Ian McKellan Believes Gay Stars Are Still Pressured to 'Stay in the Closet'

By Jo Piazza Posted Nov 5th 2010 06:39PM

Hollywood still has a ways to go when it comes to accepting gay actors and actresses, according to openly gay actor and longtime LGBT rights activist Sir Ian McKellen, who told PopEater on Thursday that he fears agents and managers are still forcing stars to stay in the closet.

"I don't think any gay person is going to be happy and bring joy to themselves and other people unless they can be honest about their sexuality, and if other people don't like that honestly, that's a comment on them and not on the person who is being honest," McKellen said at the Savannah Film Festival.

"That might seem a harsh thing to say to a young actor who is being advised by an agent to stay in the closet. There are no openly gay stars in Hollywood, so someone is telling them to shut up."

The decision for a person in the public eye to come out of the closet remains gut wrenching. Just ask singer Ricky Martin, who this week admitted to Oprah that finally saying he was gay to his fans around the world reduced him to tears.

"When I realized, OK, I just pressed send; I was alone," the 38-year-old told Winfrey. "I was in my studio alone for a minute. My assistant walked in and I just started crying like a little baby. I started crying."

While it may seem as though Hollywood has moved forward by leaps and bounds when it comes to acceptance of gay actors and actresses, that is because now there are some rather than none. There are still only a handful of big names, such as Ellen DeGeneres, Neil Patrick Harris, Wanda Sykes, Jane Lynch and Cynthia Nixon, that have come out of the closet and maintained successful careers.

Hollywood also still seems to think that gay-bashing humor -- such as the recent line in the Vince Vaughn film 'The Dilemma,' which equated being "gay" to being "lame" -- is entirely acceptable. Director Ron Howard and star Vaughn both said they did not want the joke removed from the film. But Vaughn did say he never meant to hurt anyone's feelings.

"I don't think Hollywood is sensitive to the gay and lesbian community unless someone gets caught then you get an apology. The unwritten rules of engagement are we don't want people discussing their sexuality," explains celebrity publicist and image consultant Michael Sands. "Hollywood is very homophobic and behind the times like the military. There is this unbreakable silent law that if you come out, your career will be ruined because no one wants to hire someone who is gay or lesbian."

McKellen, who came out in 1988 at the age of 49, says that he was less concerned about coming out when he did because he wasn't a huge movie star. He explains that his film career didn't really take off until he was out of the closet, but he still doesn't believe the modicum of fame gained by lying about your sexuality is worth it.

"If you're going around telling a lie you may get by but you won't be half as happy as you would be if you came out," McKellen said. "If that means you have to give up hopes of being one of the three or four young sex symbols in Hollywood so be it. You probably weren't going to be one of those anyway. That happens by chance and it doesn't last for very long."

McKellen added that just because an actor or actress chooses to be honest about their sexuality, it doesn't mean they have to have loose lips regarding all parts of their personal lives.

"There is a difference between living a private life and being in the closet. Being in the closet means you're lying about your life but just because you come out doesn't mean you have to talk about every affair you have. You don't have to talk about what you do in bed anymore than I have to talk about the food I eat."

Of course, the difficulty that stems from admitting one's homosexuality in the real world extends far beyond the concern of losing a film role because of who you choose to fall in love with. GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios, who led the fight against the gay joke in 'The Dilemma' earlier this month, says he sees at least some progress when it comes to gay rights in Hollywood and that small steps are better than no steps at all.

"Hardships that result from coming out extend far beyond Hollywood," Barrios told PopEater. "This is about a climate where kids are bullied, where gay and transgender Americans can be fired in most states simply for being who they are, and where soldiers are discharged after coming out. As more and more gay people decide to live openly, Americans are understanding the common ground -- that we all share the same hopes and aspirations. The same is true in Hollywood as evidenced by the critical and popular praise for actors like Neil Patrick Harris, Jane Lynch, Wanda Sykes and Cynthia Nixon."

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Comments

(22)

Friday 05 November

By Jackie

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Can gay performers like McKellan and others tell who these other, closeted performers/stars are, who are also gay? I've always wondered about that. It's a serious question. I'm simply curious and would appreciate an informed answer.

By carolineakagod

Yes, they can tell somewhat, it is called "gaydar". You can google it.

By paul

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The real problem? The existence of sites such as this! Splashing stories such as this everywhere! If the sex lives of celebrities were viewed as no ones business, being out of a closet would be so much easier. But, as long as the media, print and broadcast believe the have a right...no..make that a belief that they have an obligation...to reveal personal details that are none of anyones business, the problem will continue to exist. I am a 77 year old gay man who has lived in the spotlight, so I am very aware how insidious the the media can be.

By Willi

All this crap was supposed to over in Hollywood when Librache came out.

Saturday 06 November

By Arno

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Well, then don't push your heterosexuality out on others, I don't want to see how many kids you have, or how many women you banged. It works both ways, being gay is not a choice, when did you have to choose?

By susan

You're an insecure idiot!

By Hal

bean hulls and cabbage

By Fred

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I don't care if anyone is gay period. I have trouble watching Neil P Harris acting as lady killer on HIMYM knowing he is gay.

By Cloe

I'm the opposite. When I watch HIMYM, Neil is such a great actor that all I see is Barney Stinson and NOT NPH. If an actor is truly good, you are sucked into their character and forget who they are in "real life".

By peter

most are gay anyway, no big deal except for th lgbts

By Carole

Markdiscohippe you're an idiot. No one chooses to be gay or straight. Did you choose to be dumb? Does one choose the color of their hair or eyes? I'm offended by your being a nasty, dumb, mean person - your brain belongs in the closet along with your mouth. What are you hiding, Mark, that you have to be so mean...huh, huh?

By Charles

I bet you believe that anyone who does not live like you are also freaks! I cannot believe that in this day and age such things like homophobia still exists! While I do agree that there are some "gay" people who flaunt their sexuality for all the world to see ... I think you would be surprised to know that there ARE gay people who one would never suspect they were gay. The bottom line is ... who's business is it who does WHAT, with WHO? You DO have a right to you're opinion and I respect you're right to express it ... but YOU have NO right to tell anyone how to live their lives ... NO ONE DOES!

By Teresa

Look who's talking ... markdiscohippie? Just what kind of wacko nutcase are you? Gays are as normal as everyone else ... who they are or are not attracted to doesn't make them any different than who you are or are not attracted to makes you any different.

By Pam

Why should anyone care one way or the other whether anyone is gay or lesbian? Isn't life hard enough without people zeroing in on someone who is different than they are? Live and let live. Judge not lest you be judged!!!

By exoticdoc2

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A long way to go? It's already gone too far.

By bill

Once again the gay-hating bigots are at it again. Why, then, should we know that a star is hetero? SHouldn't they shut up and hide their so-called "Christian" marriages, which almost always end in divorce anyway????

If anything has gone too far it's the stupidity of conservative Christianity. Virgin births, talking snakes, men living in whale's stomachs, people getting up from the dead???? Hmmm, no. I don't think so.

Tuesday 09 November

By victoria

I don't care about his sexual preferrences. He's a darned good actor.

I think it's ridiculous how many feel they need to hide in the closet and parade around in fake relationships. They are meant to be actors on the screen, not in their everyday lives. There are quite a few who I would bet money are gay/lesbian and I find it so sad that they live their lives in lies. :(

By Frank

"There are no openly gay stars in Hollywood, so someone is telling them to shut up."
This is not correct. There are several openly gay stars, such as Neil Patrick Harris, and Sean Hayes, and David Hyde Pierce. They are extremely talented actors. There are also some over the top people who identify themselves as Christians, but in reality, make Christianity look bad. The thing is, if a person is going to take an action, and claim it is in line with their Christian faith, they must know what their faith instructs, and base their actions on the entire Word of God, not picking and choosing which verses to shout out at others. "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14 and "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2.Timothy 2:15. Some people who are identiying themselves as Christians are correcting, and rebuking, but failing to correctly handle the Word of Truth, and failing to act as if they are trying to live in peace. If they are going to claim that they are giving a hate-filled message based on their faith, what they are doing is also wrong and not in line with the Word of God. "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." 2.Timothy 4:2 If you put your faith in Christ, try to live according to His example, and if you believe something is wrong, correct and rebuke according to the entire Word of God, in love, for the purpose of edifying others, and lifting up the name of Jesus. Other wise, do not identify your
actions as Christian.
Personally, I do not want to know or think about the sexuality of anyone other than myself, and my family. It is private business. I think the media should stop pursuing this type of agenda, and report newsworthy events.

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