Anne Hathaway to Play Kurt’s Gay Aunt on ‘Glee’!

Generally speaking when someone suggests that it is a choice to be gay, I am quick to disagree and defend that people are born with their sexual orientation intact, but for one group of folks, being gay is a choice- straight actors.

Anne Hathaway was on Jimmy Fallon last month were she told him, “Can I make a confession? In my head, I’ve written a part for myself on Glee. That’s so arrogant and obnoxious…In my head, I’ve cast myself on Glee and I know which song in would sing.” Well, it looks like she’s got her wish! She told Fallon that’d she’d like to play Kurt’s (Chris Colfer) lesbian aunt.

Straight women and men get to play gay, and it s quite trendy at the moment, while gay and lesbian actors can find it hard to get and keep work. Most would say, that it isn’t a bad thing. The more often we have, especially big name stars, play gay, it sends the message that it is OK to be gay. (I feel like I should follow that sentence with a smiley face)

But is it? Or does it also imply that being gay is something anyone can do? In other words, if a straight actor can play gay, maybe we are all choosing to be (playing) gay? Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not suggesting that straight actors shouldn’t accept gay or lesbian characters/roles. But I think we should ponder what messages it sends, and while it may be helpful to the greater issue of acceptance, are there other implications as well that we should be aware of?

For example, Does it generate an “accepted gay or lesbian” that is based on being straight but pretending? Consider how dominant the idea of “straight acting and appearing” is among gay men, for example. Is it possible that straight actors playing gay, simply reinforces a notion of masculinity that still marginalizes some gays?

I love Anne Hathaway as much as the next gay guy, so this post isn’t meant to be about her specifically. And, I’m thrilled to see a lesbian character on Glee. But in the bigger scheme of things, what does it mean? In a Hollywood where gay and lesbian actors still have trouble finding good work, is this one more way to hide the gay?

via Anne Hathaway to Play Kurt’s Gay Aunt on ‘Glee’! | TheCelebrityCafe.com.