageChunks" class="ArticlePageChunks-fLyCVG eOdfIs"><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p>About five mut to <em>Mean Girls</em>, Damian (played by Daniel Franze) asks Cady (Ldsay Lohan), a girl he’s never met, a qutn: “Is that your natural hair lor? It’s <em>geo</em>.” He then leans over, tak a chunk of Cady’s hair his hand, and holds to his own. “See! This is the lor I want,” he gtur to his bt iend, Janis (Lizzy Caplan). As Cady reels om this clear vasn of her personal bubble, Janis tak the opportuny to troduce her over-fortable pann. “This is Damian,” she tells Cady. “He’s almost too gay to functn.”</p><div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--article-mid-ntent" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--article-mid-ntent nsumer-marketg-un__slot---ntent"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><p>In 2004, when <em>Mean Girls</em> was released, characters like Damian — also known as the <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Gay Bt Friend</a> trope — were few and far between. When they did make their way to screens, they were often played as broad stereotyp meant to provoke lghs wh their stereotypil sass. While Damian was fely one of <em>Mean Girls</em>’ most reliable quote mach (I’d cred his character wh the majory of the film’s most-regnizable l), he was a noticeable improvement on the stereotype. In fact, after Janis’ troductory joke, Damian’s sexualy is rarely brought up aga. As Franze rells now, “Damian was able to jt survive and thrive as whoever he was thentilly.”</p><p>On April 30, <em>Mean Girls</em> turns 15. Ahead of a <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">stand up performance</a> celebratg the anniversary at Comic Strip Live New York Cy, <em>them.</em> spoke wh Franze about the role that tapulted him to fame. The actor has lnched a <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">succsful</a> <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">stand-up</a> <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">reer</a> the years sce while takg on other memorable rol, like Eddie, the HIV+ bear he played on HBO’s <em>Lookg</em>. But as he adms durg our nversatn, portrayg a character like Damian was somethg of a double-edged sword, too.</p><div class="Contaer-bkChBi byNLHx"></div><p><strong>What was the early stg procs for <em>Mean Girls</em>?</strong></p><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad---ntent"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot---ntent" data-no-id="pilz54"></div></div><p>The stg director that put me <em>Party Monster</em> lled me for Damian; the script said that he was “probably fat and fely gay,” which I thought was hysteril. I read for her and that was all I heard about . That was Sprg. In Fall, they were still lookg for the character, so she was like, “I’m gog to have you read for Ta Fey and Mark Waters.” They liked my dn, but everyone thought I was too old. I was 26 and I was playg 16. But Rachel McAdams was 28!</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB kNleGZ sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="Contaer-bkChBi byNLHx"></div><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="03lgg"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan full-bleed-ad row-mid-ntent-ad"><div class="StickyMidContentAdWrapper-fSBzwl drzyIa ad-stickymidntent"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--mid-ntent should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--mid-ntent" data-no-id="9727z"></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p>Eventually, they flew me out to LA for a table read — but I still didn’t have the part! The table read was like my fal dn. I did so well durg the table read that I ma Lorne Michaels do a sp-take, while the guy who was origally playg Aaron Samuels got fired. He was stg next to me. He was an actor that everyone would know and he jt got fired on the spot.</p><div data-attr-viewport-monor="le-recirc" class="le-recirc-wrapper le-recirc-observer-target-1 viewport-monor-anchor"></div><p><strong>So there was another Aaron Samuels origally?</strong></p><p>Yeah. He was like 16. They asked him to shave and take his hat off and s up straight, but he kept playg ol — jt slouchg and half-assg . And I was next to him gog full-force tryg to get that part. Nobody was gog to stop me.</p><p><strong>How do you thk Damian f to the leage of the “gay bt iend” trope film?</strong></p><p>I thk Damian was the first gay role I saw where the character was jt fortable beg himself and there wasn’t too much foc on his beg gay. He was able to jt survive and thrive as whoever he was thentilly. I remember Ta and Mark sayg that Damian probably hadn’t even had his first kiss yet. You knew he was gay. You knew that Janis knew. But other than that, was kd of like, “[My sexualy] is somethg I’m gog to check out after school.” I hadn’t really seen that perspective before.</p><p><strong>Do you have a favore le om the movie?</strong></p><p>I really like “<a href=">I want my pk shirt back</a>,” bee ’s the one le I got to improvise.</p><p><strong>“<a href=">Oh my god, Danny DeVo, I love your work</a>” is me — pecially sce, recent years, he’s bee such a stan-worthy in thanks to <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">his</a> <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Twter</a> <a data-offer-url=" class="external-lk" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLk","outgogURL":"" href=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">prence</a>.</strong></p><p>I actually got to meet him last year! I went up to him and said, “Du, I’m the guy that says, ‘Danny Devo, I love your work’ <em>Mean Girls</em>” and he gave me a fist-bump.</p><div data-attr-viewport-monor="le-recirc" class="le-recirc-wrapper le-recirc-observer-target-2 viewport-monor-anchor"></div><p><strong>I want to talk about <a href=">your performance of “Betiful”</a> at the North Shore Talent Show.</strong></p><p>Funny story: Lda Perry, who wrote the song, wasn’t gog to release for the movie. But they told her that my character was gay and that’s why she let me sg the movie. They gave me a whole list of songs at first and said, “If we n’t get ‘Betiful,’ the are the alternativ.” I remember I was gog to sg the Whney Hoton song “One Moment In Time” stead. But then, bee my character was gay, Lda Perry allowed me to sg “Betiful.”</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jxBcTH sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="p46gr9"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div><div data-attr-viewport-monor="" class="RecircMostPopularWrapper-bRuGTi jkTTgR recirc-most-popular-wrapper viewport-monor-anchor"><div class="RecircMostPopularConter-jiViNn ktrplG recirc-most-popular-sparrow-trackg hi-asi-ad" data-most-popular-id="mod-most-popular-257"><div class="RecircMostPopularHeadg-iVzhzt jKtkdT">Most Popular</div><ul class="RecircMostPopularItems-dCAajf gqcRrp"><li><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff lhloqq summary-em summary-em--has-borr summary-em--ARTICLE summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-si-by-si summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-33-66 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw jykXPG" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href=" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-1" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz cCcPgL"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="This TikTok Acunt Prov It’s Not Drag Queens Who Are “Groomg” Kids. 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aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-3" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz cCcPgL"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="A Teen Boy Wh Autism Was Acsted by a Transphobe for Usg the Bathroom" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj 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summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz cCcPgL"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="Barbie Pissed Ben Shapiro Off So Bad He Ma a 40-Mute Vio About It" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Entertament</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM jRfyII summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href=" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ jbVqqA summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed"><em>Barbie</em> Pissed Ben Shapiro Off So Bad He Ma a 40-Mute Vio About It</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Abby Monteil</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw gmWMTZ ad ad--asi"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--asi" data-no-id="odl96r"></div></div></li></ul><div class="RecircMostPopularFooter-enPjgs laPXdt"></div></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan full-bleed-ad row-mid-ntent-ad"><div class="StickyMidContentAdWrapper-fSBzwl drzyIa ad-stickymidntent"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--mid-ntent should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--mid-ntent" data-no-id="daziz"></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p><strong>You didn’t e out publicly until years after the film me out. How was to play such a visibly queer character at a time when you were the closet yourself?</strong></p><p>It was actually pretty nerve-wrackg. I was randomly datg somebody Toronto before we even started filmg there. He wanted to vis the set, but I always got nervo and I’d troduce him as my iend. It was jt weird and actually ed our relatnship and we stopped datg. But Jonathan Bent [Aaron Samuels] and I me out to each other. We were secretly gog out to clubs together. We were actg a certa way ont of people volved the movie and tryg to live a double life. But I don’t thk would have affected the role at all if I was out or not bee I thk Ta probably thought I was gay when she first hired me anyway.</p><p>I wasn’t proven wrong. As soon as the movie was over, I kept meetg the gay glass ceilg. They wouldn’t let me dn for straight rol. I wasn’t gettg lled for thgs I was normally dng for. I had been gettg lled for <em>The Sopranos,</em> and seemed like I was circlg gettg on the show at some pot, bee I’m Italian and om New York. But after <em>Mean Girls</em>, <em>The Sopranos</em> dns dried up. I had bee famo for playg one thg, but Hollywood, a very What-Have-You-Done-For-Me-Lately town, jt didn’t thk my talent uld go beyond that.</p><asi aria-hidn="te" class="PullQuoteEmbedWrapper-sc-EoVjf fQbAzo"><div class="PullQuoteDerativeBorr-sc-iUyOLj fAzNVP"></div><div class="PullQuoteEmbedContent-sc-kTcfhx eoUd"><p>I stayed unemployed for many years after <em>Mean Girls</em> bee I refed to go backwards on the movement. I turned down a lot of money as my fame was risg. And to be famo and not have money? It’s a very weird thg to be famo and not be able to pay your rent.</p></div></asi><p><strong>Did feel weird to go after this role knowg there uld be negative repercsns for your reer?</strong></p><p>I felt that way a ltle b, but was so funny and well wrten that didn’t matter. Damian wasn’t ma fun of; he was celebrated. I prayed about a b and if I was gog to do a gay role, was gog to be this one. But then, immediately after, I was offered all the other gay parts that were all so stereotypil — jt makg fun of gays. I was like, “You know what? I n’t.”</p><p>I stayed unemployed for many years after <em>Mean Girls</em> bee I refed to go backwards on the movement. I turned down a lot of money as my fame was risg. And to be famo and not have money? It’s a very weird thg to be famo and not be able to pay your rent. But I felt that there was a progrsn gaysploatn cema. I felt myself phg the envelope, so if I jt held out, somethg worthy would e along.</p><div data-attr-viewport-monor="le-recirc" class="le-recirc-wrapper le-recirc-observer-target-3 viewport-monor-anchor"></div><p><strong>You eventually got the role of Eddie HBO’s <em>Lookg</em>, which I thk is the perfect reprentatn of what you said you were holdg out for.</strong></p><p>Y. It was difficult though, bee I waed ten years for somethg like that — a role that was that important. That role was so eeg for me bee I had e out of the closet and I was offered whout even havg to dn. It jt felt so serendipo — felt like somethg I was supposed to be dog, to be on a set where ’s not only okay to be gay but was ol to be gay. It was nice to m to that for a project on HBO and play a character that was HIV+ and loved not spe of but bee of .</p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jxBcTH sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="shoan"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div><div data-attr-viewport-monor="" class="RecircMostPopularWrapper-bRuGTi jkTTgR recirc-most-popular-wrapper viewport-monor-anchor"><div class="RecircMostPopularConter-jiViNn ktrplG recirc-most-popular-sparrow-trackg hi-asi-ad" data-most-popular-id="mod-most-popular-258"><div class="RecircMostPopularHeadg-iVzhzt jKtkdT">Most Popular</div><ul class="RecircMostPopularItems-dCAajf gqcRrp"><li><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff lhloqq summary-em summary-em--has-borr summary-em--ARTICLE summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-si-by-si summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-33-66 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw jykXPG" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href=" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-1" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz cCcPgL"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="This TikTok Acunt Prov It’s Not Drag Queens Who Are “Groomg” Kids. 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summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">News</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM jRfyII summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-3" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href=" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ jbVqqA summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">A Teen Boy Wh Autism Was Acsted by a Transphobe for Usg the Bathroom</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Samantha Riel</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff lhloqq summary-em summary-em--has-borr summary-em--ARTICLE summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-si-by-si summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-33-66 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw jykXPG" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href=" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz cCcPgL"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg egpoQR summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="Barbie Pissed Ben Shapiro Off So Bad He Ma a 40-Mute Vio About It" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Entertament</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM jRfyII summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href=" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ jbVqqA summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed"><em>Barbie</em> Pissed Ben Shapiro Off So Bad He Ma a 40-Mute Vio About It</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name">Abby Monteil</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></li><li><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ RecircMostPopularSummaryItem-jQxxiw gmWMTZ ad ad--asi"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--asi" data-no-id="wa2azw"></div></div></li></ul><div class="RecircMostPopularFooter-enPjgs laPXdt"></div></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan full-bleed-ad row-mid-ntent-ad"><div class="StickyMidContentAdWrapper-fSBzwl drzyIa ad-stickymidntent"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--mid-ntent should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--mid-ntent" data-no-id="sgsmue"></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ArticlePageChunksGrid-hfxa bjczjj grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="BodyWrapper-kufPGa bectqB body body__ntaer article__body" data-journey-hook="client-ntent" data-ttid="BodyWrapper"><div class="body__ner-ntaer"><p><strong>Eddie also provid some much-need bear reprentatn on TV.</strong></p><p>Even wh our own LGBTQ+ muny, there’s a lack of people of size shown pop culture. It was nice to play a sexualized bigger male. I hadn’t really seen that before that much, if at all.</p><p>I’ve dated guys that have fetishized bigger men and I’ve heard om multiple of them that one of the reasons they were attracted to is bee of seeg Jam Gandolfi wh his shirt off <em>The Sopranos</em>. It sounds funny, but if you’re not seeg that on TV, how do you know what’s attractive? A lot of tim, mercials or on ss, the guy of size is ed as the butt of a joke for beg big. But when we show him sexually — Jam Gandolfi sleepg wh his Rsian girliend on <em>The Sopranos</em> or Eddie havg sex wh Agtín on <em>Lookg</em> — ’s an opportuny to go, “Damn, that looks kd of hot.”</p><p><strong>Fally, honor of <em>Mean Girls</em>’ 15 year anniversary, I want to know what your favore scene to film was and why.</strong></p><p>I loved filmg the part where I sg “Betiful,” bee when I’m sgg , the only person the dience that day was my mom and she was hysterilly lghg. She had e to vis Toronto and me, her, and Lizzy Caplan stayed up that night and ma pepperoni bread for the st and crew.</p><p><em>This terview has been eded and nnsed for clary.</em></p><div data-attr-viewport-monor="le-recirc" class="le-recirc-wrapper le-recirc-observer-target-4 viewport-monor-anchor"></div><p><strong>Get the bt of what's queer.</strong> <em><a href=">Sign up for our weekly newsletter here.</a></em></p></div></div></div><div class="GridItem-buujkM fVLMby grid--em grid-layout__asi"><div class="StickyBoxWrapper-jfYB jxBcTH sticky-box"><div class="StickyBoxPrimary-dzWDWL cdhYoN sticky-box__primary"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--rail"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--rail" data-no-id="yz8wtm"></div></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--display-rail" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--display-rail"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></div><div class="StickyBoxPlaceholr-grPmrg dxAvXx"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 PaywallInleBarrierWhWrapperGrid-fyrGfS kLQIUk grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="body body__le-barrier article__body"><div class="ntaer ntaer--body"><div class="ntaer--body-ner"><asi class="PaywallInleBarrierWrapper-iBnuqk lfXXa-D" data-ttid="PaywallInleBarrierWrapper"><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--paywall-le-barrier" role="prentatn" aria-live="pole" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--paywall-le-barrier"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div></asi></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 ContentWrapperGrid-fvkmBv brYtrA grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div class="body body__ntaer"><div class="ntaer ntaer--body"><div class="ntaer--body-ner"></div></div></div></div></div></div></article><div class="ContentFooterWrapper-jVNdRG dTJkpP ArticlePageContentFooterGrid-ccsXYy eMZRHU article-body__footer"><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan"><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan"><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK kHBDeH grid grid-margs grid-ems-2 grid-layout--adrail narrow wi-adrail"><div class="GridItem-buujkM stRKV grid--em grid-layout__ntent"><div data-ttid="TagCloudWrapper" class="TagCloudWrapper-gGgndx jkqdij ContentFooterTagCloud-krQmRG ZLGh"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ TagCloudSectnHear-cOforY iUEiRd chxZaG kQQRmu">Tags</span><a href="/tags/mean-girls" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM TagCloudLk-kvjZFu iUEiRd hSmufO fWJQiy hIhJOI"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ TagCloudName-eAUnLd iUEiRd gSGCJB bUkXwu">mean girls</span></a><a href="/tags/terviews" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM TagCloudLk-kvjZFu iUEiRd hSmufO fWJQiy hIhJOI"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ TagCloudName-eAUnLd iUEiRd gSGCJB bUkXwu">terviews</span></a><a href="/tags/evergreen" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM TagCloudLk-kvjZFu iUEiRd hSmufO fWJQiy hIhJOI"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ TagCloudName-eAUnLd iUEiRd gSGCJB bUkXwu">evergreen</span></a><a href="/tags/daniel-anze" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BaseLk-eNWuiM TagCloudLk-kvjZFu iUEiRd hSmufO fWJQiy hIhJOI"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ TagCloudName-eAUnLd iUEiRd gSGCJB bUkXwu">Daniel Franze</span></a></div></div></div></div><div data-ttid="ContentFooterBottom" class="ContentFooterBottom-jwWZfC kcbyiW"><div class="ntent-bottom-anchor"></div><div class="ConsumerMarketgUnThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut nsumer-marketg-un nsumer-marketg-un--article-footer" role="prentatn" aria-hidn="te"><div class="nsumer-marketg-un__slot nsumer-marketg-un__slot--article-footer"></div><div class="journey-un"></div></div><div data-attr-viewport-monor="" class="recirc-list-wrapper viewport-monor-anchor"><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan ContentFooterRelated-kEBiFe kVUuwq"><div class="GridWrapper-cAzTTK eRggVV grid grid-margs grid-ems-0 SummaryCollectnGridComponent-ktyEog bdTTVU summary-llectn-grid RecircListDefltOverlaySummaryCollectnGrid-AHJhY bEaXiL recirc-list__ems summary-llectn-grid--four-lumns summary-llectn-grid--TextBelowLeft"><div class="GridItem-buujkM kHPPIF grid--em"><div class="SummaryCollectnGridContent-eVUpRm gOErDJ"><div class="SectnTleRoot-dBGvdq iEHvtl SummaryCollectnGridSectnTle-fCmYwG izjbVn" data-ttid="SectnTle"><hear class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ SectnTleHed-dKqZet dxqEAa dvxNrX jttyjJ">Read More</hear></div><div class="SummaryCollectnGridItems-DZShR jbbmwr hi-read-more-ad" data-ttid="SummaryCollectnGridItems"><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff gjCHLu summary-em summary-em--has-le summary-em--article summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-text-below summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-50-50 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard SummaryCollectnGridSummaryItem-WColm hCwuiO" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href="/story/mean-girls-broadway-grey-henson" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-1" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz cCcPgL"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="For Mean Girls on Broadway, "Too Gay to Functn" Is a Mantra" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-1" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/mean-girls-broadway-grey-henson" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ kBFaWv summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">For <em>Mean Girls</em> on Broadway, "Too Gay to Functn" Is a Mantra</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span>Keaton Bell</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff gjCHLu summary-em summary-em--has-le summary-em--article summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-text-below summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-50-50 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard SummaryCollectnGridSummaryItem-WColm hCwuiO" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href="/story/dt-lance-black-mamas-boy" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-2" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz cCcPgL"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="Read Me: Dt Lance Black’s New Memoir Is a Powerful Story of Fay and Renciliatn" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-2" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/dt-lance-black-mamas-boy" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ kBFaWv summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">Read Me: Dt Lance Black’s New Memoir Is a Powerful Story of Fay and Renciliatn</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span>Elyssa Goodman</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff gjCHLu summary-em summary-em--has-le summary-em--article summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-text-below summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-50-50 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard SummaryCollectnGridSummaryItem-WColm hCwuiO" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href="/story/ian-alexanr-terview" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-3" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz cCcPgL"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="The OA's Ian Alexanr Explas Why Hollywood Has No Exce Not to Cast Trans Actors" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-3" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/ian-alexanr-terview" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ kBFaWv summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed"><em>The OA's</em> Ian Alexanr Explas Why Hollywood Has No Exce Not to Cast Trans Actors</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span>Michael Cuby</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ SummaryCollectnGridSummaryItem-WColm hCwuiO ad ad--read-more"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--read-more" data-no-id="5l10k"></div></div><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff gjCHLu summary-em summary-em--has-le summary-em--article summary-em--no-in summary-em--text-align-left summary-em--layout-placement-text-below summary-em--layout-posn-image-left summary-em--layout-proportns-50-50 summary-em--si-by-si-align-center summary-em--si-by-si-image-right-mobile-false summary-em--standard SummaryCollectnGridSummaryItem-WColm hCwuiO" role="button" tabx="0"><div class="SummaryItemAssetContaer-gwhFFH VOyg summary-em__asset-ntaer"><a class="SummaryItemImageLk-dshqxb cPpCwE summary-em__image-lk summary-em-trackg__image-lk" href="/story/alex-strangelove-rise-reprentatn" aria-hidn="te" tabx="-1" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-image-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" target="_self"><span class="SpanWrapper-umhxW kGxnNB rponsive-asset SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image"><div data-tt="aspect-rat-ntaer" class="AspectRatContaer-bJHpJz cCcPgL"><div class="aspect-rat--overlay-ntaer"><picture class="RponsiveImagePicture-cWuUZO dUOtEa SummaryItemRponsiveAsset-hjGIGg bDvSkO summary-em__image rponsive-image"><noscript><source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><source media="(m-width: 768px)" srcSet=" 120w, 240w, 320w, 640w" siz="100vw"/><img alt="Actors From Alex Strangelove and Rise Talk Queer Reprentatn Hollywood" class="RponsiveImageContaer-eybHBd fptoWY rponsive-image__image" src="></noscript></picture></div></div></span></a></div><div class="SummaryItemContent-eiDYMl XMZX summary-em__ntent"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric SummaryItemRubric-dguGKN lapGFj summary-em__bric"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></div><a class="SummaryItemHedLk-civM dVrbhU summary-em-trackg__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk summary-em__hed-lk--unrle-disable" data-ponent-type="recirc-river" data-recirc-id="em-hed-4" data-recirc-pattern="summary-em" href="/story/alex-strangelove-rise-reprentatn" target="_self"><div data-ttid="ClampWrapper" class="ClampWrapper-kZxfkB hTTNGO clamp SummaryItemHedBase-hiFYpQ kBFaWv summary-em__hed"><div class="ClampContent-hilPkr jVhSBH"><div class="SummaryItemHedTag-TWblf gxaOcP" data-ttid="SummaryItemHed">Actors From <em>Alex Strangelove</em> and <em>Rise</em> Talk Queer Reprentatn Hollywood</div></div></div></a><div class="SummaryItemByleWrapper-boCfbi cuRXdL summary-em__byle-date-in"><div class="SummaryItemBaseByle-fFbXkY dHMSJg summary-em__byle"><div class="summary-em__byle__ntent"><div data-ttid="BylWrapper" class="BylWrapper-KIudk irTIfE byl"><p class="ByleWrapper-jWHrLH ecFEgL byle byl__byle" data-ttid="ByleWrapper" emProp="thor" emType="><span emProp="name" class="ByleNamWrapper-jbHncj fuDQVo"><span data-ttid="ByleName" class="ByleName-kwmrLn cYaBaU byle__name"><span class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ BylePreamble-iJolpQ iUEiRd bCbgyH gnILss byle__preamble">By </span>Ellie Dtels</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="SummaryCollectnGridToActnWrapper-gnReGN eGayfk"></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan"><div class="TaboolaWrapper-hMVdpE iYfBhy"><div class="TaboolaWidgetWrapper-egPIjc hkSrgt TaboolaWidget-eUSdED hQCCRa" data-ttid="TaboolaWidgetWrapper"><div class="TaboolaWidgetContent-iBEQTO eXroXG TABOOLA" id="taboola-below-article-thumbnails---f" data-ttid="TaboolaWidgetContent"></div></div></div></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan"><div class="AdWrapper-dQtivb fZrssQ ad ad--footer should-hold-space"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--footer" data-no-id="zsx1sk"></div></div></div></div></div></ma><div class="BasePageMaFooterFiller-hTlZph jSriYf page__ma-footer-filler"></div><div class="RowWrapper-UmqTg HEhan"><div 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