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Taye Diggs is makg his theater eback, playg a gay character the h Broadway mil, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Diggs jos a select list of Black actors who have played gay characters on the big and small screen. Flip through for some of our favore gay and lbian portrayals on TV and film.

Contents:

STRAIGHT ACTORS WHO HAVE PLAYED GAY CHARACTERS

Jam Corn's performance as a gay man "The Prom" was lambasted, but Ewan McGregor's turn "Halston" has been acclaimed. * famous actors who played gay roles *

"Roger Ebert wrote: "He plays the role not as a man pretendg to be a woman, and not as a woman trapped a man's body, and not as a parody of a woman, and not as a gay man, but as a drag queen, perd: Lola, a tall, athletic performer thigh-high red boots who l the stage of a drag club as if she were born there, and is a pretty good sger, too. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, both straight, were both Osr-nomated for their performanc (Ledger lead, Gyllenhaal supportg) this film about two men fallg love and ntug their affair for film sred 87% on Rotten Tomato, wh the se's cril nsens readg: "A betifully epic Wtern, 'Brokeback Mounta''s gay love story is imbued wh heartbreakg universaly, helped by the movg performanc of Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. In ‘Philalphia, ’ one of the first mastream Hollywood films to acknowledge issu like HIV/AIDS, homosexualy, and homophobia, Hanks played the role of Andrew Beckett, a gay lawyer.

20 GREAT ROL: OUR FAVORE STRAIGHT ACTORS WHO HAVE PLAYED GAY CHARACTERS

Due to the greater acceptance of homosexualy today's society, we are seeg a rise the reprentatn of gay characters mastream cema. One tertg pot is that often the gay characters are played by straight people. * famous actors who played gay roles *

Borelli opened up about his sexualy and the importance of reprentatn a 2018 Instagram post: "As a gay guy myself, tonight's episo was so special to me.

10 STRAIGHT ACTORS WHO REFE TO PLAY GAY ROL (AND 10 WHO DON'T MD)

* famous actors who played gay roles *

As to why he didn't publicly nfirm his sexualy durg the show's first n, spe prsure om the LGBTQ muny, Hay told the Los Angel Tim that he was overwhelmed: "I didn’t want the rponsibily, I didn’t know how to handle the rponsibily of speakg for the gay muny. A few months after he first began playg gay ary veteran Alex Man on Roswell, New Mexi, Blackburn revealed to the Advote that he's intified as bisexual sce he was a teenager, but he'd supprsed his attractn to men for a long time. "In light of Jamey’s ath, beme clear to me an stant that livg a gay life whout publicly acknowledgg is simply not enough to make any signifint ntributn to the immense work that li ahead on the road to plete equaly, " Quto wrote.

Sean Penn won his send Osr for Bt Actor a Leadg Role 2009 after playg famo gay rights activist and California's first openly gay elected official Harvey Milk Milk.

Darren Criss won a Primetime Emmy 2018 and a Goln Globe 2019 after playg gay, Filipo-Amerin serial killer Andrew Cunanan FX's The Assassatn of Gianni Versace: Amerin Crime Story. Bros, which marks the first-ever gay rom- om a major stud and featur a prcipal LGBTQ+ st, follows the dysfunctnal relatnship between podster and rad show host Bobby Lieber (Billy Eichner) and real tate lawyer slash jock Aaron Shepard (Le Macfarlane). The former GAY TIMES ver star has ntuoly ed his platform to advote for LGBTQ+ rights on social media and through his mic; his song Gay Street Fighter celebrat the LGBTQ+ muny and clar war on homophobia.

14 MOST MEMORABLE GAY CHARACTERS PLAYED BY NON-GAY ACTORS

The bate over whether or not straight actors should play gay rol isn’t gog to die down any time soon. * famous actors who played gay roles *

Starrg the Billy on the Street alum as Bobby Lieber, the host of a New York podst and rad show lled The Eleventh Brick at Stonewall, Bros follows the character as he accepts a posn as a curator for Manhattan’s upg Natnal LGBTQ+ History Mm and and falls for Aaron Shepard (Le Macfarlane), a handsome “Tom Brady”-que gay.

In an terview wh GAY TIMES earlier this year, Eichner said of the historic film: “We are jt so hungry as LGBTQ+ people, as gay men, to see accurate, multi-dimensnal and genuely funny and genuely smart pictns of ourselv that we don’t get. ” He also explaed that was ccial for the dialogue Bros to reflect how he and his queer circle teract everyday life by pictg gay people as “funny, sad, lonely, extremely nfint, msy, brave, horny and hypocril adult human begs.

In his 2020 digal ver story wh GAY TIMES, Silva paid homage to the pneers who “harvted the us” long before him and ma possible for queer love to be mastream on televisn.

BLACK ACTORS WHO PLAYED GAY MALE CHARACTERS

Many Hollywood stars, om Naveen Andrews to Robert Redford, have played gay or bisexual rol that range om the surprisg to the nearly fotten. Here are 10 of them. * famous actors who played gay roles *

Scht’s Creek won rave reviews throughout s six-season n for s plete absence of homophobia the storyle and portrayal of David Rose – played by -creator Dan Levy – and his sexualy, due to the lack of openly pansexual characters on televisn. Levy, who is gay and has been out to his loved on sce he was 18, ma history when the sixth and fal season of the Canadian edy swept all seven major tegori at the Primetime Emmy Awards – the first time for a edy or drama.

Wily nsired as Pose’s breakout character, Elektra Wtour has been ducted to Gay Twter’s Hall of Gif Fame thanks to her snappy ebacks and legendary reads, particularly for her takedown of the pdish, transphobic whe woman season two. The inic episo, tled The Puppy Episo, was a smash h the ratgs – garnerg over 42 ln viewers – and was hailed as the “most hyped, anticipated, and possibly fluential gay moment on televisn”. Yang, who also appeared a meo role Bros, has been a featured player on Saturday Night Live sce 2019; beg the long-nng sketch show’s first Che-Amerin, first Atrasian-Amerin, third openly gay male and fourth-ever st member of Asian scent.

Although Will & Grace’s Jack McFarland has received mixed reviews over the years for beg a ‘stereotypil’ gay due to his flamboyancy (bee for some reason, that’s bad), ’s important to note his impact as one of televisn’s first long-nng and openly gay characters. Like her character, Reign is a proud member of the trans muny and told GAY TIMES earlier this year that the rom- – and s thentic stg – is proof that the “world is changg”.

TEN ACTORS WHO PLAYED {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY KARMAN KREGLOEAPRIL 16, 2007/8:51 PMBY KARMAN KREGLOEAPRIL 16, 2007 / 8:51 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"TEN ACTORS WHO PLAYED GAY","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-04-17T00:51:37.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-04-17T00:51:37.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"KARMAN KREGLOE","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ROOT AROUND THE ANNALS OF MOVIE AND TELEVISN HISTORY, AND YOU MAY BE SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF FAMO ACTORS WHO HAVE GAY OR BISEXUAL ROL THEIR PASTS. BEFORE LEONARDO DICAPR ROMANCED CLAIRE DAN OR KATE WSLET, HE WAS DAVID THEWLIS' LOVER TOTAL ECLIPSE (1995). BEFORE HUGH GRANT BEME THE GO-TO GUY FOR STRAIGHT ROMANTIC EDI, HE PLAYED GAY MRICE (1987) AND THE TV MOVIE OUR SONS (1991). EVEN WILL SMH PLAYED A GAY ROLE THE 1993 FILM SIX DEGRE OF SEPARATN, THOUGH HE REFED TO KISS A MAN ON MERA. IT JT GO TO SHOW THAT PLAYG GAY IS NOT THE REER-KILLER WAS ONCE THOUGHT TO BE. HERE ARE 10 OF TODAY'S TV AND FILM STARS WHO PLAYED GAY OR BISEXUAL ROL — MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN NEARLY FOTTEN — EARLIER THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}10. JACK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COLEMAN CURRENTLY PLAYS MR. BEN, FATHER OF PERKY BLOND CHEERLEAR CLAIRE, ON THE H NBC SCI-FI DRAMA HERO. BUT NOT ALL VIEWERS OF THE SHOW MAY REMEMBER THAT COLEMAN HAD HIS OWN DAYS OF PERKY BLONDNS. FROM 1982–88, HE STARRED ON DYNASTY AS THE SEND ACTOR TO PLAY STEVEN CARRGTON, GAY SON OF THE SHOW'S MA FAY AND ONE OF THE EARLIT QUEER CHARACTERS ON AMERIN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE SHOW STGGLED TO KEEP STEVEN'S ORIENTATN STRAIGHT, SO TO SPEAK. HE WAS MARRIED TWICE TO WOMEN, FATHERG A CHILD WH ONE OF THEM. BUT HE ALSO HAD SEVERAL MALE LOVERS, ONE OF WHOM WAS PLAYED BY GRANT GOOVE OF EIGHT IS ENOUGH FAME. RELLG THE CHARACTER OF STEVEN CARRGTON, COLEMAN RECENTLY TOLD TV GUI: "[STEVEN] WAS SO TIMID BY TODAY'S STANDARDS, PECIALLY LOOKG AT WHAT'S ON BLE, WH THE L WORD, QUEER AS FOLK AND SHOWS LIKE THAT. … IT WAS VERY MUCH THE DONNA REED SHOW TERMS OF FOUR FEET ON THE FLOOR, NOBODY ACTUALLY EVER TOUCHG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}9 AND 8. JAM PUREFOY AND KEV MCKIDD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE RECENTLY-NCLUD HBO HISTORIL DRAMA ROME, JAM PUREFOY PLAYS MARK ANTONY, THE LEGENDARY GENERAL, AND KEV MCKIDD PLAYS LUCI VOREN, A MONER. THOUGH ROME WON EMMY AWARDS FOR VISUAL EFFECTS, HAIRSTYLG, ART DIRECTN AND STUM, THE SHOW HAS BEEN NOTABLE FOR MOSTLY STEERG CLEAR OF ANOTHER ASPECT OF ANCIENT ROMAN SOCIETY: MALE HOMOSEXUAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THIS WASN'T THE SE THE LAST TIME MCKIDD AND PUREFOY SHARED A SCREEN. IN 1998, THEY STARRED TOGETHER THE BRISH ROMANTIC EDY BEDROOMS AND HALLWAYS. MCKIDD PLAYED LEO, A GAY-INTIFIED MAN STARTG TO BE TERTED A WOMAN. PUREFOY PLAYED BRENDAN, A STRAIGHT-INTIFIED MAN STARTG TO BE TERTED LEO. IN THE PROCS OF EXPLORG THEIR SEXUAL INTI, THE TWO MEN HAVE AN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}7. NAVEEN ANDREWS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BEFORE HE WAS ST AS FORMER IRAQI SOLDIER SAYID JARRAH ABC'S LOST, THIS BRISH ACTOR WAS PROBABLY BT KNOWN TO AMERIN VIEWERS FOR HIS ROLE AS KIP THE 1996 FILM THE ENGLISH PATIENT. BUT BEFORE EHER OF THOSE ROL, ANDREWS CREATED A SPLASH THE U.K. BY STARRG THE 1993 BBC MISERI THE BUDDHA OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WRTEN BY HANIF KUREISHI (WHO ALSO WROTE THE CLASSIC GAY MOVIE MY BETIFUL LNDRETTE), BUDDHA IS THE STORY OF KARIM AMIR, A YOUNG, BISEXUAL BRISH INDIAN GROWG UP LONDON THE '70S. IMPATIENT WH FIXED TEGORI, WHETHER NATNAL OR SEXUAL, KARIM HAS LOVERS CLUDG ELEANOR (PLAYED BY JEMMA REDGRAVE), A PRIVILEGED YOUNG ACTRS, BUT ALSO CHARLIE KAY (PLAYED BY STEVEN MACKTOSH), A DAVID BOWIE-LIKE FIGURE WHO GO ON TO BEE AN TERNATNAL PUNK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}6. RSELL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 2001, ATRALIAN ACTOR-TURNED-HOLLYWOOD STAR CROWE STARRED THE OSR-WNG FILM A BETIFUL MD. A LOOSE BPIC OF AMERIN MATHEMATICIAN JOHN FORB NASH, THE FILM ED A FUROR THE GAY MUNY OVER CLAIMS THAT THE FILMMAKERS HAD WHEWASHED NASH'S ALLEGED BISEXUALY (EVEN THOUGH NASH HIMSELF NI BEG BISEXUAL). CROWE WAS RID FOR HIS FENSE OF THE FILM, SAYG THAT THE FILMMAKERS DIDN'T WANT TO EQUATE HOMOSEXUALY WH NASH'S SCHIZOPHRENIA, AND ALSO THAT THERE WAS A TY, TWO-SEND SCENE WHICH ULD DITE NASH'S POSSIBLE TERT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT SOME MAY HAVE FOTTEN THE FLYG ACCATNS OF HOMOPHOBIA AND CENSORSHIP WAS THAT CROWE HAD ALREADY PROVEN HIMSELF WILLG TO PLAY A GAY ROLE. IN 1994, HE STARRED THE ATRALIAN FILM THE SUM OF US AS JEFF MCHELL, AN OUT GAY MAN LIVG WH HIS WIDOWER FATHER, HARRY. HAVG A FORTABLE RELATNSHIP, JEFF AND HARRY SUPPORT EACH OTHER THROUGH THEIR ROMANTIC UPS AND DOWNS, AS HARRY DAT A WOMAN HE MET THROUGH A PUTER DATG SERVICE, AND JEFF EXPLOR A RELATNSHIP WH A MAN NAMED GREG (PLAYED BY JOHN POLSON).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}5. AL PACO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ARGUABLY AMERI'S MOST RENOWNED LIVG MOVIE ACTOR, PACO HAS PLAYED QUEER OR QUASI-QUEER NO FEWER THAN THREE TIM. IN 1976, HE RECEIVED AN OSR NOMATN FOR HIS LEAD ROLE AS THE BISEXUAL BANK ROBBER SONNY WORTZIK THE FACT-BASED DRAMA DOG DAY AFTERNOON. MARRIED WH CHILDREN, SONNY ALSO HAS A MALE LOVER, LEON (PLAYED BY CHRIS SARANDON), WHOM HE HAS "MARRIED" A BIGAMO CEREMONY. LEON WANTS A SEX-CHANGE OPERATN, AND SONNY CIS THAT HE WILL HOLD UP A BANK ORR TO PAY FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ORIGAL SCRIPT REPORTEDLY NTAED A SCENE WHERE SONNY AND LEON KISS EACH OTHER GOODBYE ON THE STREET — A SCENE THAT PACO REFED TO PLAY. BUT THIS RULTED WHAT MANY FEEL IS THE MOST POWERFUL MOMENT THE MOVIE: SONNY AND LEON SAY GOODBYE TO EACH OTHER OVER THE TELEPHONE, UNAWARE THAT THE PS ARE LISTENG ON THEIR LL. EVEN IF THE MOVIE SHIRKED SHOWG PHYSIL AFFECTN, DIDN'T DOWNPLAY THE EMOTNAL ATTACHMENT BETWEEN THE TWO MEN. WHILE DRAFTG HIS WILL, SONNY REFERENC "MY DARLG WIFE LEON WHOM I LOVE AS NO OTHER MAN HAS LOVED ANOTHER MAN ALL ETERNY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 1980, PACO SIGNED ON TO PLAY NEW YORK P STEVE BURNS WILLIAM FRIEDK'S THRILLER CISG. HUGELY NTROVERSIAL THE GAY MUNY AT THE TIME, THE FILM SHOWS HOW BURNS — AN APPARENT HETEROSEXUAL WH A GIRLIEND — IS SENT UNRVER THE GAY LEATHER SCENE ORR TO TRACK DOWN A SERIAL KILLER WHO HAS BEEN TARGETG GAY MEN. THE ASSIGNMENT LEADS HIM TO QUTN HIS OWN SEXUALY AS HE VISS THE LEATHER BARS AND VELOPS A IENDSHIP WH A GAY MAN, TED (PLAYED BY DON SRDO), WHO IS NOT PART OF THE SCENE. VIEWED BY SOME AS GROUNDBREAKG AND LIBERATELY AMBIGUO, AND BY OTHERS AS AN HERENT AND HOMOPHOBIC MS, THE FILM IS DUE OUT LATER THIS YEAR ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FALLY, THE EMMY-WNG, STAR-LAN, 2003 HBO TELEVISN ADAPTATN OF TONY KHNER'S PULZER PRIZE-WNG PLAY ANGELS AMERI, PACO PLAYED ROY COHN, A FICTNAL CHARACTER BASED ON A REAL-LIFE FIGURE OF THE MCCARTHY REGIME, A HOMOPHOBIC, HOMOSEXUAL LAWYER WHO DIED OF AIDS 1986. FOUL-MOUTHED, CHARISMATIC, BLUNTLY ANK ABOUT HIS HOMOSEXUALY TO HIS DOCTOR (PLAYED BY JAM CROMWELL) WHILE NYG TO THE RT OF THE WORLD, PACO'S COHN IS, PERHAPS UNSURPRISGLY, THE MOST MEMORABLE THG THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}4. ROBERT REDFORD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVERY GAY MOVIE VIEWER WORTH HIS SALT WANTS TO BELIEVE THAT REDFORD AND NEWMAN WERE PLAYG GAY (IF VERTLY) BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969). AND IF THE BROKEBACK MOUNTA-STYLE VER OF THE FILM'S 2006 DVD RE-RELEASE IS ANYTHG TO GO BY, TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HAS APPARENTLY HAD THE SAME {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THOSE WHO WANT TO SEE REDFORD AN ACKNOWLEDGED QUEER ROLE WILL HAVE TO MAKE DO WH THE FILM INSI DAISY CLOVER (1965). REDFORD PLAYS WA LEWIS, A HANDSOME, YOUNG MOVIE STAR WHOM OUT SCREENWRER GAV LAMBERT IALLY NCEIVED AS A CLOSETED HOMOSEXUAL. REDFORD ASKED THAT THE CHARACTER BE REWRTEN AS BISEXUAL; THE STUD GOT LD FEET OVER THE NTROVERSIAL NTENT; AND BY THE END, LEWIS' SEXUALY WAS BASILLY BOILED DOWN TO A UPLE OF L. (CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER TELLS NATALIE WOOD AFTER REDFORD HAS LEFT HER THAT "YOUR HBAND NEVER ULD RIST A CHARMG BOY."){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NEVERTHELS, WA LEWIS WAS NOTABLE BOTH FOR BEG SUCH AN EARLY QUEER CHARACTER, AND FOR THE FACT THAT — UNLIKE QUEER HOLLYWOOD MOVIE CHARACTERS BEFORE AND SCE — HE APPARENTLY GO OFF TO HAVE A PERFECTLY NICE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}3. BCE WILLIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE 1997 SPENSE THRILLER THE JACKAL (A REMAKE OF THE 1973 FILM THE DAY OF THE JACKAL), WILLIS PLAYS WHAT MIGHT SEEM LIKE A FAIRLY STANDARD ROLE FOR HIM. HE IS A HARNED, MACHO KILLER, A MAN OF ACTN AND A MASTER OF DISGUISE WHO N ASSUME MULTIPLE INTI. BUT THIS TIME, THIS KILLER'S INTI CLU A GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN WASHGTON, D.C., HE GO TO A GAY BAR, PICKS UP A GAY MAN (PLAYED BY OUT ACTOR STEPHEN SPELLA), AND KISS HIM. STRAIGHT MALE WILLIS FANS MIGHT HOWL AT THE IA THAT "THE JACKAL" WAS GENUELY MEANT TO BE QUEER — AND NO DOUBT 'S NOT WHAT THE STUD TEND. BUT ALTHOUGH THE SPELLA CHARACTER DO LATER PROVE OF MOR E TO WILLIS, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REAL REASON WHY HE ULDN'T HAVE ED A WOMAN THE SAME WAY — OR WHY HE HAD TO KISS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALL THAT SAID, THE MOVIE DIDN'T EXACTLY W ANY PRIZ FOR GAY VISIBILY. AFTER A TT DIENCE RPOND WH APPLSE TO THE SCENE WHERE WILLIS FALLY SHOOTS SPELLA AD, GLAAD PERSUAD THE FILMMAKERS TO RHOOT THE SCENE TO MAKE CLEAR THAT SPELLA IS KILLED BEE HE HAS REALIZED THAT WILLIS IS THE JACKAL, AND NOT BEE HE IS GAY. SO, FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNTG, THAT'S ONE MORE GAY MOVIE CHARACTER WHO MEETS AN EARLY, VLENT ATH — BUT HEY, AT LEAST 'S NOT BEE OF HOMOPHOBIA, RIGHT?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}2. MARLON BRANDO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE 1967 FILM REFLECTNS A GOLN EYE, BASED ON A NOVEL BY BISEXUAL WRER CARSON MCCULLERS, BRANDO PLAYS MAJ. WELDON PENRTON, THE REPRSED HOMOSEXUAL HBAND OF LEONORA (PLAYED BY ELIZABETH TAYLOR). PENRTON IS OBSSED WH PVT. WILLIAMS (PLAYED BY ROBERT FORSTER), AND OM THERE ON THGS UNFOLD THE TRAGIC, OVERWROUGHT FASHN YOU MIGHT EXPECT OM A GAY-THEMED MOVIE MA THE '{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SUGGTNS THAT BRANDO MAY HAVE BEEN LS UPTIGHT HIS OWN LIFE. IN A WILY QUOTED (THOUGH UNTHENTITED) TERVIEW, HE SUPPOSEDLY TOLD A JOURNALIST THAT "LIKE A LARGE NUMBER OF MEN, I TOO HAVE HAD HOMOSEXUAL EXPERIENC, AND I AM NOT ASHAMED. … DEEP DOWN, I FEEL AMBIGUO."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MARIA SCHNEIR, HIS -STAR LAST TANGO PARIS, HAS BEEN QUOTED AS SAYG THAT SHE AND BRANDO GOT ALONG BEE "WE'RE BOTH BISEXUAL." ASSUMG THE QUOTATNS ARE ACCURATE, 'S A WHOLE OTHER QUTN WHETHER BRANDO HAD GOOD TASTE MEN. IN A 1994 TELEVISN TERVIEW ON LARRY KG LIVE, PROMOTG HIS TOBGRAPHY, BRANDO FAMOLY FISHED BY KISSG KG ON THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}1. FORT WHAKER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAKER WAS THIS YEAR'S WNER OF THE AMY AWARD FOR BT ACTOR FOR HIS PERFORMANCE AS IDI AM, THE MAD, BAD, UGANDAN DICTATOR, THE BRISH DRAMA THE LAST KG OF STLAND. BUT HIS BACK TALOGUE CLUS NOT ONE BUT TWO QUEER ROL. IN 1992, HE STARRED AS THE GENTLE, CRICKET-LOVG BRISH SOLDIER JODY NEIL JORDAN'S HIGHLY UNNVENTNAL SLEEPER H THE CRYG GAME. JODY IS LOVE WH THE BETIFUL, EXOTIC, TRANSGENR DIL (PLAYED BY JAYE DAVIDSON), BUT HE ALSO FLIRTS WH IRA FOOT SOLDIER FERG (PLAYED BY STEPHEN REA), TELLG HIM, "YOU'RE THE ONE … WH THE KILLER SE AND THE BABY FACE. … YOU'RE THE HANDSOME ONE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 1994, WHAKER FOLLOWED THIS UP WH AN APPEARANCE AS THE GAY FASHN SIGNER CY BIAN, PARTNERED WH A FLAMBOYANT RICHARD E. GRANT, ROBERT ALTMAN'S FLOP SATIRE OF THE FASHN DTRY, READY TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

The same year Chris Colfer tapulted to superstardom wh his performance as Kurt Hummel, a fashnable untertenor on Ryan Murphy’s Glee, the star spoke openly about his homosexualy an terview wh Chelsea Handler, which ma him one of the only out teenagers Hollywood. The entire st of The Sex Liv of College Girls were praised when the HBO Max show premiered 2021, but was Renee Rapp’s portrayal of Leighton Murray, an affluent closeted lbian wh quick w that stole the hearts of Gay Twter and queer women around the world. Billy Porter marked a first for the LGBTQ+ muny 2019 when he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstandg Lead Actor a Drama Seri for his performance on Pose, beg the first openly gay Black man to be nomated and w any leadg tegory.

23 CELEBS WHO WEREN'T AAID TO PLAY LGBT {MARG:12PX TO 0;}@MEDIA (M-WIDTH:980PX){{MAX-WIDTH:50%;}}{FONT:NORMAL 400 1.4REM/1.5 "SOEHNE",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;MARG:12PX TO 0;}@MEDIA (M-WIDTH:980PX){{MAX-WIDTH:50%;}}A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BT QUEER CHARACTERS ON FILM AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG-BOTTOM:54PX;OVERFLOW-X:HIDN;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;BOX-SHADOW:0 4PX 8PX 0 RGBA(0,0,0,0.08);MARG-BOTTOM:54PX;}{WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:NTA;}{WIDTH:1600PX;HEIGHT:800PX;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:18PX 24PX;DISPLAY:GRID;GRID-GAP:18PX;TEXT-ALIGN:CENTER;}{LOR:#0A0A0A;}{FONT:NORMAL 700 2.0REM/1.25 "SOEHNE",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:#0A0A0A;}1 / {LOR:#0A0A0A;} A{FONT:HER;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} STRONG, B{FONT-WEIGHT:BOLR;}{FONT:NORMAL 400 1.4REM/1.5 "SOEHNE",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:#0A0A0A;} A{FONT:HER;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} STRONG, B{FONT-WEIGHT:BOLR;}AND SCENE - ONCE UPON A TIME, PLAYG AN LGBT CHARACTER ON SCREEN WAS REER SUICI. TODAY, PORTRAYG AN LGBT CHARACTER N LEAD TO AN OSR W. FEATURG A-LISTERS LIKE QUEEN LATIFAH, WILL SMH AND TAYE DIGGS, HERE IS A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE MOST FAMO LGBT ROL ON THE BIG AND SMALL SCREEN.(PHOTOS OM LEFT: FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAG, PL ARCHULETA/FILMMAGIC, TONY BARSON/FILMMAGIC) {LOR:#818181;FONT-WEIGHT:400;}{FONT:NORMAL 600 1.4REM/1.2 "SOEHNE",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:#818181;FONT-WEIGHT:400;}PHOTO BY {LOR:HER;FONT:HER;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;}{LOR:HER;FONT:HER;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;}PHOTO BY FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY {WIDTH:4216PX;HEIGHT:2873PX;}2 / 24WILL SMH - IN 1993, WILL SMH PLAYED THE ROLE OF PL SIX DEGRE OF SEPARATN, BASED ON THE TE-LIFE STORY OF DAVID HAMPTON, AN OPENLY GAY N MAN WHO MANAGED TO NVCE MANY PEOPLE HE WAS THE SON OF SIDNEY POIER.(PHOTO: JASON MERRT/GETTY IMAG){WIDTH:2581PX;HEIGHT:3000PX;}3 / 24FORT WHAKER - AMY AWARD-WNER FORT WHAKER, ALWAYS A WILLG PARTICIPANT TO PH THE ENVELOPE, PLAYED A FLAMBOYANT GAY FASHN SIGNER ROBERT ALTMAN'S PRêT-à-PORTER (1994). HE ALSO PLAYED A GAY CHARACTER THE CRYG GAME (1993).(PHOTO: JEFEY UFBERG/WIREIMAGE){WIDTH:2134PX;HEIGHT:3000PX;}4 / 24WLEY SNIP - WLEY SNIP LAMPOONED HIS MACHO IMAGE TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHG! JULIE NEWMAR (1995), WHICH HE, ALONG WH PATRICK SWAYZE AND JOHN LEGUIZAMO, PLAYED A DRAG QUEEN. SNIP'S NOXEEMA JACKSON PLETE WH A BLOND WIG AND RED HIGH-HEELED SHO. NOXEEMA IS THE -WNER OF A DRAG QUEEN BETY PAGEANT AND IS NOT AAID OF WIGGLG HER HIPS.(PHOTO: JIM SPELLMAN/WIREIMAGE){WIDTH:2149PX;HEIGHT:3235PX;}5 / 24QUEEN LATIFAH - QUEEN LATIFAH WAS UNFETTABLE HER ROLE AS CLEO SIMS, A TOUGH, LBIAN BANK ROBBER THE 1996 BOX-OFFICE H SET IT OFF. THE CHARACTER EARNED HER AN NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMATN.(PHOTO: JASON MERRT/GETTY IMAG){MARG-BOTTOM:54PX;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG-BOTTOM:54PX;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:NONE;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;} + .E1IATVX90{DISPLAY:NONE;}(:EMPTY){DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}(:EMPTY) + .E1IATVX90{DISPLAY:BLOCK;}{BACKGROUND-LOR:#0A0A0A;LOR:#FAFAFA;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;-WEBK-LETTER-SPACG:NORMAL;-MOZ-LETTER-SPACG:NORMAL;-MS-LETTER-SPACG:NORMAL;LETTER-SPACG:NORMAL;PADDG:2PX 5PX;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;PADDG:3PX 5PX 4PX 5PX;LOR:#C4FF2C;BACKGROUND-LOR:#000000;LOR:#FFFFFF;DISPLAY:BLOCK;TEXT-ALIGN:CENTER;}{FONT:NORMAL 600 1.4REM/1.2 "SOEHNE",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;BACKGROUND-LOR:#0A0A0A;LOR:#FAFAFA;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;-WEBK-LETTER-SPACG:NORMAL;-MOZ-LETTER-SPACG:NORMAL;-MS-LETTER-SPACG:NORMAL;LETTER-SPACG:NORMAL;PADDG:2PX 5PX;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;PADDG:3PX 5PX 4PX 5PX;LOR:#C4FF2C;BACKGROUND-LOR:#000000;LOR:#FFFFFF;DISPLAY:BLOCK;TEXT-ALIGN:CENTER;}{WIDTH:2063PX;HEIGHT:3000PX;}6 / 24ISAIAH WASHGTON - IN 1996, FORMER GREY'S ANATOMY STAR ISAIAH WASHGTON PLAYED HALF OF A GAY UPLE ON THEIR WAY TO THE 1995 MILLN MAN MARCH WASHGTON, D.C., SPIKE LEE'S GET ON THE B. PLAYED BY HARRY LENNIX AND WASHGTON, THE GAY LOVERS ARE ON THE VERGE OF SEPARATN.(PHOTO: MATHEW IMAGG/FILMMAGIC){WIDTH:2456PX;HEIGHT:3500PX;}7 / 24GIANRLO ESPOSO - GIANRLO ESPOSO PLAYED JOSEPH, GLORIA MATTHEW'S (LORETTA DEVE) EX-HBAND AND FATHER OF HER CHILD (DONALD FAISON) WAG TO EXHALE. HE DROPS A BOMB ON GLORIA THE FILM WHEN HE OUT OF THE CLOSET AS A GAY MAN.(PHOTO: JASON MERRT/GETTY IMAG){WIDTH:2167PX;HEIGHT:3000PX;}8 / 24ROCKMOND DUNBAR - ROCKMOND DUNBAR, BT KNOWN FOR HIS LEADG ROLE AS KENNY CHADWAY ON THE CRILLY-ACCLAIMED TELEVISN SERI SOUL FOOD, PLAYED A GAY MAN PUNKS (2000) AND DIRTY LNDRY (2006), WHICH HIS CHARACTER WAS A MAGAZE EDOR.(PHOTOS: MRY PHILLIPS/WIREIMAGE){WIDTH:2001PX;HEIGHT:3000PX;}9 / 24VG RHAM - VG RHAM PORTRAYED A DRAG QUEEN THE TELEVISN MOVIE HOLIDAY HEART (2000) AND A GAY MAN I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK & LARRY (2007).(PHOTO: LEE CELANO/WIREIMAGE){WIDTH:2500PX;HEIGHT:3000PX;}10 / 24ANTHONY MACKIE - IN 2004, ANTHONY MACKIE WAS AN UP-AND-G ACTOR AND ALREADY EXPERIENCED BIG SUCCS FOR PLAYG EMEM'S BFF 8 MILE. HOWEVER, HE SHOWED OFF HIS JULLIARD-TRAED ACTG CHOPS AS THE LEAD RODNEY EVANS'S BROTHER TO BROTHER. MACKIE TACKLED THE ROLE OF PERRY — AN ART STUNT WHO WAS ON THE SEARCH FOR LOVE WHILE SIMULTANEOLY LEARNG THE ROOTS OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE VIA AN OLR GAY MAN — WH GRACE. THE RISK PAID OFF, EARNG MACKIE AN INPENNT SPIR AWARD FOR BT DEBUT PERFORMANCE.(PHOTO: LARS NIKI/GETTY IMAG FOR RONALD MCDONALD HOE NEW YORK){WIDTH:2150PX;HEIGHT:3000PX;}11 / 24TAYE DIGGS - IN EARLY 2006, TAYE DIGGS GUT-STARRED FOR SEVERAL EPISOS AS WILL TMAN'S LOVE TERT, JAM, ON THE FAL SEASON OF WILL & GRACE.(PHOTO: MICHAEL ZORN/FILMMAGIC){WIDTH:2382PX;HEIGHT:3177PX;}12 / 24GABRIELLE UNN - GABRIELLE UNN ADD PLAYG A LBIAN TO HER FILMOGRAPHY 2006 WH A STANDOUT ROLE AS ANTE BENNG’S LOVER THE FILM ADAPTATN OF AUGTEN BURROUGH'S BT-SELLG MEMOIR RUNNG WH SCISSORS.(PHOTO: JON KOPALOFF/FILMMAGIC){WIDTH:2921PX;HEIGHT:4389PX;}13 / 24TARAJI P. HENSON - IN 2006'S SMOK' AC, TARAJI P. HENSON WAS SHARICE WATERS, A HARD-RE LBIAN ASSASS WHO HAD A CSH ON HER PARTER--CRIME GEIA SYK (ALICIA KEYS).(PHOTO: KEV MAZUR/GETTY IMAG){WIDTH:2103PX;HEIGHT:3000PX;}14 / 24JADA PKETT-SMH - IN 2008, JADA PKETT SMH PLAYED A LBIAN THE WOMEN, WHICH ALSO STARRED ANTE BENNG AND EVA MENS. SMH SAID ABOUT THE ROLE, "I ENJOYED PLAYG A LBIAN AND I WISH I ULD HAVE BEEN MORE OF A LBIAN THE MOVIE, BUT I WASN'T ALLOWED TO DO THAT."(PHOTO: MICHAEL LOCCISANO/GETTY IMAG){WIDTH:3194PX;HEIGHT:4200PX;}15 / 24KERRY WASHGTON - IN 2009, KERRY WASHGTON WOWED DIENC PLAYG A TRANSGENR WOMAN LIFE IS HOT CRACKTOWN.  SHE TOLD ABOUT THE ROLE, "ONE OF THE THGS I REALIZED APPROACHG THIS ROLE WAS THAT I ACTUALLY FIGURED OUT EARLY ON THAT I WAS GOG TO LEARN A LOT ABOUT BEG A WOMAN — PERD. BEE, REALLY, WHAT A TRANS WOMAN IS, IS SOMEBODY WHO IS A WOMAN BUT WHOSE BLOGY HAS BETRAYED THEM SOMEWAY."(PHOTO: AXELLE/BER-GRIFF/FILMMAGIC){WIDTH:2152PX;HEIGHT:3000PX;}16 / 24GUN HILL ROAD AND PARIAH - THE TWO DIE FILMS DIDN'T HAVE MAJOR STAR POWER, BUT WERE CRIL DARLGS 2011. RASHAAD ERNTO GREEN'S GUN HILL ROAD STARRED HARMONY SANTANA AS A TRANSGENR TEEN LIVG THE BRONX. DEE RE'S PARIAH FEATURED APERO ODUYE AS A LBIAN TEENAGER OM BROOKLYN STGGLG WH INTY AND FAY. BOTH FILMS WERE HONORED WH VAR DIE AWARDS AND PROVED THAT LGBT STORI ARE NECCSARY.  (PHOTO: JOHN LAMPARSKI/WIREIMAGE){WIDTH:2000PX;HEIGHT:3000PX;}17 / 24LENNY KRAVZ - THE WORLD-FAMO ROCKER LOOKED FOR A PROVOTIVE CHARACTER TO PLAY FOR HIS RETURN TO THE BIG SCREEN AND HE FOUND HUNGER GAM' CNA, WHO IS BISEXUAL. TO PORTRAY THE FLAMBOYANT STYLIST, KRAVZ SAYS HE CHANNELED "A IEND WHO IS A DANCER WHO IS BISEXUAL, AND HE WAS A LOT OF SPIRATN FOR MY SPEECH PATTERN AND MY RHYTHM, AND KD OF THE WAY I SNTERED AND OUT A LTLE B." (PHOTO: CHELSEA LREN/WIREIMAGE){WIDTH:1300PX;HEIGHT:900PX;}18 / 24JEFEY WRIGHT - WRIGHT WAS NOMATED FOR A GOLN GLOBE AND WON AN EMMY FOR HIS PORTRAYAL OF A DRAG QUEEN MIKE NICHOLS'S TELEVISN ADAPTATN OF PULZER PRIZE-WNG PLAY ANGELS AMERI, ABOUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHOSE RELATNSHIPS AND LIV ARE AFFECTED BY AIDS. THE SERI WENT ON TO BREAK THE RERD PREVLY HELD BY ROOTS FOR WNG THE MOST EMMYS.(PHOTOS: MICHAEL LOCCISANO/GETTY IMAG)19 / 24MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS - AS GUN-TOTG STICK-UP MAN OMAR LTLE ON THE WIRE, WILLIAMS GAVE ONE OF THE MOST SUBTLE, HONT AND SURPRISG PORTRAYALS OF A GAY MAN ON TELEVISN. THE CHARACTER'S PERSONAL LIFE, AND THE NER LIFE WILLIAMS BROUGHT TO , WAS SO NUANCED AND UNIQUE THAT PRINT OBAMA LLED HIM HIS FAVORE CHARACTER ON TELEVISN.(PHOTOS: JOHN RIRD/BET)20 / 24DWAYNE "THE ROCK" JOHNSON - JOHNSON PLAYED A GAY BODYGUARD WH DREAMS OF STARDOM THIS SEQUEL TO THE H HEIST EDY GET SHORTY. THOUGH THIS CHARACTER'S JOB WAS NOT A STRETCH FOR THE ROCK, HIS PERSONAL LIFE CERTALY WAS.  (PHOTOS: ALBERTO E. RODRIGUEZ/GETTY IMAG)ADVERTISEMENT21 / 24TONY BRAVADO - ON LET'S STAY TOGETHER, BRAVADO PLAYED DARKANIAN LE'JOHNSON, A CLOSETED PROFSNAL FOOTBALL PLAYER WHO OVERPENSAT FOR HIS SECRET RELATNSHIP WH A MAN BY LAYG ON THICK WH THE LADI.(PHOTOS: PERVIS PR){WIDTH:2274PX;HEIGHT:3000PX;}22 / 24GAV HOTON - THIS ACTOR'S ACTG REER STARTED 1992 AN EPISO OF THE COSBY SHOW, BUT HIS BIG BREAK ME 2013 WHEN HE STARRED AS JEFEY HARRGTON, THE CLOSETED GAY SON OF A POLICIAN, TYLER PERRY'S THE HAV AND THE HAVE NOTS.(PHOTO: CHRIS MCKAY/WIREIMAGE)

Speakg wh Men’s Health 2020, Burnsi scribed his inty as “queer, not gay” and said he’d had “relatnships — romantic and sexual — wh women as well as men. After wng at the 2020 Brish LGBT Awards for BBC documentary Growg Up Gay, Alexanr spoke for all of when he vowed: “I want to make you proud and ntue beg very gay whatever suatn I fd myself . Ryan O’Connell based his Netflix seri Special on his 2015 memoir, I’m Special: And Other Li We Tell Ourselv, which tells his story as a gay man livg wh cerebral palsy.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* FAMOUS ACTORS WHO PLAYED GAY ROLES

20 of our favore straight actors as gay characters | CNN .

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