Are Straight Actors playing Gay Characters equivilant to White Actors playing Black Characters?

Question

In the early 30's and 40's when they went "Black Face"?

Why/ Why Not?

And, there are no stereotypes of gays played by straight actors?

Answer 1

yeah i guess so

Answer 2

It's nothing new, and there have certainly been many gay actors playing straight parts over the years. The "blackface" white actors- who mocked and perpetuated stereotypes about blacks- were at no risk of people starting rumors about their race. I see it as a positive thing that more mainstream, high-profile straight actors are willing to play gay characters without worrying about whether or not they're committing career suicide. Like Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger- and their characters in Brokeback were hardly stereotypical.

Answer 3

I think that anyone can mock someone different, but the main two problems with blackface were:

1) that blackface actors were often portraying horrible stereotypes, and

2) if they weren't, then they were taking work from actual black actors who could've done just as well.

So to answer your question, no. Mocking someone's sexuality is wrong, and you might have some credence on that point, but there's certainly no shortage of actors who aren't straight who're getting work.

Answer 4

No.