James Franco and Queer Appropriation
"I Am Michael" is coming to Netflix this month. It is a movie about Michael Glatze, a gay rights activist who then became an anti-gay Christian pastor. James Franco plays Michael, and his boyfriend is played by Zachary Quinto. Quinto is gay, Franco is not.
Media often speculates on Franco's sexuality, and Franco has explained that the media over-focuses on it because he is a celebrity. Franco has described himself as "a little gay" and has said he is "gay in my art and straight in my life" and makes clear he does not have "gay sex." However he describes himself, Franco does not have the same lived experience as someone who is gay (in all aspects of their life, including sex) and as someone who is subject to homophobia and, in Hollywood, the Glass Closet. Why is he allowed to be "gay in his art" and why not choose gay actors to play gay characters?
People have called it "queerbating," especially in light of five women who have come forward alleging sexual misconduct/harassment against him, it's really problematic and invisibilizes the lives and experiences of queer and trans people by capitalizing off of their image.
Here are some of the gay characters Franco has played over the years, and Franco in drag on the cover of Candy magazine (peep the description "the trans-formation," but Franco is cis!):
Media often speculates on Franco's sexuality, and Franco has explained that the media over-focuses on it because he is a celebrity. Franco has described himself as "a little gay" and has said he is "gay in my art and straight in my life" and makes clear he does not have "gay sex." However he describes himself, Franco does not have the same lived experience as someone who is gay (in all aspects of their life, including sex) and as someone who is subject to homophobia and, in Hollywood, the Glass Closet. Why is he allowed to be "gay in his art" and why not choose gay actors to play gay characters?
People have called it "queerbating," especially in light of five women who have come forward alleging sexual misconduct/harassment against him, it's really problematic and invisibilizes the lives and experiences of queer and trans people by capitalizing off of their image.
Here are some of the gay characters Franco has played over the years, and Franco in drag on the cover of Candy magazine (peep the description "the trans-formation," but Franco is cis!):
I think the inclusion of Franco's quote about being "a little gay" definitely gives some context to why people think it's okay to keep doing this. It sounds like he takes having a non-heterosexual identity in a playful manner, as opposed to thinking about the consequences of taking these opportunities from those who could represent the roles more genuinely.
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