Gay presence at the Tonys

[eslgr8]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:20am

I couldn't help being excited and proud when Jerry Mitchell kissed his partner and thanked him for his unconditional love, moved when Edward Albee revealed that his partner of 35 years had only recently died, and pleased to see nominees Christopher Sieber seated beside his partner Kevin, Gary Beach beside his, and William Finn with his other half. And Cherry Jones' open display of affection for her new girlfriend Sarah, though it may have shocked some of the viewers, was refreshing to see on nationwide TV. (But Cherry, whatever happened to your longtime partner, architect Mary O’Connor? Perhaps she was having dinner with Ellen's ex Alexandra Hedison?)
Updated On: 6/6/05 at 11:20 AM

[JbaraFan1]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:23am

I don't know him or anything, but Jerry Mitchell comes across as just one of the sweetest people ever. Good-lookin' too!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:38am

I don't know. Even as a gay man, comments about marriage - Jerry Mitchell - annoy me on the award show. The Tony's celebrate theater and theater doesn't equal homosexuality. Also, why can't we spend the evening celebrating theater without touching on politics? Just kind of annoys me.

However, had no idea Albee was gay. I mean, I guess sometimes I assumed, but never really knew. It amazed me considering how incredibly well his plays are written for married couples. He writes women so wonderfully.

[hyperchet]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:41am

Yeah those kisses kind of shocked me, but I dont have issues with it.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:46am

I sort of appreciate those kinds of moments. It makes things more interesting. I don't know if I would be able to sit through the Oscars without the chance of people like Susan Sarandon making a scene once in a while.

[hyperchet]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:47am

Is Susan Sarandon gay?

[JbaraFan1]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:48am

iluv, if you're right then I guess it goes to show how naive this 40+ straight gal is because I didn't see any of that as political at all and no less natural than a straight m/f couple expressing affection during some special moment. What I get from it is that Broadway is an open, accepting, "one big family" kind of community.

But maybe it is politics, and I am naive! lol

[Tom1071]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:49am

Also, why can't we spend the evening celebrating theater without touching on politics? Just kind of annoys me.

Theatre has a lot to do with politics. Theatre is not a mindless genre. It entertains but it is also a tool to bring about social change. Everything Tony Kushner writes is political. Pillowman is political. Wicked is political. There is very little that is written today that doesn't have political undertones. When you are talking about equality for all human beings why shouldn't we use every platform available?

[JBSinger]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:49am

Theatertrash - the very act of the kiss becomes politicized. La Cage was a groundbreaking show in its day and with the rise of priggish conservatives, it demonstrates how little things have changed. I understand your desire for an award show as pure entertainment, but it is unrealistic. The kisses were great, their partners' presence was great and unapoligetic. I applaud them and happily have it all on DVD, just like the Shaiman kiss 2 years ago.
get over it. :)

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:55am

There has been a gay presence at the Tonys at least since Torch Song Triology. This is nothing new.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:57am

Heh, not that I know of, hyperchet. I just meant political and personal outbursts of any kind.

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:57am

Susan Sarandon is as hetero as they come.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:00pm

I think that gay men need to speak up about the unfair treatment we are getting from the US government. If we have to do it when winning awards, then that is what must be done.

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:02pm

Beaver, I meant thanking same sex partners on the Tony telecast. I am aware of theatre being populated by gay people. Believe me. I'm one of them.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:04pm

When heteros kiss their partners or mention their spouses, it is considered touching. When gays do it, it is connsidered "political"? What kind of double-standard is that? If someone is going to make a statement about gay marriage, then it's more likely to be effective at the T*nys than any other awards show. At least it wasn't a Michael Moore rant.

[LucilleAndLeoFrank]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:06pm

"When heteros kiss their partners or mention their spouses, it is considered touching. When gays do it, it is connsidered "political"?"

Because, whether you like it or not, the majority of the world is straight.

[insomniak]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:12pm

I agree completely with Mister Matt.

Lucille, what's your point? Should gays have different rules because they're not the majority? I don't see anything rude, annoying, obnoxious, overly political or in poor taste about a quick kiss when your name is announced as a winner of a major award, no matter what the sexual orientation of the couple.

[ally_kay_on_broadway]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:13pm

i say, if you're happy and wanna kiss somebody you love, why the hell not? Its about truth, beauty, freedom and love- oh yeah...and some theatre in there too :P

[LucilleAndLeoFrank]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:15pm

"Lucille, what's your point? Should gays have different rules because they're not the majority? I don't see anything rude, annoying, obnoxious, overly political or in poor taste about a quick kiss when your name is announced as a winner of a major award, no matter what the sexual orientation of the couple."

All that I am saying is that a kiss between a same-sex couple on television will always be viewed as a political statement because the world is mostly heterosexual. If that makes me a homophobe (a gay homophobe, no less), oh well.

[insomniak]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:19pm

Lucille, if your comment wasn't intended the way I percieved it, than I'm sorry for jumping on you. But not all of us heteros are bothered by gay couples' kisses or view them as a protest to 'normalacy'.

Beaver, that is creepy. You might be spending too much time around camaras IF...

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:20pm

i'm a bit opposed to the gay presence at the TONYS. i just feel like it might, unfortunately, turn people away. There are enough ignorant people in this world already who accept the stereotype that so many people involved with theatre are homosexual. if some of those ignorant people decided to give theatre a chance and watched the tony awards...they would probably be turned away.
it's sad and unfortunate, but not everyone in this world is accepting of homosexuality. i'm not saying people should lie or try to hide things. i just think the actors should maybe be a little more discrete before deciding to be so bold.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:20pm

"Because, whether you like it or not, the majority of the world is straight."

So...Hmmm...Why do I find this comment homophobic?

So because heterosexuals are the "Majority" they are guaranteed more rights than homosexuals? There are more Whites than Asians in the US, so do Whites get more rights because there are more of them?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:20pm

Gay people are not allowed to act the same way in public as straight people?

Wow, I was unaware of this rule.

And why must everyone think of people kissing/thanking their partners as a political statement? It's NOT! GET OVER IT. When a straight person kisses their wife/husband they're not making a political statement - they're just sharing that moment with who they love. I hate when people make a bigger deal of something when there is no deal to be had to begin with.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:22pm

I think it was great. And I don't really see it as being too political anymore. I think that people are now just more comfortable being out and it doesn't bother them to be seen kissing their partner on camera. And I figure that most people who watch the Tony's are theatre people or people who love theatre and for the most part are fine with homsexuality anyway. I think it is great the during the acceptance speeches, the camera would switch to winner's partners in the audience. Didn't know Albee was gay either. Being a gay man myself, it was just nice to see the naturalness of it last night. Just my opinion!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:24pm

And if you are worried about the ratings being affected by "gay kissing" get over it.

The theatre community is full of homosexuals, and they ahve a right to express affection to whomever they want, on a night that celebrates the best of that community.

You wouldn't have musical theatre without homosexuals, plain and simple. Hiding them from the biggest night of that genre would be a sad thing.