Will Broadway always be "gay"?

[benjamin_barker]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 4:11am

Okay it's probably a gross generalisation - although, as a theatre fag myself, perhaps not! - but we all know that a solid proportion (some might say overwhelming majority) of guys in (and into) the theatre industry, and more specifically musicals, are gay, or perceived to be that way.

I'm wondering whether people think this is just the way things are, or if its as much because straight guys are less likely to feel comfortable acting in, and enjoying, something perceived to be so gay? And, if so, do you reckon that in years to come, theatre won't be so closely associated with homosexuality?

Weird topic, I know.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 4:34am

Will football always be "straight"?

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 6:36am

Football is straight?

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 7:20am

I hope you're only speaking from the men's perspective here. Musicals are also appealing to straight women (and gay). Also-I know straight guys who go, without their wives (they have none) to Broadway shows.
I don't think it's just "gay" men who go. It also depends on the show, I think, too.

[christine_c]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 8:44am

This topic has come up in conversation between me and my friends before. People always get all insulted when I mention that some people think theatre is a "gay" thing. Yes, theatre appeals to everyone, but if a man is interested in theatre, a lot of people will joke, even if it is in their heads, about his sexuality. I mean, I myself wouldn't, but people do. I mean, if a man is interested in theatre and turns out to be gay, you know someone would think, "Well, that explains that."

To answer the question and stop rambling, I think theatre will be "gay" for a long time, if not always. People just can't look past the gay Broadway stars to the straight ones, I guess.

Then again, gays are getting accepted in society a little more each day, so maybe along with that, people will stop being so stereotypical.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 8:55am

"Then again, gays are getting accepted in society a little more each day"

Not in this country, I'm afraid. After three decades of considerable progress, the pendulum of public opinion is beginning to swing back. I foresee hardships in the imminent future for the gays of this here land of the free.

[christine_c]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 8:56am

Okay. A very, very, very little more each day?

... ahh, just let me pretend.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 8:57am

I think the proper answer to your question is that theatre will always be ACCEPTING, whereas other mediums (film, TV, sports) are far from acceptance of people who are different. The reason why gay people stand out so much in the theatre is because it is one of very few mediums in which they are seen as equals and in which they receive equal recognition, regardless of their sexual orientation or personal relationships.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 8:58am

I think a part of the reason that the fan-base is primarily gay is because it's a place to fit in for young people who are isolated from the people around them.

As a straight man, I couldn't care less about what Broadway is or isn't. It's a passion and everyone has passion - gay, straight, bi, whatever. So I think people should follow their heart to find their passions, and mine lead me here and I absolutely love it.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 9:02am

As a straight man you have a Lesbian avitar.
Updated On: 1/13/07 at 09:02 AM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 9:08am

I mean, I myself wouldn't, but people do. I mean, if a man is interested in theatre and turns out to be gay, you know someone would think, "Well, that explains that."

To answer the question and stop rambling, I think theatre will be "gay" for a long time, if not always. People just can't look past the gay Broadway stars to the straight ones, I guess.

Then again, gays are getting accepted in society a little more each day, so maybe along with that, people will stop being so stereotypical.

If "people" like you were to stop tossing out generalizations every 2 seconds about "people", then "people" wouldn't "just" feel a certain way. It comes from somewhere. "People" don't "just" think and say things for no reason at all. It's because "people" spread these generalizations around that they remain existent in the first place.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 9:14am

>> Not in this country, I'm afraid. After three decades of considerable progress, the pendulum of public opinion is beginning to swing back. I foresee hardships in the imminent future for the gays of this here land of the free.

Not to turn this into an OT thread, Im not so sure. After nearly seven years of a government lying to us about everything from the Middle East to the casual emails between a congressman and his pages, the last election proved that folks, even in the heartland, arent quite so ready to jump on the anti-gay bandwagon when it's so clearly tied to political gain. I'm not saying it's all wine and roses, but the "definition of marriage" movement is losing more and more steam as people suddenly see the *real* issues facing us. Couple that with the wider acceptance of gays and lesbians in general, and the only folks pushing for shoving us back into the closet are the ones that are part of a smaller and smaller part of the body politic.

[christine_c]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 9:16am

I apologize. I wasn't trying to be offensive.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 9:20am

Yup!

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 9:34am

And yet, SeanMartin, this past mid-term election seven more states (Idaho, Colorado, South Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin) approved an amendment to ban gay marriage. They join Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Utah, Louisiana, Missouri, and Oregon who all approved a similar amendment back in 2004.

[benjamin_barker]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 9:41am

I guess, then, we should at least be thankful that the world of musicals DOES recognise my people as equals, given that I do feel - based on all those states passing such amendments - that we're in some kind of re-Puritan world (although, contrary to this, Europe is seeing a rush of support for gay rights laws, and so is a lot of the world).

Eh, I'm an optimist: I like to think that this is incredibly temporary, and once these people are out of power, they'll catch up to the rest of the "Western" world.

At least we can't be stoned to death for homosexuality. At least not legally.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 9:42am

At least, not yet.

Posted: 1/13/07 at 10:17am

i think anything that has to do with conjuring up beauty from nothing comes directly from the ancient queer spirit.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 10:31am

>> And yet, SeanMartin, this past mid-term election seven more states (Idaho, Colorado, South Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin) approved an amendment to ban gay marriage. They join Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Utah, Louisiana, Missouri, and Oregon who all approved a similar amendment back in 2004.

But if you look at the voter spread, it's moving in our favour. Again, I'm not saying it's perfect, but more and more people on all sides of the political spectrum are finally seeing this for the canard it truly is. Even conservatives are finally recognizing that this isnt part of the true conservative agenda, but rather that of the religious fundamentalist -- and the conservatives are starting to distance themselves from that.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 11:13am

Will Broadway always be gay?

God, I hope so.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 11:21am

I don't know about Broadway, but your avatar makes me feel gay in a very special kind of way, benjamin.

[elmore3003]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 11:40am

And Hollywood isn't?

[jasonf]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 11:47am

As a straight male who loves theater, I've wondered this myself. I DO think, though, that one of the distinguishing marks of straight male theater goers is education. I doubt there are many people without a good education who enjoy theater (whatever their orientation), but I think that that is especially true amongst straight males.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 11:55am

Is this a trick question?

[scot]

Posted: 1/13/07 at 1:15pm

"If musical is mostly Gay men...and for the most part it is..." - Harvey Fierstein

There are plenty of straight men
in the theater, just alot more
gay men!

What straight man sits at home
and puts on a Ethel Merman record?