Director Todd Holland gives some controversial advice to actors at Outfest panel: “Stay in the closet”

While I was enjoying An Englishman in New York at Outfest on Sunday, there was an interesting panel discussion going on at the adjacent theater inside the DGA called Taking it to the Streets which was filled as a discussion about how gay and lesbian filmmakers “are taking a more active role in creating social and political change.”

According to LA Weekly’s Pstrick Range McDonald, who was in attendance, director Todd Holland (Malcolm in the Middle, The Larry Sanders Show, Miss Guided) caused quite a stir when he said tht if an actor wants to succeed in Hollywood, he needs to stay in the closet.

This comes from an openly gay director. Outrage director Kirby Dick tried to set him straight so to speak: “I know where you’re coming from, but it’s a regressive argument adding that if “an A-list actor came out, it would have more impact on the culture than an A-list politician.”