Gays, "Comfort," and Theater

Right now, I'm in a play with naked men.

I should rephrase that.

I'm in a play that features nudity (not my own) and a bunch of guys showering.

Homosexuality also plays a part in the script, but it's not directly connected to the nudity.

These are two things you need to know.

For awhile, when I told people about the show I was doing--and by people, I mean straight guys--I would get this response:

"Yeah, I read that script. I'm not sure I would have been comfortable with that."

At first, I thought they meant the nudity, and that's understandable. Not everybody is comfortable with that onstage.

Then, however, I would say--"Oh the nudity?"

And they'd say--"No, just...some of the other stuff. I'd be uncomfortable."

At first I thought, Do they mean the homosexuality?

And then I shot that idea down.

I mean, there's no actual sex in the show.

There aren't guys kissing or making out or even touching, really.

Not that it'd be okay for these guys to have a problem with that if it WAS in the script. I mean, after all, yes these are straight guys, but they're also actors.

Do you have any idea how many girls I've had to kiss onstage?

So I shot the idea down.

But then I picked it back up again, when I actually was told by one of the guys--

"The homosexuality isn't something I'm comfortable dealing with onstage."

Now, here's something I've noticed.

People seem to think by saying they're not "comfortable" with something, it automatically gives them a get out of jail free card.

What I mean by that is, it's not okay to be homophobic in today's society, but it's okay to say you're not "comfortable" with homosexuality--even though it's the exact same thing.

Imagine someone saying--"I don't have a problem with African-Americans, I'm just not comfortable being around them."

Both parts of that statement sound racist, right?

Yes. Yes, they do. Because they are.

I resent the word "comfort" being thrown around with regards to straight men and their mildly suppressed homophobia, not because it's, you know, homophobia, but because it's something that really ticks me off.

A word being used to describe something it isn't.

Look, there are lots of things I'm not comfortable with onstage. I'm not comfortable with singing, dancing, stage combat, juggling, or working with children under the age of ten.

But if the play calls for it, I do it. It doesn't matter if I'm comfortable with it or not. Hell, nothing about theater should be comfortable. You're in front of groups of people playing a character and doing who knows what else. It's uncomfortable, but it's rewarding.

Most actors, including, I think, most of these straight guys, understand that and are okay with it. But when they need a reason why they can't do something because they object to it for an embarrassing reason (aka their own prejudices) they use the word "comfort."

When comfort has nothing to do with it.

Or maybe it does, but the fact is, that is NOT a get out of jail free card.

If you're uncomfortable playing a gay man or being in a play that deals with homosexuality, and it's a good play and/or a great role, you deal with it. Because you're an artist. Because you make art. Because prejudice and bigotry and homophobia and ignorance have no place in an artistic community.

I've seen people trip over themselves to play killers or nutjobs or sadists, but playing a homosexual makes them uncomfortable?

Well, that's unacceptable.

I know nowadays we're supposed to be nice, especially when it comes to actors, but I'm not being nice.

It's unacceptable.

As an actor, you should embrace things that make you uncomfortable. You should try to use those things to enlighten you--to make you a better and more open-minded person.

And most of all, you should be ashamed of whatever prejudices you have, and be working on them--not dressing them up with the word "uncomfortable" and thinking that's somehow okay.

It's not.

Unless you want to stop referring to yourself as an actor altogether, in which case--

Be my guest.