‘High School Mil’ Director Confirms Ryan Evans Is Gay

Contents:

• 'HIGH SCHOOL MIL' DIRECTOR KENNY ORTEGA NFIRMS SHARPAY'S BROTHER RYAN IS GAY AND WAS 'PROBABLY GOG TO E OUT LLEGE'
• ‘HIGH SCHOOL MIL’ DIRECTOR KENNY ORTEGA CONFIRMS LUS GRABEEL’S CHARACTER RYAN EVANS IS GAY
• 'HIGH SCHOOL MIL': WHAT LUS GRABEEL SAID ABOUT RYAN EVANS BEG GAY
• ‘HIGH SCHOOL MIL’ DIRECTOR KENNY ORTEGA CONFIRMS RYAN EVANS WAS GAY AND ‘PROBABLY GOG TO COME OUT COLLEGE’
• HIGH SCHOOL MIL DIRECTOR KENNY ORTEGA EXPLAED WHY RYAN EVANS WASN’T OPENLY GAY
• HIGH SCHOOL MIL DIRECTOR REVEALS WHY RYAN WASN'T OPENLY GAY IN MOVI
• WHY HIGH SCHOOL MIL’S RYAN EVANS WASN’T OPENLY GAY, ACRDG TO DIRECTOR KENNY ORTEGA
• 'HIGH SCHOOL MIL' DIRECTOR SAYS HE DIDN'T THK DISNEY WOULD BE OK WH GAY CHARACTER
• 'HIGH SCHOOL MIL': RYAN EVANS IS GAY, DIRECTOR KENNY ORTEGA REVEALS
• SPEAKG OUTLUS GRABEEL SAYS HE WON’T REPRISE ‘HSM’ ROLE AFTER KENNY ORTEGA CONFIRMED CHARACTER WAS GAY
• HIGH SCHOOL MIL 3'S RYAN EVANS STILL A D GAY {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 ALEXANR STEVENSONOCTOBER 24, 2008/10:49 AMBY ALEXANR STEVENSONOCTOBER 24, 2008 / 10:49 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"HIGH SCHOOL MIL 3'S RYAN EVANS STILL A D GAY CHARACTER","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-10-24T14:49:29.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-10-24T14:49:29.000+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":"ALEXANR STEVENSON","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;}ACTOR LUS GRABEEL PLAYS HSM'S "RYAN"{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;}PHOTO CRED: STEVE GRANZ/{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;}ONCE UPON A TIME HOLLYWOOD, THERE WAS THE HAYS CO, A SET OF L THAT MAJOR MOTN PICTURE STUDS WERE FORCED TO FOLLOW. THE FORBA, AMONG OTHER THGS, NUDY, C LANGUAGE, MOCKERY OF RELIGN AND “LTFUL KISSG.” ALSO NOT ALLOWED WERE REFERENC TO “SEX PERVERSN,” CLUDG {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;}DID THAT MEAN THERE WERE NO GAY CHARACTERS MOVI? HECK, NO. THEY WERE JT “D.” THE PERSNICKETY AND PURSE-LIPPED FRANKL PANGBORN, NSTANTLY EXASPERATED BY THE FOIBL OF W.C. FIELDS, OR THE FEY EDWARD EVERETT HORTON, FOREVER PLITG ROMANTIC MATTERS BETWEEN FRED ASTAIRE AND GGER ROGERS, WERE NEVER INTIFIED AS GAY MEN. BUT THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO BE — THE DIENCE SAW THEIR MEANOR, THEIR BEHAVR, THE WAY THEY SPOKE, ACTED, AND DRSED, AND THEIR QUEERNS WAS FORTHRIGHTLY IMPLIED IF NEVER DIRECTLY {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;}FRANKL PANGBORN (LEFT) AND EDWARD EVERETT {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;}IF THERE’S ANYONE NTEMPORARY SHOW BS THAT HAS TO FOLLOW L EVEN STRICTER THAN THE HAYS CO, ’S THE MAKERS OF CHILDREN’S TELEVISN. SO WHEN THE DISNEY CHANNEL STCK GOLD WH THE HIGH SCHOOL MIL ANCHISE, ’S NO SURPRISE THAT THEY NEVER EXPLICLY TOLD THE DIENCE THAT THE CHARACTER OF RYAN EVANS WAS GAY. BUT AGA, THEY DIDN’T NEED {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;}PORTRAYED BY LUS GRABEEL ALL THE HSM FILMS — CLUDG THE NEW, THEATRILLY-RELEASED HIGH SCHOOL MIL 3: SENR YEAR — RYAN LOV DANCE, CHOREOGRAPHY, YOGA AND MIL THEATER. (WE ALSO LEARN HSM 2 THAT HE’S A HELLUVA BASEBALL PLAYER.) HIS SARTORIAL CHOIC LEAN TOWARD BOY CARRIE BRADSHAW ENSEMBL; DURG THE SCREENG OF HSM 3, I JOTTED DOWN NOT ABOUT RYAN’S OUTFS, CLUDG “RDIGAN,” “KNEEBOOTS,” “TIGHT PK PANTS WH MATCHG HEADBAND,” “SWEATER VT WH ASYMMETRIL ARGYLE PATTERN,” AND “A CHOS LE TOP HAT AND TAILS.”{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;}SOME OF RYAN'S MANY WARDROBE CHANG HSM3 {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 THE GREAT TRADN OF CHARACTERS PLAYED BY PANGBORN, HORTON AND TONY RANDALL BEFORE HIM, RYAN IS SOMETHG OF A NUCH. THE HSM MOVI WD UP WH MOST OF THE MAJOR CHARACTERS PAIRED OFF TO UPL, BUT RYAN NEVER HAS A SIGNIFINT OTHER OF EHER GENR TO LL HIS OWN. HE SEEMS CHUMMY WH SONGWRER KELSI (OLYA RUL), BUT THEIR RELATNSHIP PLAYS MORE U-AND-FLY THAN AS A LOVE {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;}HSM 3 HAS RYAN CHOREOGRAPHG THE SPRG SHOW — ONE CHARACTER REFERS TO HIS WARM-UP EXERCIS AS "SOME KD OF CRAZY FOSSE YOGA THG" — AND PETG FOR A SCHOLARSHIP TO JULLIARD. WHEN A TEACHER RMS HIM HE'S A FALIST, RYAN (SEEMGLY VOLUNTARILY) BLURTS OUT, "DANCE!"{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;}{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;}RYAN'S MA PURPOSE THE SERI IS TO ACT AS SIKICK AND FOIL TO HIS TW SISTER SHARPAY (ASHLEY TISDALE), AN OVER-THE-TOP DIVA BCH WHO LIV A SWIRL OF PK AND EXPECTS EVERYONE TO FALL DOWN AT HER PEDICURED FEET. (SHARPAY'S BIG SONG "FABULO" IS STED TO BEE A DRAG ANTHEM FOR THE AG.) IN HSM 3, THE EVANS TWS GET AN ELABORATE MIL NUMBER LLED "I WANT IT ALL," AND SHARP-EYED VIEWERS WILL TCH RYAN OGLG A SHIRTLS MALE DANCER FOR ABOUT A SEND AND A HALF. BUT N'T RYAN AID AND ABET SHARPAY HER SHENANIGANS, THROW JAZZ HANDS, AND BE AN OUT GAY TEEN AT THE SAME TIME?{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;}HE N — ON STAGE, ANYWAY. IN THE TOURG SHOW HIGH SCHOOL MIL ON TOUR!, GAY PLAYWRIGHT DAVID SIMPATI MAK RYAN’S QUEERNS A TOUCH MORE OVERT, PUTTG PICTUR OF P-UP MEN HIS LOCKER (HIS MALE CLASSMAT ALL HAVE PICTUR OF WOMEN) AND EVEN ALLOWG RYAN TO SWOON A B WHEN BMOC TROY BSH PAST HIM 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;}AND ’S NOT LIKE THE YOUNG DIENCE TO WHOM THE HSM ANCHISE IS AIMED DON’T READ BETWEEN THE L. AFTER RAN AN TERVIEW WH SIMPATI AND OFFICIALLY “OUTED” RYAN, ONE TEEN BLOGGER LKED TO THE STORY UNR THE HEADLE, “BREAKING NEWS! RYAN EVANS IS GAY! ALSO THE SUN IS HOT AND THE SKY IS BLUE!”{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;}WHICH BRGS BACK TO THE DISNEY CHANNEL, A PANY THAT HAS TO SIMULTANEOLY ENTICE YOUNG EYEBALLS TO THE SET WHOUT DOG ANYTHG TO UPSET PARENTS. AN OUT GAY TEENAGER A TWEENER MOVIE? NOT LOOKG LIKELY. AFTER ALL, TEEN WORK THE N RECENTLY BEME A PLETELY SEPARATE WORK OM S FORMER PARTNER, THE KIDDIE-CENTRIC NOGG, AT LEAST PARTIALLY BEE “FAY VALU” ADVOT WERE PLAG THAT A BLE WORK AIMED AT KIDS FEATURED QUEER CHARACTERS ON DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATN AND SOUTH 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;}AT THIS SUMMER'S TELEVISN CRICS ASSOCIATN SUMMER TOUR, A REPORTER OM SPOKE WH GARY MARSH, PRINT OF DISNEY CHANNEL WORLDWI, WHO FEND THE WORK, NOTG, “THERE HAVE BEEN CHARACTERS ON DISNEY CHANNEL WHO I THK PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT WERE GAY. THAT’S FOR THE DIENCE TO TERPRET.”{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;}PRSED BY A WRER OM ON WHETHER WAS FAIR FOR GAY VIEWERS TO HAVE TO “TERPRET” THOSE CHARACTERS, MARSH RPOND, “WELL, JT TO SPEAK SORT OF THE 30,000-FOOT LEVEL FIRST, WE DON’T AL WH SEXUALY ON THE DISNEY CHANNEL GENERAL. THAT’S JT SORT OF NOT WHERE OUR DIENCE’S HEAD’S AT. THEY’RE REALLY A PRE-SEXUAL DIENCE, FOR THE MOST PART, AND SO SEXUALY IS NOT HOW WE LOOK TO TELL ANY KD OF STORI.”{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;}DISNEY CHANNEL WORLDWI PRINT GARY MARSH {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;}PHOTO CRED: FRERICK M. BROWN/GETTY {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;}REGARDG THE FACT THAT THERE ARE BOYIEND-GIRLIEND RELATNSHIPS THE HSM MOVI, MARSH TERJECTED, “YEAH, BUT THAT’S NOT ABOUT SEX,” AS THOUGH HAVG TWO BOYIENDS EQUALS FULL-TILT BOOGIE. AND AS TO WHY THERE N BE BOYIEND AND GIRLIENDS BUT NOT TWO BOYIENDS, HE ULD ONLY NOTE, “IT’S JT NOT SOMETHG THAT WE’VE EVER HAD THE OPPORTUNY TO PORTRAY. IT HASN’T BEEN A PLACE WE’VE GONE.”{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;}THAT LAST SENTENCE IS CERTALY TE, ALTHOUGH THE ONE BEFORE , NOT SO MUCH. RYAN EVANS IS A FLAMBOYANT, LARGER-THAN-LIFE CHARACTER, AND THE EARTH WOULDN’T FALL TO THE SUN IF WE SAW HIM HOLD HANDS WH A BOY. (BEAR MD, LEAD CHARACTERS TROY AND GABRIELLA WEREN’T EVEN ALLOWED TO KISS UNTIL THE END OF THE SEND MOVIE.){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 FACT THAT THE HSM MOVI HANDLE RYAN’S NASCENT SEXUALY WH TONGS IS ALL THE MORE TRATG GIVEN THE THEM OF THE FILMS THEMSELV. HIGH SCHOOL MIL CHAMPNS A SHATTERG OF HIGH SCHOOL STEREOTYP, WHETHER ’S THE JOCK BOY AND THE BRA GIRL LOVG TO SG AND DANCE OR THE BIG GIRL BTG HIP-HOP MOV ( HSM 3, SHE’S BEE HEAD CHEERLEAR) OR THE SK8R BOI WHO SECRETLY LOV TO PLAY THE CELLO. THE MOVI ENURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THK OF THEMSELV AND THEIR PEERS NOT, AS THE BREAKFAST CLUB ONCE PUT , “ THE SIMPLT TERMS AND THE MOST NVENIENT FNS” BUT AS MULTI-FACETED HUMAN BEGS WHO DON’T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SCRIPT THAT LIFE OR THEIR CLASS CLIQUE HAS WRTEN 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;}THERE’S HOPE FOR RYAN EVANS, THOUGH. THE DIENCE GETS THAT HE’S GAY, AND THEY’RE APPARENTLY OK WH . AND AS FOR RYAN HIMSELF, HSM ENDS WH HIM GRADUATG OM HIGH SCHOOL. AND WHAT DRAMA CLUB BOY’S LIFE DIDN’T IMMEDIATELY GET BETTER ONCE THOSE FOUR YEARS WERE OVER?{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
• KENNY ORTEGA SAYS RYAN OM HIGH SCHOOL MIL WAS ‘PROBABLY’ GAY
• ‘HIGH SCHOOL MIL’ DIRECTOR REVEALS RYAN IS GAY, BUT WHY NOW?

'HIGH SCHOOL MIL' DIRECTOR KENNY ORTEGA NFIRMS SHARPAY'S BROTHER RYAN IS GAY AND WAS 'PROBABLY GOG TO E OUT LLEGE'

Director and choreographer Kenny Ortega revealed a recent terview that the character of Ryan Evans Disney's "High School Mil" anchise would have e out as gay llege. Ortega also revealed that he didn't thk was "possible" at the time of the movie's filmg to have an openly gay character.

"I didn't thk at the time — and Disney is the most progrsive group of people I've ever worked wh, " he acrdg to the director, there were subtle nods to Ryan's sexualy throughout all of the movi, even though the character wasn't openly gay. "High School Mil" director Kenny Ortega revealed a recent terview that the character Ryan Evans (Sharpay's tw brother the popular Disney anchise) would have e out as gay llege.

After beg asked by Ram Setooh of Variety about the "queer athetic" that's prent many of his films, Ortega opened up about Lus Grabeel's character Ryan, a mil theater-lovg stunt whom many fans of the anchise believe to be gay. " Ortega also revealed to Variety that he didn't thk was possible to have an openly gay character while makg "High School Mil" the mid-2000s. The HSM director, who is openly gay himself, nfirmed that Lus Grabeel’s character, Ryan Evans, was as well — even if wasn’t discsed the movi.

‘HIGH SCHOOL MIL’ DIRECTOR KENNY ORTEGA CONFIRMS LUS GRABEEL’S CHARACTER RYAN EVANS IS GAY

When the mil film me out 2006, Ortega revealed that he wasn’t sure an openly gay character would’ve been possible.

High School Mil had a late addn to Pri Month this year when out director Kenny Ortega revealed an terview that the character of Ryan Evans (played by Lus Grabeel) was gay the trilogy of Disney movi.

'HIGH SCHOOL MIL': WHAT LUS GRABEEL SAID ABOUT RYAN EVANS BEG GAY

'High School Mil' director Kenny Ortega has nfirmed that Ryan Evans (left) was d as gay.

High School Mil director Kenny Ortega revealed that fan-favore character Ryan Evans was gay, as well as explaed why the character's sexualy wasn't ma more apparent the ma the revelatn durg an terview wh Variety, published Tuday (June 30). "Ortega shared that the reason why he didn't make Ryan openly gay the movi was bee of Disney.

Kenny Ortega reveals why Ryan wasn't openly gay High School Mil. Director Kenny Ortega has revealed why Sharpay's brother Ryan wasn't openly gay Disney's High School Mil movi.

‘HIGH SCHOOL MIL’ DIRECTOR KENNY ORTEGA CONFIRMS RYAN EVANS WAS GAY AND ‘PROBABLY GOG TO COME OUT COLLEGE’

High School Mil director Kenny Ortega has explaed why Ryan Evans wasn't openly gay the, played by Lus Grabeel, is one of the film's ma characters and -print of the Drama Club wh his tw sister.

> Haton's L-Manuel Miranda Wants Beyoncé To Star In His Next MilThe filmmaker nfirmed that the character was gay but explaed why this wasn't shown the Disney Channel seri. Ortega admted that probably wouldn't have been possible when the origal High School Mil was released 2006 to have had an openly gay character the movi. Ortega, who himself is openly gay, directed the whole High School Mil trilogy and Disney's Dcendants director discsed his reer as he was named as an honouree Variety’s Power of Pri list and suggted there was a queer athetic that ns through his work.

As an honoree for Variety‘s 2020 Power of Pri list, Ortega revealed to the publitn that he’d always pictured Ryan to be gay. But when asked whether would’ve been possible for Ryan to e out one of the films, Ortega – who is gay, himself – revealed his past rervatns.

HIGH SCHOOL MIL DIRECTOR KENNY ORTEGA EXPLAED WHY RYAN EVANS WASN’T OPENLY GAY

Y, the High School Mic anchise premiered a whoppg 14 years ago, and that’s fely somethg that should be kept md, but I thk ’s important to note that rporate homophobia was prevalent, and still is prevalent, when nsirg the reprentatn of openly-intifyg LGBTQI+ characters teen films. 'High School Mil' Director Says He Didn't Thk Disney Would Be OK Wh Gay Character'High School Mil' director Kenny Ortega nfirms Ryan Evans is gay. Source: DisneyArticle ntu below advertisementThe Hoc Poc director nfirmed to Variety that Ryan is ed gay, and though was not disclosed the film, Kenny explaed that was "cid he's probably gog to e out llege.

"The director, who is openly gay himself, explaed that at the time, he didn't thk Disney would "be ready to cross that le and move to that terrory yet, " even though he nsired the work the "most progrsive group of people" he's worked wh. Ryan Evans is a gay character om High School Mil.

HIGH SCHOOL MIL DIRECTOR REVEALS WHY RYAN WASN'T OPENLY GAY IN MOVI

In 2020, director Kenny Ortega nfirmed that Ryan would have e out as gay llege[1]. Camp Gay.

Word of Gay - It took till 2020, over ten years after the fal film me out, for Ryan to officially be nfirmed gay by the director. Emphasizg the necsy of gay actors portrayg gay characters on-screen, Grabeel explaed that he — a straight, whe, cisgenr man — has undoubtedly taken opportuni om others the dtry "whout tryg.

WHY HIGH SCHOOL MIL’S RYAN EVANS WASN’T OPENLY GAY, ACRDG TO DIRECTOR KENNY ORTEGA

" "There's so many amazgly talented gay actors that uld do as well, so if High School Mil was ma today — I don't know if I would play Ryan, " Grabeel said an terview wh TMZ.

'HIGH SCHOOL MIL' DIRECTOR SAYS HE DIDN'T THK DISNEY WOULD BE OK WH GAY CHARACTER

In an terview wh Variety, High School Mil Director Kenny Ortega explaed that a large factor the cisn not to make the character openly gay was the fact that was a "touchy subject" children's programmg at the time.

"Sce the end of the High School Mil anchise, Disney has clud a storyle centered on an openly gay character wh the show Andi Mack, a program that received a GLAAD Award 2018 for Kids and Fay via GettyFrom Your Se ArticlAshley Tisdale Would Kill Zac Eon, Marry Dylan Sproe - PAPER ›Hilary Duff's Third Eye Bld Cover Is Peak 2000s Nostalgia - PAPER ›Ashley Tisdale's Sharpay Evans Trends on Twter - PAPER ›How Ashley Tisdale Found Her Voice - PAPER ›. KEY POINTS"High School Mil" director Kenny Ortega has nfirmed that Ryan Evans is gayThe 70-year-old filmmaker is one of this year's honore on Variety's Power of Pri listRyan was played by Lus Grabeel all throughout the "High School Mil" movie anchise“High School Mil” character Ryan Evans, who was played by Lus Grabeel the h Disney movie anchise, is gay, director Kev Ortega has nfirmed. Fourteen years after the Disney Channel origal movie ma s premiere, Ortega has revealed that Sharpay Evans’ (Ashley Tisdale) aternal tw brother, Ryan, was gay the “High School Mil” 70-year-old filmmaker and choreographer, who is one of this year’s honore on Variety’s Power of Pri list and is openly gay himself, spoke to the outlet about the “queer athetic” his work and looked back on his highly succsful Disney Channel movie unearthed the tth behd Ryan Evans, revealg that the character ed intifi as gay and would have “probably e out llege.

"As for the reason why Ortega chose to keep Ryan’s te sexualy hidn, the filmmaker admted that at the time, he didn't thk Disney would allow an openly gay character on s channel.

'HIGH SCHOOL MIL': RYAN EVANS IS GAY, DIRECTOR KENNY ORTEGA REVEALS

Grabeel prevly told TV Le that unlike the "over the top" portrayals of his inic character, he had a different visn for Ryan after learng about Ortega's own experience as a gay high school stunt the '60s.

Jt days after Kenny Ortega nfirmed that Lus Grabeel‘s High School Mil character, Ryan Evans’ was gay, the actor has shared his thoughts on the matter, and revealed why he wouldn’t reprise the role for another movie. “There’s so many amazgly talented gay actors that uld do as well, so if High School Mil was ma today — I don’t know if I would play Ryan, ” he explaed durg a new terview wh TMZ.

SPEAKG OUTLUS GRABEEL SAYS HE WON’T REPRISE ‘HSM’ ROLE AFTER KENNY ORTEGA CONFIRMED CHARACTER WAS GAY

Ryan’s gay, right? At that time was eher [the gay characters were] extremely flamboyant or very closeted and kd of shut off, ” the 35-year-old add. For those who missed , Kenny, who also was behd movi like Hoc Poc and Dcendants, nfirmed that the character was gay when he told Variety last week, “We cid he’s probably gog to e out llege.

And when the outlet asked the 70-year-old if he ever nsired makg Ryan openly gay the flick, he explaed, “I have to be hont wh you.

HIGH SCHOOL MIL 3'S RYAN EVANS STILL A D GAY {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 ALEXANR STEVENSONOCTOBER 24, 2008/10:49 AMBY ALEXANR STEVENSONOCTOBER 24, 2008 / 10:49 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"HIGH SCHOOL MIL 3'S RYAN EVANS STILL A D GAY CHARACTER","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-10-24T14:49:29.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-10-24T14:49:29.000+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":"ALEXANR STEVENSON","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;}ACTOR LUS GRABEEL PLAYS HSM'S "RYAN"{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;}PHOTO CRED: STEVE GRANZ/{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;}ONCE UPON A TIME HOLLYWOOD, THERE WAS THE HAYS CO, A SET OF L THAT MAJOR MOTN PICTURE STUDS WERE FORCED TO FOLLOW. THE FORBA, AMONG OTHER THGS, NUDY, C LANGUAGE, MOCKERY OF RELIGN AND “LTFUL KISSG.” ALSO NOT ALLOWED WERE REFERENC TO “SEX PERVERSN,” CLUDG {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;}DID THAT MEAN THERE WERE NO GAY CHARACTERS MOVI? HECK, NO. THEY WERE JT “D.” THE PERSNICKETY AND PURSE-LIPPED FRANKL PANGBORN, NSTANTLY EXASPERATED BY THE FOIBL OF W.C. FIELDS, OR THE FEY EDWARD EVERETT HORTON, FOREVER PLITG ROMANTIC MATTERS BETWEEN FRED ASTAIRE AND GGER ROGERS, WERE NEVER INTIFIED AS GAY MEN. BUT THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO BE — THE DIENCE SAW THEIR MEANOR, THEIR BEHAVR, THE WAY THEY SPOKE, ACTED, AND DRSED, AND THEIR QUEERNS WAS FORTHRIGHTLY IMPLIED IF NEVER DIRECTLY {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;}FRANKL PANGBORN (LEFT) AND EDWARD EVERETT {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;}IF THERE’S ANYONE NTEMPORARY SHOW BS THAT HAS TO FOLLOW L EVEN STRICTER THAN THE HAYS CO, ’S THE MAKERS OF CHILDREN’S TELEVISN. SO WHEN THE DISNEY CHANNEL STCK GOLD WH THE HIGH SCHOOL MIL ANCHISE, ’S NO SURPRISE THAT THEY NEVER EXPLICLY TOLD THE DIENCE THAT THE CHARACTER OF RYAN EVANS WAS GAY. BUT AGA, THEY DIDN’T NEED {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;}PORTRAYED BY LUS GRABEEL ALL THE HSM FILMS — CLUDG THE NEW, THEATRILLY-RELEASED HIGH SCHOOL MIL 3: SENR YEAR — RYAN LOV DANCE, CHOREOGRAPHY, YOGA AND MIL THEATER. (WE ALSO LEARN HSM 2 THAT HE’S A HELLUVA BASEBALL PLAYER.) HIS SARTORIAL CHOIC LEAN TOWARD BOY CARRIE BRADSHAW ENSEMBL; DURG THE SCREENG OF HSM 3, I JOTTED DOWN NOT ABOUT RYAN’S OUTFS, CLUDG “RDIGAN,” “KNEEBOOTS,” “TIGHT PK PANTS WH MATCHG HEADBAND,” “SWEATER VT WH ASYMMETRIL ARGYLE PATTERN,” AND “A CHOS LE TOP HAT AND TAILS.”{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;}SOME OF RYAN'S MANY WARDROBE CHANG HSM3 {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 THE GREAT TRADN OF CHARACTERS PLAYED BY PANGBORN, HORTON AND TONY RANDALL BEFORE HIM, RYAN IS SOMETHG OF A NUCH. THE HSM MOVI WD UP WH MOST OF THE MAJOR CHARACTERS PAIRED OFF TO UPL, BUT RYAN NEVER HAS A SIGNIFINT OTHER OF EHER GENR TO LL HIS OWN. HE SEEMS CHUMMY WH SONGWRER KELSI (OLYA RUL), BUT THEIR RELATNSHIP PLAYS MORE U-AND-FLY THAN AS A LOVE {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;}HSM 3 HAS RYAN CHOREOGRAPHG THE SPRG SHOW — ONE CHARACTER REFERS TO HIS WARM-UP EXERCIS AS "SOME KD OF CRAZY FOSSE YOGA THG" — AND PETG FOR A SCHOLARSHIP TO JULLIARD. WHEN A TEACHER RMS HIM HE'S A FALIST, RYAN (SEEMGLY VOLUNTARILY) BLURTS OUT, "DANCE!"{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;}{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;}RYAN'S MA PURPOSE THE SERI IS TO ACT AS SIKICK AND FOIL TO HIS TW SISTER SHARPAY (ASHLEY TISDALE), AN OVER-THE-TOP DIVA BCH WHO LIV A SWIRL OF PK AND EXPECTS EVERYONE TO FALL DOWN AT HER PEDICURED FEET. (SHARPAY'S BIG SONG "FABULO" IS STED TO BEE A DRAG ANTHEM FOR THE AG.) IN HSM 3, THE EVANS TWS GET AN ELABORATE MIL NUMBER LLED "I WANT IT ALL," AND SHARP-EYED VIEWERS WILL TCH RYAN OGLG A SHIRTLS MALE DANCER FOR ABOUT A SEND AND A HALF. BUT N'T RYAN AID AND ABET SHARPAY HER SHENANIGANS, THROW JAZZ HANDS, AND BE AN OUT GAY TEEN AT THE SAME TIME?{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;}HE N — ON STAGE, ANYWAY. IN THE TOURG SHOW HIGH SCHOOL MIL ON TOUR!, GAY PLAYWRIGHT DAVID SIMPATI MAK RYAN’S QUEERNS A TOUCH MORE OVERT, PUTTG PICTUR OF P-UP MEN HIS LOCKER (HIS MALE CLASSMAT ALL HAVE PICTUR OF WOMEN) AND EVEN ALLOWG RYAN TO SWOON A B WHEN BMOC TROY BSH PAST HIM 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;}AND ’S NOT LIKE THE YOUNG DIENCE TO WHOM THE HSM ANCHISE IS AIMED DON’T READ BETWEEN THE L. AFTER RAN AN TERVIEW WH SIMPATI AND OFFICIALLY “OUTED” RYAN, ONE TEEN BLOGGER LKED TO THE STORY UNR THE HEADLE, “BREAKING NEWS! RYAN EVANS IS GAY! ALSO THE SUN IS HOT AND THE SKY IS BLUE!”{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;}WHICH BRGS BACK TO THE DISNEY CHANNEL, A PANY THAT HAS TO SIMULTANEOLY ENTICE YOUNG EYEBALLS TO THE SET WHOUT DOG ANYTHG TO UPSET PARENTS. AN OUT GAY TEENAGER A TWEENER MOVIE? NOT LOOKG LIKELY. AFTER ALL, TEEN WORK THE N RECENTLY BEME A PLETELY SEPARATE WORK OM S FORMER PARTNER, THE KIDDIE-CENTRIC NOGG, AT LEAST PARTIALLY BEE “FAY VALU” ADVOT WERE PLAG THAT A BLE WORK AIMED AT KIDS FEATURED QUEER CHARACTERS ON DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATN AND SOUTH 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;}AT THIS SUMMER'S TELEVISN CRICS ASSOCIATN SUMMER TOUR, A REPORTER OM SPOKE WH GARY MARSH, PRINT OF DISNEY CHANNEL WORLDWI, WHO FEND THE WORK, NOTG, “THERE HAVE BEEN CHARACTERS ON DISNEY CHANNEL WHO I THK PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT WERE GAY. THAT’S FOR THE DIENCE TO TERPRET.”{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;}PRSED BY A WRER OM ON WHETHER WAS FAIR FOR GAY VIEWERS TO HAVE TO “TERPRET” THOSE CHARACTERS, MARSH RPOND, “WELL, JT TO SPEAK SORT OF THE 30,000-FOOT LEVEL FIRST, WE DON’T AL WH SEXUALY ON THE DISNEY CHANNEL GENERAL. THAT’S JT SORT OF NOT WHERE OUR DIENCE’S HEAD’S AT. THEY’RE REALLY A PRE-SEXUAL DIENCE, FOR THE MOST PART, AND SO SEXUALY IS NOT HOW WE LOOK TO TELL ANY KD OF STORI.”{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;}DISNEY CHANNEL WORLDWI PRINT GARY MARSH {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;}PHOTO CRED: FRERICK M. BROWN/GETTY {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;}REGARDG THE FACT THAT THERE ARE BOYIEND-GIRLIEND RELATNSHIPS THE HSM MOVI, MARSH TERJECTED, “YEAH, BUT THAT’S NOT ABOUT SEX,” AS THOUGH HAVG TWO BOYIENDS EQUALS FULL-TILT BOOGIE. AND AS TO WHY THERE N BE BOYIEND AND GIRLIENDS BUT NOT TWO BOYIENDS, HE ULD ONLY NOTE, “IT’S JT NOT SOMETHG THAT WE’VE EVER HAD THE OPPORTUNY TO PORTRAY. IT HASN’T BEEN A PLACE WE’VE GONE.”{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;}THAT LAST SENTENCE IS CERTALY TE, ALTHOUGH THE ONE BEFORE , NOT SO MUCH. RYAN EVANS IS A FLAMBOYANT, LARGER-THAN-LIFE CHARACTER, AND THE EARTH WOULDN’T FALL TO THE SUN IF WE SAW HIM HOLD HANDS WH A BOY. (BEAR MD, LEAD CHARACTERS TROY AND GABRIELLA WEREN’T EVEN ALLOWED TO KISS UNTIL THE END OF THE SEND MOVIE.){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 FACT THAT THE HSM MOVI HANDLE RYAN’S NASCENT SEXUALY WH TONGS IS ALL THE MORE TRATG GIVEN THE THEM OF THE FILMS THEMSELV. HIGH SCHOOL MIL CHAMPNS A SHATTERG OF HIGH SCHOOL STEREOTYP, WHETHER ’S THE JOCK BOY AND THE BRA GIRL LOVG TO SG AND DANCE OR THE BIG GIRL BTG HIP-HOP MOV ( HSM 3, SHE’S BEE HEAD CHEERLEAR) OR THE SK8R BOI WHO SECRETLY LOV TO PLAY THE CELLO. THE MOVI ENURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THK OF THEMSELV AND THEIR PEERS NOT, AS THE BREAKFAST CLUB ONCE PUT , “ THE SIMPLT TERMS AND THE MOST NVENIENT FNS” BUT AS MULTI-FACETED HUMAN BEGS WHO DON’T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SCRIPT THAT LIFE OR THEIR CLASS CLIQUE HAS WRTEN 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;}THERE’S HOPE FOR RYAN EVANS, THOUGH. THE DIENCE GETS THAT HE’S GAY, AND THEY’RE APPARENTLY OK WH . AND AS FOR RYAN HIMSELF, HSM ENDS WH HIM GRADUATG OM HIGH SCHOOL. AND WHAT DRAMA CLUB BOY’S LIFE DIDN’T IMMEDIATELY GET BETTER ONCE THOSE FOUR YEARS WERE OVER?{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

” Also not allowed were referenc to “sex perversn, ” cludg that mean there were no gay characters movi? Fields, or the fey Edward Everett Horton, forever plitg romantic matters between Fred Astaire and Gger Rogers, were never intified as gay men. So when the Disney Channel stck gold wh the High School Mil anchise, ’s no surprise that they never explicly told the dience that the character of Ryan Evans was gay.

But n't Ryan aid and abet Sharpay her shenanigans, throw jazz hands, and be an out gay teen at the same time? In the tourg show High School Mil on Tour!, gay playwright David Simpati mak Ryan’s queerns a touch more overt, puttg pictur of p-up men his locker (his male classmat all have pictur of women) and even allowg Ryan to swoon a b when BMOC Troy bsh past him the ’s not like the young dience to whom the HSM anchise is aimed don’t read between the l. Ryan Evans is Gay!

An out gay teenager a tweener movie? After all, teen work The N recently beme a pletely separate work om s former partner, the kiddie-centric Nogg, at least partially bee “fay valu” advot were plag that a ble work aimed at kids featured queer characters on Degrassi: The Next Generatn and South of this summer's Televisn Crics Associatn Summer Tour, a reporter om spoke wh Gary Marsh, print of Disney Channel Worldwi, who fend the work, notg, “There have been characters on Disney Channel who I thk people have thought were gay.

KENNY ORTEGA SAYS RYAN OM HIGH SCHOOL MIL WAS ‘PROBABLY’ GAY

”Prsed by a wrer om on whether was fair for gay viewers to have to “terpret” those characters, Marsh rpond, “Well, jt to speak sort of the 30, 000-foot level first, we don’t al wh sexualy on the Disney Channel general. The dience gets that he’s gay, and they’re apparently OK wh . Variety named Ortega as an honoree on s “Power of Pri” list and terviewed him about his long reer as an openly gay choreographer and director Hollywood as well as the queer athetic nng through his classic fay films, om Newsi and Hoc Poc to his more recent Disney Channel Origal Movi.

” When asked if would have been possible to wre Ryan as openly gay a Bh admistratn–era Disney Channel movie, Ortega answered:.

‘HIGH SCHOOL MIL’ DIRECTOR REVEALS RYAN IS GAY, BUT WHY NOW?

The fact that, 2020, Disney was velopg the gay-teen seri Love, Victor for Disney+ shows how far the stud has e. Kenny Ortega Says High School Mil’s Ryan ‘Probably’ Gay.

Ortega revealed that he didn’t thk was possible to have openly gay characters while makg the h that didn’t seem to stop Ortega. “There’s so many amazgly talented gay actors who uld do as well, and so if ‘High School Mil’ was ma today, I don’t know if I would play Ryan.