Homophobia alive and well in Texas theatre audiences — Page 2

I think that the two are analogous. But where I feel the comparison falls short is that these people didn't just leave quietly. They verbally assaulted the actors, and as a result, all the audience members in earshot.

It's no different than a white supremacist walking out of a play involving an interracial couple, calling the actor a damn n***** on the way out. Reaction to that is appropriate and the same. If you don't want people to react to something, don't say it out loud.

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Not sure if this was just added, or has always been there, but on the Stages Repertory Theatre website, there is a disclaimer: "This show contains adult content and is recommended for mature audiences."

Homophobia exists. It seems to be getting better, though. (I am curious to see how the Supreme Court rules on the two pending cases.) I don't begrudge those patrons their opinion. I do think the man who made the comment to the actor and house manager loud enough to be overheard, rude.

But Houston is still in Texas.

And Houston has an openly Lesbian mayor. I played Judas in the Southwest premiere of Corpus Christi in Houston and there were no incidents. This article is really about the behavior of two idiots at a performance and less about homophobia specific to Houston or Texas.

Stages is a highly reputable regional theatre in Houston (I remember seeing Jim Parsons perform Pitchfork Disney there) and I have lots of friends who work/worked there including some in this production. I think the only thing that makes this newsworthy is that this is an unusual occurence rather than a common one.

Homophobia is alive and well in America. Look at what's been happening in NYC.


Annise Parker: Mayor, Committed Partner and Mother

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Updated On: 5/31/13 at 01:02 PM

Something cool that I learned in social work school is that societal acceptance of minorities can be tracked through predictable patterns in how they are treated in entertainment. First, total absence of the minority. Next, some sporadic appearances in stereotypical or mocking ways (blackface, for example). Then comes individual cases of more humanized characters who appear in increasingly important roles (Bill Cosby was the first African American in a lead role of a TV drama when he starred in I Spy during the late 60's). After that comes increasingly fuller integration. I think that this process is well underway now for GLBT people.

Homophobia was alive and well at my prom too when two boys started dancing together and many of the parents walked out outraged.

Updated On: 5/31/13 at 02:16 PM

I hope we all still have the right to walk out of a show we dislike for whatever reason. I was at a play last week and all of a sudden I realized the family n stage was Catholic, so I leapt up and said (Pretty loudly) "Hell no, I am NOT going to sit here and listen to this Catholic bullsh!t."

I will not have that crap shoved down my unsuspecting throat!

What's upsetting about this episode is not that they left (I'm sure there are folks on here who have left shows they didn't care for) but that they made a fuss on the way out. Tacky no matter what the reason for their exit. And if your sensibility is that delicate, then do your homework. It's not difficult to find a synopsis of ROAD SHOW or a biography of the Mizner brothers to decide whether it's for you or not. Parents do this all the time. The fact that they were homophobes or, at another production, racists or anti-Semites, is beside the point. We all know those people are among us, but don't come to my party and gripe (out loud) about the other guests.

"Did someone revive "Jackie: An American Life"?"

God, I loved that show. Can't believe anyone else remembers it.

As others have said, Texas doesn't have the market on this. People used to walk out of the A Chorus Line revival with some frequency.

Here's the thing that gets me with this incident...

The four angry patrons walk out after the kiss between Hollis and Addison. That's pretty deep into the show (like more than half way in).

They sat through the song "Waste," where Hollis sings, "I'm the guy you f***ed" over and voer. They got through the weirdly incestuous homoeroticism with the brothers and the sleeping bag in Alaska. But the kiss... the kiss is what did it. Did they not understand the stuff that came previously?

Are far as being staged for publicity... I doubt it. I'm on the ground here in Houston and I have seen a lot of communication about the incident on Facebook (as most of my connections on the site are involved in Houston's theatre scene). No one is surprised that Houston audiences walked out, even if our county did vote Blue. They're taken aback by the disrespectful treatment of the actors who were in the lobby preparing for their next entrance.

Updated On: 6/2/13 at 11:11 AM

I've been to see many shows at the Dallas Music Hall and AT&T Performing Arts Center and I never saw any behavior like this at these theaters.

Texas has a homophobe in it! Lord have mercy on our souls.

Sure there would. We've debated all sorts of subjects here including freedom of speech hundreds of times. Yes, they are allowed to have their opinions. They just chose to be rude about it.

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