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Jane Lynch on gay actors playing straight: “I do think the straight folks will continue to play the straight roles.”

There’s a reason why Greg In Hollywood was not present for Fox’s day at the TV Critics Association Winter Press Tour: the network wrote me saying it was “at capacity.”

This was not the case with CBS, NBC, ABC, OWN and and every other single cable network which did have room for me to attend every panel, every meal, and every party they hosted.

I wasn’t about to be a party crasher on Fox day.

But I do feel it is important for LGBT sites like this one to be included and told Fox Publicity Manager Nicole Gonzalez this once she replied to my second email requesting credentials (the first request, a few weeks earlier, was ignored).

I know an independent site like this one isn’t going to get invited to all the big events every year – as we found out with the Emmys last fall! – but when I feel Greg In Hollywood is being treated unfairly or not being taken seriously, I will mention it to you readers and get it on the record.

So, I was not at the Fox presentation or the party they held last night but another gay reporter, AfterElton.com editor Michael Jensen, was and he talked to Glee star Jane Lynch and wanted to get this openly gay star’s thoughts on The Daily Beast ran an article talking about gay actors not getting cast in straight parts.

I don’t think Michael expected this answer:

“This is a business of projection and desiring people from afar. And watching people go through trials and tribulations, so there has got to be some truth to it, in terms of, “I could see myself with that person.” Because the leading man and lady are the person we want them to fall in love with, and most of the audience is straight. So for right now, we can only use straight actors.”

“Look, I’ve never — as far as I know, it’s been behind my back if it has — I’ve never been turned down for a role because I’m gay. I’m a character actor, and that’s probably why. I don’t find Hollywood, in my own experience, to be homophobic. Have I ever been turned down? I don’t know because you never know when you don’t get something or why you didn’t get it. But I do think the straight folks will continue to play the straight roles.

Here is a LINK to the entire interview.

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2okk2EVtd1qzhe6eo1_400.gifI give Jane points for her candor but on her very own show, gay actor Jonathan Groff played straight last season and her character of Sue Sylvester got it on with a sexy character played by gay actor Neil Patrick Harris.

It seems like once enough really talented (and desirable I suppose) male stars come out and studios have the courage to cast them as a romantic lead despite that, we’ll really know then if the audience will buy it. Until then, we just do not really know.

FILE UNDER: Controversy, Out Stars

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One Remark

  1. Jane needs to get her head outta her butt. Russ Tovey is a t.v. star in the U.K. is very much out & consistently plays straight roles. His fame in England rivals & prolly surpasses Neil Patrich Harris’ here in the U.S.

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