The Official Raúl E. Esparza "Spread the Love" Thread, part two — Page 160

I'm sorry - I just posted my opinions on the Times article in the "Raul, if you're reading this" thread. Maybe (hell, apparently) I'm in the minority on this, but I'd rather read about an actor's work/art rather than sexuality/relationships (of any orientation).

Zyla, he's done hundreds of interviews specifically about his work. Read the one on Broadway.com or the many other articles on his website.

If you're too narrow-minded to accept it, fine, but in today's world, gay people need to acknowledge their sexuality publically if we're ever going to get to a point where it shouldn't matter. And I've never seen you post the same objections whenever a straight actor mentions their significant other in the article, so regardless of what you insist, the orientation DOES matter to you. However you object to this to insist how liberal you really are, your initial reactions speak louder than any defense you can come up with now.

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Updated On: 11/27/06 at 04:53 PM

I think that the ideal is to say "well, who cares if someone is gay? Why does he have to be a GAY actor? Why can't he just be an actor?" in the sense that it should be lumped into the norm and not something that people are afraid to confess. But until the state of affairs changes, coming out and being brave like this is going to continue to be an important, very necessary process.

I personally was not uncomfortable reading the article, but I'm generally pretty laid back about what makes me squeamish or whatever. I mean, he didn't truly even talk about his sex life. Saying that he has been in love with men and that he's involved with a man is hardly the same as for him to talk about what incredible sex he had with his boyfriend last night, or something. I understand that people have different levels of what makes them uncomfortable, but you have to be very careful with situations like this in saying that you don't see the reason for it, because shying away from his talk of romance or love makes it really easy for you to look homophobic. There's a lot of double standardization.

And hey, even if you are uncomfortable knowing what goes on behind the closed doors of his bedroom or his dressing room or whatever, and if it is truly about the art, then you learn something that you may think too much and you move on. Keep focusing on the art and get on with it. I'd hope this wouldn't change how his work is regarded.

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Updated On: 11/27/06 at 05:26 PM

Nonetheless, I think Zyla might have meant she's tired of the general sex fixation and is more interested in Raul's career than what he's doing in bed.

I wondered if wasn't remembering things properly, so I searched for Zyla's past posts. Nearly every single post made by her regarding Raul or Adam Pascal has been about their physical appearances. Discussion of their "art" or career RARELY came up. So if that were her true concern, she herself is more guilty than the New York Times of focusing on everything but his career.

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Maybe you could paint the words "magical talent rock" on one and give it to him. =P

I think we should elect Emcee to send him a really nice sparkly rock. If we all sent him rocks he might think we were stoning him or something.

Saying I don't volunteer implies that I'm immune from any election processes.

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I think I've outgrown my joke-playing days, but he's someone I would never have played a trick on ever. I'd be scared!

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Well, I doubt he lets anyone get too close anyway. So.

I dunno, I'm just intimidated to all hell by him. Someone actually told him that I was scared, and he seemed... perplexed. It was sweet.

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Updated On: 11/27/06 at 08:45 PM

I'm with you, Em. It's super intimidating. Hey Shiksa - I have a list, too, for Raul and Adam. Things I can NEVER say no matter what. Things like "My nose always bugged me but then your CD came out and I realized our noses looked the same in profile and I've been cool with mine ever since." That sort of thing.

Yeah, I had this whole long list, and then I met him in Cinci, and you know what I did? I called the poor little man short. I am the queen of foot-in-mouth syndrome. Now I gotta make sure when I meet him again I don't say something just as stupid, like: "Hey, I'm that girl you probably don't remember meeting in Cinci who called you short..." heh.

I'm trying to remember what's on that list, stuff like no talking about how I have seen him in everything through non-existent bootlegs, not letting him know that I have a "Raul playlist", and that my favorite costume of his is the "Sack of lemons" and does he know how amazing he looks in it? Common sense things, but uh, when in the presence of Raul my mind deserts me, and I am left to the mercy of my tongue.

I remember that interview, hehe. How awkward would that conversation be? "Uh, Raul? Do you, uh, I mean, err, stocking stuffer anyone?"

Emcee: I meant, he probably became scared (not perplexed) by your suspicious behavior.

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