Rehashing The Battery's Down

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 9:28am

My favourite quote from the article (Jake is a straight... right)

Oh well at least it's getting some publicity? Although it is a gossip blog!
Article on Gawker

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 9:38am

Is this kinda like any publicity is good publicity?

I think Wilson did a really large disservice going out on a date with a girl. I have a point with it, and I'm just not awake enough to make it. Something about film and closets. I'll get back to you.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 9:42am

But closets are so safe, and dark, and some even smell like moth balls! Me I prefer cedar to keep the moths away!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 9:53am

I've found that the minty kind keep you AND your clothing fresher

Thought formed though!
There seems to be this bizzare thought that if you play a homosexual character on film, or if you are a gay working actor who hopes to get into film, you have to hide it. Wilson plays into this. I don't know if he intends to go on to TV/Film or just stay in theatre, but it does feel a lot like he thought "Hmm...episode one makes people think I like boys, so in episode two I should date a girl. That way, if I do become famous, it can't come back to bite me in the ass." And frankly, that bothers me. And I hope he reads it. I think it's time TV/Film actors (and those who want to be) got out of the closet and told Hollywood to grow up and move on.

/soapbox

I swear there is a stray lightning bolt with my name on it somewhere...

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 10:18am

Well said, husk.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 10:23am

You are right!

Then you look at people who are successful like Rupert Everett, Ian McKellen, Neil Patrick Harris, and TR Knight. I think that it has more to do with talent than with anything else. If you can play a character real and honest, then you have done your job, whether that character be gay or straight, play it honest! And there are some people no matter how much they try can never play straight. There are more open gay actors now than there used to be, granted we are nowhere near where we should be. But at least it's a step in the right direction, and if younger people don't take a stand then we're going to be right back where we started from! Yeesh!

*Does a tap combo on the soap box*

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 10:24am

Yay for publicity. :)

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 10:29am

/gets back on soapbox

And while I'm at it, this is why Clay Aiken should just come out of the closet. He's a pretty positive influence, and successful, and when you look around we don't have many young, in the forefront, gay celebs. We have Ellen and Rosie. (Not to discredit those two, as I absolutely *adore* Ellen) But it's not enough.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 10:37am

Thanks for posting the article!

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 10:45am

Clay Gaykin is not gay! He's totally hetero! Or at least that is what the middle aged woman who is holding the knife to my throat is making me type! Claymates forever!

Yeah let's have some young gays come out of the woodwork and be like "I like boys!" or "I like girls" and not be afraid of it!

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 11:14am

Actually, from what I hear, Jake Wilson actually is straight. And I know a bunch of straight men in musical theater who act incredibly gay, so making assumptions that he's in the closet is really just kind of rude. I've never understood why the way someone acts directly correlates to sexual preference. Though I totally did get the fag hag vibe from that girl in episode 2.

My favorite part is where they describe the kids as "fun, well-intentioned, wildly vain and insecure folks who got drunk at your normal kids college party, belted a song with that lonely girl in the corner, then vomited everywhere." True of that crowd, y/y?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 11:45am

marshmallow-
The assumption was based on the end of the first episode. And, from some of my sources, he's as gay as they come.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 11:52am

I always thought the "Dude, you're gay" "No" exchange in This Is Your Life was clearly pointing to him being straight, at least in the context of the show.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 11:57am

Uh if he's straight I am officially turning in my gaydar for a new more updated version that weeds out not only "men" like Jake, but hipsters too. Yeesh! He's about as gay as they come!

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 12:13pm

Guys, there's no reason for him to be closeted. A good number of his friends are gay, and he's in an industry where it's not only accepted, it's expected. And I still fail to understand how the way someone acts correlates to whether they're sexually attracted to men or women.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 12:40pm

Well since we are all programed to think that men with effeminate characteristics are of the homosexual persuasion, and that while yes masculine men can also be homosexual, it's not usually the other way around where a effeminate man is straight. Granted there are the atypical straight man who cooks and cleans, and is well groomed, but they typically don't act/talk like women in their mannerisms. Just saying . . .

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 12:57pm

I can acknowledge that this guy put himself out there in a public way and that means he should expect criticism and to be the subject public discussion. But does everybody really need to question his sexuality in blogs, on message boards, and in public forums?

I don't get why people are so interested in it. He says/ implies he's straight. The videos he's making correspond with this. People who have never met him and don't know anything of him (except from these short youtube videos) go into major discussions about his sexuality? It would be one thing if that's what the show was about in the first place, but it's not.

I can think of plenty of actors with "effeminate" characteristics that are straight. In fact, any expressive, even 'pretty' actor seems to be being accused these days of being gay. These are actors who are in the industry, who embrace all of their heterosexual and homosexual peers, who support all manners of sexuality and lifestyle. If they were gay, they'd be gay. And if they're not, and you think they are, that's nice. That's your opinion. You don't need to get catty about their personal choice. It just gets to me when people are making fun of a young actor and his sexuality on a public forum. It makes me squirm. Maybe he's gay, maybe he's not, but either way, I like to think of the theatre community as supportive and understanding. (Insert joke about the cattiness of BWW here, I know...)

Hunter Foster, who is one of my favorite actors of all time, is about to play an iconic gay role in Kiss of the Spider Woman. He can be said to have feminine characteristics. And yet, he is heterosexual in his public life, and has been married to Jen Cody for many years. He's straight.

So it is very possible that Jake from TBD is straight too. And if he's not, that's fine too. But the public discussion is hurtful and kind of rude. As shesamarshmallow said, there are plenty of straight men in musical theatre with "gay characteristics". But all these judgey judgments and stereotypes make me queasy anyway. Unlike a lot of others, I really don't feel qualified or justified in judging someone's sexuality from a youtube video that is about the joy and struggle of being a young actor. I think TBD is charming and fun, and I hope people focus on that in the future instead of on the personal life of the actor.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 2:23pm

You can be married and gay, I have known several people who were married and lived a heterosexual life, then came to the realization that they were gay. So the whole "He's married" excuse for not being gay doesn't work.

[jake6970]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 2:34pm

It is not up to anyone to criticize people for hiding their sexual preferences. How sad if he really IS straight and you guys are yelling at him for nothing. Seriously, it looks lame. You guys don't know him, you are pathetic to judge.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 3:04pm

Who's yelling? Just stating opinions, which is what this board is all about! Just as you're stating yours! Holla!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 3:07pm

*applauds acrocksyo*

And, while it may not be "my business" whether he likes boys or girls, I am still going to comment. And besides, my comments *are* my business, so I don't see why it should matter if you agree or not. If I should be staying out of his business, then you can stay out of mine.

Did that make any sense? I really shouldn't study for a mid-term and post at the same time.

[jake6970]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 3:08pm

It's ridiculous. The point is- he says he's straight. That's what he says. Just because he ACTS gay, you guys are criticizing him for hiding his sexuality. Guess what, not all straight guys have to play football and grunt! You guys do not know him personally so this is ridiculous and rude. If you DO know him personally, then you probably won't for much longer because real friends don't criticize people's sexuality on message boards. Seriously. I thought from a theatre board you guys would be a little more understanding that everyone is different and acting a certain way does NOT make you gay.

and husk- if your 'business" is making comments on people's sexuality and criticizing people you don't even know, you are very sad.

Updated On: 3/11/08 at 03:08 PM

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 3:21pm

*Yawn* No need to get so uppity Jake. We never said you had to play football and grunt to be a "man" you can bake cakes and have tea parties! We're just stating opinions. No need to get mean and vicious! This board is all about love . . . of a man for another man!

[jake6970]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 3:24pm

I just think it's a little ridiculous to be upset about something you have no idea whether or not is true, right? It's kind of annoying to be criticizing Jake for being who he is. He's not gonna turn gay just to please you, sorry!

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 3/11/08 at 3:26pm

He's not? Darn. Well if he did "turn" gay to please me that would be weird considering I am not the least bit attracted to him. Now if he turned into Cheyenne Jackson or Gavin Creel that would be a different story entirely! Or if he turned into a pizza! MMMMMMM Pizza!