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data-ttid="ContentHearContaer" class="ContentHearContaer-cGKRbE knDxNq"><div class="ContentHearHedAccredatnWrapper-GFiQf cDNVlV"><div data-ttid="ContentHearTleBlockWrapper" class="ContentHearTleBlockWrapper-cjmSKp eiGjZk"><div data-ttid="ContentHearRubric" class="ContentHearRubricBlock-LmpbT tPofh"><div data-ttid="ContentHearRubricDateBlock" class="ContentHearRubricDateBlock-kAQcZP fTFWxD"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric ContentHearRubricContaer-eTudtt iRsSlw"><a class="RubricLk-gRWSOU cwyjHY bric__lk" href="/culture"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></a></div></div></div><h1 data-ttid="ContentHearHed" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentHearHed-NCyCC iUEiRd jdcWfa isouMH">Playg Damian <em>Mean Girls</em> Ma Daniel Franze A Star (But It Hurt His Career, Too)</h1></div><div class="ContentHearAccredatn-lfctVB etVsnJ ntent-hear__accredatn" data-ttid="ContentHearAccredatn"><div class="ContentHearDek-bIqFFZ eijTxK">15 years sce <em>Mean 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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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="qcpn21"></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="3hqt6t"></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="4w1lxk"></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="xaawhh"></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-165"><div class="RecircMostPopularHeadg-iVzhzt jKtkdT">Most Popular</div><ul 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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="d5ohiw"></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="urt"></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="durbx4"></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-166"><div class="RecircMostPopularHeadg-iVzhzt 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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="pfklhr"></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="p22z66"></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="h5cdmh"></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 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mean girl gay guy

Ten years after they first "met" the 2004 edy "Mean Girls," actor Daniel Franze has e out a letter he wrote to Damian, the openly gay character he played the the letter posted on the gay-culture webse /bent on Tuday, Franze explaed to the fictnal Damian what meant to play the character, what did to his reer and why took him so long to e out of the c

Contents:

DID YOU KNOW ALL THE 'MEAN GIRLS' GUYS ARE GAY NOW?

* mean girl gay guy *

Did You Know All the 'Mean Girls' Guys Are Gay Now?

Fance Watchlists My Portfol Markets Optns: Hight Open Intert Optns: Hight Implied Volatily News Vios Yahoo Fance Pl Screeners Personal Fance High-yield savgs acunt rat Crypto Indtri Contact Us S&P 500 Dow 30 Nasdaq Rsell 2000 C Oil Gold Silver EUR/USD 10-Yr Bond GBP/USD USD/JPY B USD CMC Crypto 200 FTSE 100 Nikkei 225 Did You Know All the 'Mean Girls' Guys Are Gay Now?

'MEAN GIRLS' ACTOR OUT LETTER TO HIS INIC GAY CHARACTER

I'm a straight girl, so why do I want to be wh a gay guy? * mean girl gay guy *

Seventeen years after s release, the film is still quoted and meme'd to this day, cementg as a staple of pop while 's certaly bee a part of gay non, a movie that impacted nearly every LGBTQ+ person of a certa age, did you know that the ma three male characters the film have all e out as gay? That news has gone viral over at Buzzfeed, who piled the g outs of each Mean Girls actor earlier this Franze, who played Damian the film, me out as gay then, Franze has been an important voice for LGBTQ+ rights and appeared on queer shows like Lookg and RuPl's Drag Race. He didn't e out as gay himself until 2017.

ALL THE GUYS IN "MEAN GIRLS (2004)" EVENTUALLY CAME OUT AS GAY

I'm a straight 20-year-old girl who lately n't get the ia out of my head that I wish I'd been born a gay boy stead. * mean girl gay guy *

He even reprised his role as Aaron Samuels for a quick meo Ariana Gran's "thank u, next" mic to round out the list, Rajiv Surendra, who played Kev G, me out as gay 2018 to KajalMag.

"I know full well that if I was an openly gay actor, there was no way I’d be nsired for the role of a sixteen-year-old relig Indian kid a movie that Fox was puttg $100 ln to, " he said the terview. "We're so grateful to all the st for makg Mean Girls even gayer than already was! Ten years after they first "met" the 2004 edy "Mean Girls, " actor Daniel Franze has e out a letter he wrote to Damian, the openly gay character he played the Daniel Franze at a screeng Los Angel October 2011.

I AM A STRAIGHT GIRL, BUT WISH I ULD BE WH A GAY GUY.

Daniel Franze. Actor: Mean Girls. Born Brooklyn, NY and raised Fort Lrdale, FL, Daniel Franze is an actor/edian of Italian Amerin cent, Daniel Franze is bt known for his tertg and darg performanc breakthrough films: om his but role the tense Larry Clark drama Bully, his surprisgly dark turn 2010's update of the highly ntroversial I Sp on Your Grave. but cemented his gay in..." data-id="ma * mean girl gay guy *

Rodriguez / TodayIn the letter posted on the gay-culture webse /bent on Tuday, Franze explaed to the fictnal Damian what meant to play the character, what did to his reer and why took him so long to e out of the closet. I might've been easier to be gay growg up. "Franze said he was "terrified" to play the part, but lled Damian "a natural and te reprentatn of a gay teenager — a character we lghed wh stead of at.

The cult classic is often quoted, wh Damian, for stance, beg nsired "too gay to functn.

I'M A STRAIGHT GIRL, BUT WISH I WERE A GAY GUY...

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

I was meetg a 'gay glass ceilg' stg. "He said that he turned down offers to play flamboyant, stereotypil gay men and told Damian, "you had ed my life and I was really pissed at you.

Tellg me I gave them fort not only beg young and gay but also beg a big du. "Beg a closeted gay teen heartthrob, livg misery, I never would have thought a ln years that one day I would be on the ver of the biggt weddg magaze the world wh my fiancé, who I love, a picture that is pure pri and joy, " Bent tells Yahoo Life.

I'M A GAY GUY, BUT THERE'S THIS GIRL....

"While the uple has been livg loudly and proudly sce gettg together 2017, the impact of Bent's exposure as a gay man isn't lost on Vghan. ""We want to make sure that we help to intify bs and vendors that gay upl n go to om the moment they want to get engaged until their honeymoon and fd plac where they're safe and celebrated, " Vghan 's for this exact reason that the uple also teamed up to create OUTbound — a travel pany lookg to create memorable excursns for the LGBTQ muny. TLDR How do you al wh a mean girl gay?

Larry Gaynor... Gayle Frankl...

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

Daniel said an terview not too long ago that Bijou Phillips tortured him on the set of Bully sayg homophobic stuff and mockg him for his weight.

How e Aaron Samuels seemed straight but the actor has termal gay face by how??? Also everyone knew he was gay back the 2000s bee he was such a whore around Hollywood.

CALL ME BY MY PRONOUNS: WHY GAY MEN CALL EACH OTHER "GIRL"

The new one is a sequel to last year's "The Christmas Hoe, " which Jonathan's character is gay.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* MEAN GIRL GAY GUY

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data-ttid="ContentHearContaer" class="ContentHearContaer-cGKRbE knDxNq"><div class="ContentHearHedAccredatnWrapper-GFiQf cDNVlV"><div data-ttid="ContentHearTleBlockWrapper" class="ContentHearTleBlockWrapper-cjmSKp eiGjZk"><div data-ttid="ContentHearRubric" class="ContentHearRubricBlock-LmpbT tPofh"><div data-ttid="ContentHearRubricDateBlock" class="ContentHearRubricDateBlock-kAQcZP fTFWxD"><div class="RubricWrapper-dKmCNX gPBNpL bric ContentHearRubricContaer-eTudtt iRsSlw"><a class="RubricLk-gRWSOU cwyjHY bric__lk" href="/culture"><span class="RubricName-fVtemz cLxcNi">Culture</span></a></div></div></div><h1 data-ttid="ContentHearHed" class="BaseWrap-sc-gjQpdd BaseText-ewhhUZ ContentHearHed-NCyCC iUEiRd jdcWfa isouMH">Playg Damian <em>Mean Girls</em> Ma Daniel Franze A Star (But It Hurt His Career, Too)</h1></div><div class="ContentHearAccredatn-lfctVB etVsnJ ntent-hear__accredatn" data-ttid="ContentHearAccredatn"><div class="ContentHearDek-bIqFFZ eijTxK">15 years sce <em>Mean 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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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="qcpn21"></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="3hqt6t"></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="4w1lxk"></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="xaawhh"></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-165"><div class="RecircMostPopularHeadg-iVzhzt jKtkdT">Most Popular</div><ul 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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="d5ohiw"></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="urt"></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="durbx4"></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-166"><div class="RecircMostPopularHeadg-iVzhzt 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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="pfklhr"></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="p22z66"></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="h5cdmh"></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 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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 edYbup hi-read-more-ad" data-ttid="SummaryCollectnGridItems"><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff fKazuH 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 eIFuYX" 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 hlQxkn"><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 clSLtF 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 hYsZi 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 fKazuH 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 eIFuYX" 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 hlQxkn"><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 clSLtF 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 hYsZi 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 fKazuH 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 eIFuYX" 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 hlQxkn"><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 clSLtF 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 hYsZi 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 eIFuYX ad ad--read-more"><div class="ad__slot ad__slot--read-more" data-no-id="mfok3g"></div></div><div class="SummaryItemWrapper-iwvBff fKazuH 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 eIFuYX" 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 hlQxkn"><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 clSLtF 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 hYsZi 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="ob1dk"></div></div></div></div></div></ma><div class="BasePageMaFooterFiller-hTlZph jSriYf 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