John Barrowman receiving the Human Rights Campaign award

[dieastra]

Some friends here know that I recently struggled a bit with my love for John Barrowman, you know how it is, little things start to grate, and you start to wonder about some of his decisions and general over the top behavior (I'm still not over that weird stripey suit with short pants he wore when presenting an award show). But then he goes and does something awesome and I am back.

Today he got the Human Rights Campaign award for being out and proud and helping the community in every way possible. I hadn't known that he actually helped shaping UK laws (I only knew that they changed the music charts counting system when he started to sell his CDs at QVC). That's pretty big. Here is the video of his acceptance speech and it is a really good one. This is why we love him:

https://www.facebook.com/GayStarNews/videos/1184590711617244/

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Comments

[alumfelga.livejournal.com]

I didn't know he lost his job because he was openly gay, that's horrible. He's right: we have to fight back and speak back when someone says we're not allowed to be ourselves. It's good there are people like John who do whatever they can to change the world. Wonderful speech and well deserved award.

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I didn't know he lost his job because he was openly gay, that's horrible.

That was in the early Nineties, a soap opera in America. The series was shortly after cancelled altogether so it wasn't a big loss. Made it only to one season and a few episodes.

Ironically, later he didn't get another job as he wasn't gay enough. He auditioned for "Will & Grace" but they wanted a stereotypical over the top gay. But if he had gotten the job, who knows, we might have had never Jack Harkness! So it all turned out well in the end.

Yes, it's good that we have all those people on TV (and they become more and more) who show the kids from today that there is no shame in being different.

I just wish that one day there is no need anymore to shout to the world "I'm gay!" I mean, no straight man is announcing that, right? Real equality is only reached when everyone can talk about their husband just casually, without getting any raised eyebrows.

Also, there are interviews with John where he gets described as "the gay actor". I've never heard anyone say "the straight actor".

I watched "The Family" recently. The FBI guy there was like that. He mentioned his husband once or twice, but it was not important and did not define him. Important was how he was solving the case.

[alumfelga.livejournal.com]

I just wish that one day there is no need anymore to shout to the world "I'm gay!" I mean, no straight man is announcing that, right?
Exactly. It's still assumed you're straight unless you say otherwise. It can easily be seen in how fictional characters are being introduced - if they're gay, it's said straight away. God forbid we watch the main character for a season, and then the character starts dating someone and we find out he's gay. "Suddenly they made him gay!" During that season, the character's orientation wasn't revealed so the viewers already assumed he was straight.
This is not fair. But it's a phase, I think - after being forced to hide now it's time to shout about it and be visible. Then maybe comes time when you don't have to shout anymore.

I've never heard anyone say "the straight actor".

Yeah, it sounds ridiculous. And so should "gay actor" seem.

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

But it's a phase, I think - after being forced to hide now it's time to shout about it and be visible. Then maybe comes time when you don't have to shout anymore.

Yes, I agree. And it is understandable I guess. But even in the gay community, there are those that want to march at prides and shout out, and those that just want to live an ordinary life and be left alone.

Do you know how Matt Bomer came out? It had been rumored for quite a while. A friend actually told me about these rumors back when I watched "White Collar". I didn't mind either way. The most riduculous thing is if girls say they can't admire an actor anymore when he is gay - as if they had a chance with him if he wasn't! Get real.

They also say they cannot believe his character woeing women on screen - but I think he does it very believeable! It's called acting after all. Otherwise only real murderers would be allowed to play murderers. Sheesh.

So, it was rumored, and the rumor had foundation, at least his friends and Hollywood in general knew (his husband is in the industry). But it was never talked about in interviews. I don't know the reason for that - if he did not want to, saw no reason to it or if he was not allowed to by the studio. It might be the latter, they might have been afraid of people stopping watching.

Anyway, a few years ago he got an award and in his thanks speech on stage he thanked his family, three sons and his husband. Just like that. And all hell broke loose in the internet, that he finally had made it officially. And he was a bit surprised by that, apparently hadn't expected it being that big news. I think I even read a tweet by John congratulating him at the time.

Since then he also speaks out more about issues and takes part in stuff, for example that theatre play a lot of Hollywood actors did about Prop. 8.

But, and that is the downside of it all, he also seems to play more gay roles. If that is his choice or if he just doesn't get anything else anymore, I can't say.

The speech is here, not very good quality I'm afraid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpXHJFVnW8Q

[alumfelga.livejournal.com]

The most riduculous thing is if girls say they can't admire an actor anymore when he is gay - as if they had a chance with him if he wasn't!
It is ridiculous.

They also say they cannot believe his character woeing women on screen - but I think he does it very believeable!
Me too. When I found out Matt was gay, I only admired him more as an actor because he played heterosexual Neal so well. I probably shouldn't even think of it, since it's obvious straight actors play gay characters and vice versa, but I did. I think we, or some of us, still have a thought back in our minds that onscreen attraction and chemistry can't be entirely faked - because if they can, how can we be sure of people in real life? So those situations only show they can, and are, faked.

But, and that is the downside of it all, he also seems to play more gay roles.
Maybe that's why he didn't want it to be public news - so he's not seen as a "gay actor" and can play more various roles. If some stupid people can't believe him playing a straight character once they know he's gay, the producers would know the tendency.