Bowen Yang Opens Up About His Experience In 'Gay Conversn' Therapy | HuffPost Entertament

Contents:

• GAY ACTOR BOWEN YANG SAID HE IS 'STRAIGHT' AN INSTAGRAM POST — FANS ARE CONFED
• NEW 'SNL' CAST MEMBER BOWEN YANG IS BREAKG BARRIERS FOR BOTH ASIAN AND GAY COMEDIANS
• IS BOWEN YANG GAY? PARTNER AND SEXUALY EXPLORED
• 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' 'S BOWEN YANG OPENS UP ABOUT BEG PUT GAY CONVERSN THERAPY AS A TEEN
• SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE'S BOWEN YANG RELLS BEG PUT GAY CONVERSN THERAPY BY HIS PARENTS
• NEW ‘SNL’ CAST MEMBER BOWEN YANG IS ASIAN AMERIN, GAY, AND ABOUT TO MAKE HISTORY
• BOWEN {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}BOWEN YANG IS A EDIAN, ACTOR AND PODSTER WHO IS THE FIRST CHE-AMERIN ST MEMBER OF 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.'{MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: OCT 15, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: MARY ELLEN MATTHEWS/NBCU PHOTO BANK/NBCUNIVERSAL VIA GETTY IMAG VIA GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1990-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS BOWEN YANG?BOWEN YANG WAS BORN ATRALIA 1990 AND GREW UP CANADA AND COLORADO. HE IS THE FIRST CHE-AMERIN ST MEMBER OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, AS WELL AS THE FIRST GAY MAN TO BE PART OF THE SHOW FOR MORE THAN ONE SEASON. YANG BROUGHT A {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;} PERSPECTIVE TO SNL, OFTEN PERFORMG AND/OR WRG SCEN WHICH QUEERNS IS RPORATED TO CHARACTERS WHOUT BEG ED AS A PUNCHLE. YANG IS ALSO KNOWN FOR HIS WORK ON THE PODST LAS CULTURISTAS AND HAS APPEARED ON SEVERAL TELEVISN SHOWS, CLUDG A REGULAR ROLE ON AWKWAFA IS NORA FROM QUEENS.EARLY LIFE AND FAYBOWEN YANG WAS BORN 1990 BRISBANE, ATRALIA. YANG'S FAY LEFT CHA FOR ATRALIA SO HIS FATHER ULD PURSUE A DOCTORATE MG ENGEERG. BEE YANG HAS AN OLR SISTER, HE'S NOTED, "I WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN BORN IF MY PARENTS HAD STAYED CHA," DUE TO THE ONE-CHILD POLICY EFFECT AT THE TIME.YANG'S MOTHER WAS A GYNELOGIST CHA. YANG GREW UP SPEAKG MANDAR AT HOME AND GOG TO CHE SUNDAY SCHOOL WH HIS SISTER.WHEN HE WAS YOUNG, YANG RELOTED WH HIS FAY OM ATRALIA TO CANADA, WHERE THEY LIVED OUTSI MONTREAL. THE FAY MOVED TO THE DENVER SUBURB OF AURORA WHEN YANG WAS 9. THERE, HE BEME A VOTED FAN OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.YANG ATTEND SMOKY HILL HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS PART OF AN IMPROV TROUPE KNOWN AS SPONTANEO COMBTN. BEFORE GRADUATG HIGH SCHOOL 2008, HE WAS VOTED "MOST LIKELY TO BE A CAST MEMBER ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE."CONVERSN THERAPY AND AFTERMATHWHEN YANG WAS 17, HE LEFT A CHAT WDOW OPEN ON A SHARED FAY PUTER THAT ALERTED HIS PARENTS TO THE FACT THEIR SON WAS GAY. YANG TOLD THE NEW YORK TIM WHAT HAPPENED NEXT: "THEY JT SAT ME DOWN AND YELLED AT ME AND SAID, 'WE DON'T UNRSTAND THIS. WHERE WE E OM, THIS DON'T HAPPEN.'""I HAD NEVER SEEN MY DAD CRY BEFORE UP UNTIL THAT POT," YANG SHARED WH GQ. "AND I WAS G HOME OM SCHOOL EVERY DAY TO HIM SOBBG." YANG'S PARENTS SET UP NVERSN THERAPY SSNS COLORADO SPRGS, A TWO-HOUR DRIVE AWAY, AND HE AGREED TO GO. HE SAID OF THE EXPERIENCE, "IT WAS JT CRAZY. EXPLA THE GAY AWAY WH PSDOSCIENCE."AFTER PLETG THE URSE OF NVERSN THERAPY, YANG WAS ALLOWED TO ATTEND NEW YORK UNIVERSY, WHERE HIS SISTER WAS ALREADY A STUNT AND ULD KEEP AN EYE ON HIM. DURG LLEGE, YANG AGA ME OUT TO HIS FAY. THOUGH THEIR IAL REACTN WAS ONCE MORE UNSUPPORTIVE, HE WAED UNTIL HIS PARENTS BEGAN TO ACCEPT, OR AT LEAST LIVE WH, HIS SEXUALY. "MY DAD EVERY NOW AND THEN WILL TOE THAT LE AND BE LIKE, YOU ULD TRY WOMEN!" YANG ADMTED 2020. "AND I'M LIKE…DON'T. IT'S ALMOST AN ENARG KD OF HOMOPHOBIA, IF SUCH A THG EXISTS."TODAY, YANG MATAS A STRONG RELATNSHIP WH HIS FAY. THEY HAVE VATNED TOGETHER, AND HIS PARENTS ARE PROUD OF HIS SUCCS ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. "THEY KNOW THAT THAT JOB HAS BEEN HARD WON FOR ME, AND THAT MEANS A LOT, AND MEANS A LOT TO THEM TOO," YANG SAID 2021. "THEY THK, 'WOW, HE PULLED OFF.' AND MY MOM SAID TO ME RECENTLY, SHE WAS LIKE, 'BOWEN YOU'RE VERY LUCKY TO BE DOG THIS.' AND I WAS LIKE, 'I KNOW, MOM.'"COLLEGE AND EARLY COMEDY CAREERYANG WAS A PRE-MED CHEMISTRY MAJOR AT NEW YORK UNIVERSY, SPIRED PART BY THE TV DRAMA GREY'S ANATOMY. HOWEVER, HE NTUED TO DO EDY WHILE SCHOOL.INSTEAD OF HEADG TO MEDIL SCHOOL AFTER GRADUATG, YANG BEME A GRAPHIC SIGNER AND PURSUED HIS EDY REER VIA DNS AND SHOWS.'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE'IN 2018, YANG STARTED AS A WRER FOR SEASON 44 OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. THAT SEASON HE ALSO STEPPED ONT OF THE MERA TO APPEAR AS NORTH KOREAN DICTATOR KIM JONG-UN. IN 2019, YANG'S WORK ON SNL RULTED AN EMMY NOMATN FOR OUTSTANDG WRG FOR A VARIETY SERI.YANG BEME A FEATURED PLAYER FOR THE FOLLOWG SEASON OF SNL, MAKG HIM THE FIRST CHE-AMERIN ST MEMBER THE SHOW'S HISTORY. THE CHARACTERS HE PORTRAYED CLUD POLICIAN ANDREW YANG AND A CHE TRA REPRENTATIVE KNOWN AS TRA DADDY.YANG REMAED A FEATURED PLAYER THE 2020-21 SEASON. HE NTRIBUTED TO MEMORABLE SKETCH SUCH AS "PRI MONTH SONG," ABOUT THE TRIBULATNS MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ MUNY N FACE JUNE. IN MARCH 2021, HE SPOKE OUT AGAST VLENCE AGAST ASIAN AMERINS ON WEEKEND UPDATE.IN JULY 2021, YANG BEME THE FIRST FEATURED ST MEMBER OF SNL — AS OPPOSED TO THE SHOW'S MORE TABLISHED REPERTORY PLAYERS — TO RECEIVE AN EMMY NOMATN AS OUTSTANDG SUPPORTG ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERI. THE EPISO HE SUBMTED FOR AWARDS NSIRATN WAS OM APRIL 2021, WHICH HE PORTRAYED THE ICEBERG THAT SANK THE TANIC, WHO WAS PROMOTG AN EDM FANTASIA ALBUM.AT THE START OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE'S 2021-22 SEASON, YANG WAS ELEVATED OM FEATURED TO REPERTORY ST MEMBER. HE'S SAID OF HIS TIME ON THE SHOW, "I THOUGHT GOG THAT I HAD TO HAVE THIS VERY BROAD, VERY PALATABLE SENSIBILY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY, BUT THEN THE STUFF THAT I'M THE MOST PROUD OF, AND PROBABLY EVEN GOT THE MOST SUCCS OM, WAS OUTWARDLY AN EXPRSN OF QUEERNS OR GAYNS. THAT’S BEEN A NICE SURPRISE."INSTEAD OF FOCG ON HIS OWN SUCCS BREAKG BARRIERS ON SNL, YANG SAID AN TERVIEW WH NPR 2021, "I KD OF DON'T REALLY RE ABOUT HOW MY TENURE ON THE SHOW IS PERCEIVED ANY PARTICULAR WAY, OTHER THAN…I WANT THIS TO FACILATE SOMETHG BETTER FOR THE NEXT PERSON."TV AND VIOYANG PORTRAYS AWKWAFA'S ON HER TV SERI AWKWAFA IS NORA FROM QUEENS. HE HAS GUT STARRED ON SHOWS LIKE HIGH MATENANCE, BROAD CY AND GIRLS5EVA. IN 2016, HE APPEARED ON THE SEND SEASON OF THE WEB SERI THE OUTS.YANG WAS KNOWN FOR SHARG LIP-SYNC VIOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. HIS SUBJECTS HAVE RANGED OM TYRA BANKS ON AMERI'S NEXT TOP MOL TO SANDRA OH'S WORK AS DR. CRISTA YANG ON GREY'S ANATOMY.PODSTSYANG BEGAN MAKG THE PODST LAS CULTURISTAS, WHICH LV TO POP CULTURE, WH HIS IEND AND -HOST MATT ROGERS 2016.IN 2021, YANG JOED AN IMPRSIVE ROSTER OF QUEER PERFORMERS, CLUDG CYNTHIA NIXON, JANE LYNCH, MARGARET CHO AND TONY KHNER, THE SCRIPTED PODST HOT WHE HEIST. HE STARRED AS A GAY MAN WHO PARTNERS WH A LBIAN CULT TO BREAK TO A TOP-SECRET SPERM {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
• 'SNL' STAR BOWEN YANG SCRIBED HIS EXPERIENCE WH GAY NVERSN THERAPY AS A TEENAGER
• BOWEN YANG OPENS UP ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE IN 'GAY CONVERSN' THERAPY

GAY ACTOR BOWEN YANG SAID HE IS 'STRAIGHT' AN INSTAGRAM POST — FANS ARE CONFED

Bis that, he is also one of the few openly gay st members to have ever worked on SNL.

Wh Yang beg an openly gay celebry, fans of the edian were left perplexed when he ma a post on Instagram sayg he was now straight and datg fellow SNL st member Ego Bowen Yang Datg Ego Nwodim? (Photo: Instagram) The posts nfed many people as Yang had been openly gay for as long as he'd been wh SNL. Bowen Yang Had Unrgone Gay Conversn TherapyYang is an extremely bright ic who is proud to be a member of the LGBTQ muny.

Yang also shared that when his fay first found out he was gay, they were father, who he had only seen cry when Yang's grandfather died, was sobbg ont of him every day at orr to appease his parents, the SNL st agreed to attend gay nversn therapy ssns.

NEW 'SNL' CAST MEMBER BOWEN YANG IS BREAKG BARRIERS FOR BOTH ASIAN AND GAY COMEDIANS

Yang also shared the perspective his parents had on him beg gay.

IS BOWEN YANG GAY? PARTNER AND SEXUALY EXPLORED

As SNL’s first openly gay st member, and the first openly gay st member on any work televisn show, Sweeney found himself tratgly typest.

'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' 'S BOWEN YANG OPENS UP ABOUT BEG PUT GAY CONVERSN THERAPY AS A TEEN

He had plenty of origal ias, but outsi of imprsns of female public figur and gay ritur, there wasn’t much for him to do.

In a 2017 terview, he explaed, “If there was a part for a game show host, they wouldn’t put me bee, well, wasn’t a gay game show host.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE'S BOWEN YANG RELLS BEG PUT GAY CONVERSN THERAPY BY HIS PARENTS

” Sweeney add that he didn’t thk there was necsarily any bad tent behd this: “They jt did bee they didn’t know … ‘What do I wre for a gay guy?

NEW ‘SNL’ CAST MEMBER BOWEN YANG IS ASIAN AMERIN, GAY, AND ABOUT TO MAKE HISTORY

One early sketch that would bee emblematic of Yang’s imprt on the show starred Harry Styl as a social media manager who accintally fills up Sara Lee’s Instagram acunt wh gay thirst ments. Like much of the material performed by Terry Sweeney, this sketch is firmly rooted stereotyp about gay men. The most famo example was when Chevy Chase, upon havg Sweeney nfirm he was gay, rpond by tellg him, “You n start by lickg my balls.

The iceberg sketch is notable that, although ’s fely not the entire joke of the sketch, Yang’s character is clearly, emphatilly gay.

BOWEN {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}BOWEN YANG IS A EDIAN, ACTOR AND PODSTER WHO IS THE FIRST CHE-AMERIN ST MEMBER OF 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.'{MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: OCT 15, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: MARY ELLEN MATTHEWS/NBCU PHOTO BANK/NBCUNIVERSAL VIA GETTY IMAG VIA GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1990-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS BOWEN YANG?BOWEN YANG WAS BORN ATRALIA 1990 AND GREW UP CANADA AND COLORADO. HE IS THE FIRST CHE-AMERIN ST MEMBER OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, AS WELL AS THE FIRST GAY MAN TO BE PART OF THE SHOW FOR MORE THAN ONE SEASON. YANG BROUGHT A {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;} PERSPECTIVE TO SNL, OFTEN PERFORMG AND/OR WRG SCEN WHICH QUEERNS IS RPORATED TO CHARACTERS WHOUT BEG ED AS A PUNCHLE. YANG IS ALSO KNOWN FOR HIS WORK ON THE PODST LAS CULTURISTAS AND HAS APPEARED ON SEVERAL TELEVISN SHOWS, CLUDG A REGULAR ROLE ON AWKWAFA IS NORA FROM QUEENS.EARLY LIFE AND FAYBOWEN YANG WAS BORN 1990 BRISBANE, ATRALIA. YANG'S FAY LEFT CHA FOR ATRALIA SO HIS FATHER ULD PURSUE A DOCTORATE MG ENGEERG. BEE YANG HAS AN OLR SISTER, HE'S NOTED, "I WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN BORN IF MY PARENTS HAD STAYED CHA," DUE TO THE ONE-CHILD POLICY EFFECT AT THE TIME.YANG'S MOTHER WAS A GYNELOGIST CHA. YANG GREW UP SPEAKG MANDAR AT HOME AND GOG TO CHE SUNDAY SCHOOL WH HIS SISTER.WHEN HE WAS YOUNG, YANG RELOTED WH HIS FAY OM ATRALIA TO CANADA, WHERE THEY LIVED OUTSI MONTREAL. THE FAY MOVED TO THE DENVER SUBURB OF AURORA WHEN YANG WAS 9. THERE, HE BEME A VOTED FAN OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.YANG ATTEND SMOKY HILL HIGH SCHOOL AND WAS PART OF AN IMPROV TROUPE KNOWN AS SPONTANEO COMBTN. BEFORE GRADUATG HIGH SCHOOL 2008, HE WAS VOTED "MOST LIKELY TO BE A CAST MEMBER ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE."CONVERSN THERAPY AND AFTERMATHWHEN YANG WAS 17, HE LEFT A CHAT WDOW OPEN ON A SHARED FAY PUTER THAT ALERTED HIS PARENTS TO THE FACT THEIR SON WAS GAY. YANG TOLD THE NEW YORK TIM WHAT HAPPENED NEXT: "THEY JT SAT ME DOWN AND YELLED AT ME AND SAID, 'WE DON'T UNRSTAND THIS. WHERE WE E OM, THIS DON'T HAPPEN.'""I HAD NEVER SEEN MY DAD CRY BEFORE UP UNTIL THAT POT," YANG SHARED WH GQ. "AND I WAS G HOME OM SCHOOL EVERY DAY TO HIM SOBBG." YANG'S PARENTS SET UP NVERSN THERAPY SSNS COLORADO SPRGS, A TWO-HOUR DRIVE AWAY, AND HE AGREED TO GO. HE SAID OF THE EXPERIENCE, "IT WAS JT CRAZY. EXPLA THE GAY AWAY WH PSDOSCIENCE."AFTER PLETG THE URSE OF NVERSN THERAPY, YANG WAS ALLOWED TO ATTEND NEW YORK UNIVERSY, WHERE HIS SISTER WAS ALREADY A STUNT AND ULD KEEP AN EYE ON HIM. DURG LLEGE, YANG AGA ME OUT TO HIS FAY. THOUGH THEIR IAL REACTN WAS ONCE MORE UNSUPPORTIVE, HE WAED UNTIL HIS PARENTS BEGAN TO ACCEPT, OR AT LEAST LIVE WH, HIS SEXUALY. "MY DAD EVERY NOW AND THEN WILL TOE THAT LE AND BE LIKE, YOU ULD TRY WOMEN!" YANG ADMTED 2020. "AND I'M LIKE…DON'T. IT'S ALMOST AN ENARG KD OF HOMOPHOBIA, IF SUCH A THG EXISTS."TODAY, YANG MATAS A STRONG RELATNSHIP WH HIS FAY. THEY HAVE VATNED TOGETHER, AND HIS PARENTS ARE PROUD OF HIS SUCCS ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. "THEY KNOW THAT THAT JOB HAS BEEN HARD WON FOR ME, AND THAT MEANS A LOT, AND MEANS A LOT TO THEM TOO," YANG SAID 2021. "THEY THK, 'WOW, HE PULLED OFF.' AND MY MOM SAID TO ME RECENTLY, SHE WAS LIKE, 'BOWEN YOU'RE VERY LUCKY TO BE DOG THIS.' AND I WAS LIKE, 'I KNOW, MOM.'"COLLEGE AND EARLY COMEDY CAREERYANG WAS A PRE-MED CHEMISTRY MAJOR AT NEW YORK UNIVERSY, SPIRED PART BY THE TV DRAMA GREY'S ANATOMY. HOWEVER, HE NTUED TO DO EDY WHILE SCHOOL.INSTEAD OF HEADG TO MEDIL SCHOOL AFTER GRADUATG, YANG BEME A GRAPHIC SIGNER AND PURSUED HIS EDY REER VIA DNS AND SHOWS.'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE'IN 2018, YANG STARTED AS A WRER FOR SEASON 44 OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. THAT SEASON HE ALSO STEPPED ONT OF THE MERA TO APPEAR AS NORTH KOREAN DICTATOR KIM JONG-UN. IN 2019, YANG'S WORK ON SNL RULTED AN EMMY NOMATN FOR OUTSTANDG WRG FOR A VARIETY SERI.YANG BEME A FEATURED PLAYER FOR THE FOLLOWG SEASON OF SNL, MAKG HIM THE FIRST CHE-AMERIN ST MEMBER THE SHOW'S HISTORY. THE CHARACTERS HE PORTRAYED CLUD POLICIAN ANDREW YANG AND A CHE TRA REPRENTATIVE KNOWN AS TRA DADDY.YANG REMAED A FEATURED PLAYER THE 2020-21 SEASON. HE NTRIBUTED TO MEMORABLE SKETCH SUCH AS "PRI MONTH SONG," ABOUT THE TRIBULATNS MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ MUNY N FACE JUNE. IN MARCH 2021, HE SPOKE OUT AGAST VLENCE AGAST ASIAN AMERINS ON WEEKEND UPDATE.IN JULY 2021, YANG BEME THE FIRST FEATURED ST MEMBER OF SNL — AS OPPOSED TO THE SHOW'S MORE TABLISHED REPERTORY PLAYERS — TO RECEIVE AN EMMY NOMATN AS OUTSTANDG SUPPORTG ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERI. THE EPISO HE SUBMTED FOR AWARDS NSIRATN WAS OM APRIL 2021, WHICH HE PORTRAYED THE ICEBERG THAT SANK THE TANIC, WHO WAS PROMOTG AN EDM FANTASIA ALBUM.AT THE START OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE'S 2021-22 SEASON, YANG WAS ELEVATED OM FEATURED TO REPERTORY ST MEMBER. HE'S SAID OF HIS TIME ON THE SHOW, "I THOUGHT GOG THAT I HAD TO HAVE THIS VERY BROAD, VERY PALATABLE SENSIBILY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY, BUT THEN THE STUFF THAT I'M THE MOST PROUD OF, AND PROBABLY EVEN GOT THE MOST SUCCS OM, WAS OUTWARDLY AN EXPRSN OF QUEERNS OR GAYNS. THAT’S BEEN A NICE SURPRISE."INSTEAD OF FOCG ON HIS OWN SUCCS BREAKG BARRIERS ON SNL, YANG SAID AN TERVIEW WH NPR 2021, "I KD OF DON'T REALLY RE ABOUT HOW MY TENURE ON THE SHOW IS PERCEIVED ANY PARTICULAR WAY, OTHER THAN…I WANT THIS TO FACILATE SOMETHG BETTER FOR THE NEXT PERSON."TV AND VIOYANG PORTRAYS AWKWAFA'S ON HER TV SERI AWKWAFA IS NORA FROM QUEENS. HE HAS GUT STARRED ON SHOWS LIKE HIGH MATENANCE, BROAD CY AND GIRLS5EVA. IN 2016, HE APPEARED ON THE SEND SEASON OF THE WEB SERI THE OUTS.YANG WAS KNOWN FOR SHARG LIP-SYNC VIOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. HIS SUBJECTS HAVE RANGED OM TYRA BANKS ON AMERI'S NEXT TOP MOL TO SANDRA OH'S WORK AS DR. CRISTA YANG ON GREY'S ANATOMY.PODSTSYANG BEGAN MAKG THE PODST LAS CULTURISTAS, WHICH LV TO POP CULTURE, WH HIS IEND AND -HOST MATT ROGERS 2016.IN 2021, YANG JOED AN IMPRSIVE ROSTER OF QUEER PERFORMERS, CLUDG CYNTHIA NIXON, JANE LYNCH, MARGARET CHO AND TONY KHNER, THE SCRIPTED PODST HOT WHE HEIST. HE STARRED AS A GAY MAN WHO PARTNERS WH A LBIAN CULT TO BREAK TO A TOP-SECRET SPERM {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

Although a lot of the homophobia YouTube vio ments or popular Redd threads related to him is blatant and easy to dismiss, ’s often drsed up as an annoyance about his lack of range. “Bowen Yang is too … gay, ” was the tle of one post published on the Live From New York subredd a year ago.

Another mon crique is that his portrayal of flamboyant characters is offensive and homophobic self. This cricism was most prevalent the aftermath of Shane Gillis beg fired om the show 2019 for g racist and homophobic slurs on his podst. ” which the poster tried to draw a parallel between Gillis’ e of homophobic slurs and Yang’s e of queer-d characters, argug that was hypocril for the show to have fired Gillis but not Yang.

'SNL' STAR BOWEN YANG SCRIBED HIS EXPERIENCE WH GAY NVERSN THERAPY AS A TEENAGER

Audienc are ed to straight characters’ sexualy not havg anythg to do wh the joke of the sketch, but if a gay character’s sexualy isn’t a punchle, then s cln requir an explic jtifitn.

BOWEN YANG OPENS UP ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE IN 'GAY CONVERSN' THERAPY

New 'SNL' Cast Member Bowen Yang Is Breakg Barriers for Both Asian and Gay ComediansBowen Yang, a gay edian and the son of Che immigrants, is helpg make SNL's st more diverse than ever.

Though the show is embarkg on s 45th season on the air, Bowen jos the st as the first Che-Amerin performer history and one of only three openly gay male st members ever. The only openly gay men to appear on the show before Bowen are Terry Sweeney on one season om 1985 to 1986 and John Milhiser, who was briefly part of the st for the 2013-2014 season. Article ntu below advertisementSource: Getty ImagBowen Yang is SNL's first openly gay, Asian st of this trivia nfirms two thgs: SNL has a long-standg problem wh reprentatn that seems to be gettg addrsed (however slowly), and Bowen Yang is fely a first for the show as the first openly gay, Asian player the show's five s on televisn.