GLAAD Seeks Apology for 'Bigoted' Newsweek Article on Gay Actors

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | May 13, 2010 at 05:17 am

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GLAAD seeks apology for 'bigoted' article

Newsweek Editorial piece has Sean Hayes, Ryan Murphy, and GLAAD angry and wanting a formal apology

A recent Newsweek story has a gay rights group demanding an apology for the article. The trouble began when Newsweek Associate Editor Ramin Setoodeh wrote a piece entitled, "Straight Jacket", about how badly gay actors come off when they try and portray straight men. He sited Sean Hayes as an example.

Spokesman for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Rich Ferraro told the Associated Press that they haven't received their apology, but that GLAAD's president Jarrett Barrios and Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black participated in a Q&A with Newsweek Wednesday.

Some Hollywood stars are retaliating against Newsweek and writer Ramin Setoodeh for printing that "it's rare for someone to pull off the trick in reverse" , stating in so many words that straight men can play gays well, but that gays cannot play straights in any convincing manner. Setoodeh tried to explain that he intended no bigotry - he is gay himself - but to little avail. The Glee creator has gone as far as calling for a boycott of Newsweek.

The magazine has not yet responded to AP phone calls or e-mails.

Fox's "Glee" is mentioned at length in the Newsweek piece, regarding "Glee" cast member Jonathan Groff.

"Glee" creator Ryan Murphy issued an angry statement about the piece and has called for a boycott of the magazine. On Wednesday, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation issued its statement "urging Newsweek to issue an apology."

The article by Newsweek Associate Editor Ramin Setoodeh, which first appeared online and runs in the mag's latest print edition under "The Critics" heading, begins with some musings on Sean Hayes's latest gig on Broadway in a revival of "Promises, Promises." Hayes plays an ad salesman in love with co-worker Kristin Chenoweth. Hayes is best known as the effeminate Jack on NBC's 'Will & Grace'.

Sedooteh wrote that Hayes' being gay is the core of who he is, and that he comes off as "wooden and insincere" in a straight role.

Groff's straight role fared even more badly in Setoodeh's hands.

"It's a little hard to know what to make of Groff" in the role, Setoodeh wrote, because "there's something about his performance that feels off.
"In half his scenes he scowls -- is that a substitute for being straight? When he smiles or giggles he seems more like your average theater queen, a better romantic match for Kurt than Rachel."

Late Tuesday Murphy called for a boycott of Newsweek until an apology is issued "to Sean Hayes and other brave out actors who were cruelly singled out in this damaging, needlessly cruel, and mind-blowingly bigoted piece."

Murphy noted that Setoodeh is gay and must be working through issues of "self-loathing".

GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios stated that Setoodeh disregards the work of a host of gay actors who have portrayed straights with grace and talent.

Newsweek on Tuesday issued an online piece on the scandal, interviewing some gay actors who have played straights, and trying to "clear the smoke" from what they say was a "misrepresented" editorial piece.

Huffington Post, in an OpEd piece written by Aaron Sorking, entitled, "Now that you Mention it, Rock Hudson Did Seem Gay", came to Sedooteh's defense, claiming that Seedooteh may have been wrong, but clearly was not being homophobic.

GLAAD's public statement on the Newsweek piece can be seen on their website.