The Gayface of the 2019 Golden Globes
It was a standout year for LGBTQ productions at the Golden Globes, which gave nominations to many films and television programs showcasing queer lives. The awards ceremony, a key Oscars bellwether, has given a much-deserved spotlight to productions like Pose, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, The Favourite, and Boy Erased.
Yet, despite this progress in representation, very few of these films and shows cast LGBTQ actors in LGBTQ roles. In fact, out of all of the acting nominees, Ben Whishaw and Billy Porter are the only members of the LGBTQ community who received nominations for portraying queer parts: Whishaw as Norman Josiffe in A Very English Scandal and Billy Porter as Pray Tell in Pose. Moreover, the Globes also nominated Girl, a foreign-language film that has received criticism for casting a cisgender actor in a transgender role and for its "dangerous" handling of trans subject matter.
As awards season progresses, it is worth remembering that an out member of the LGBTQ community has never won an Oscar for portraying an LGBTQ role, despite over 50 straight actors having been nominated for queer performances across time. It is a reminder that Hollywood must do better in its casting practices.
Review the straight actors nominated for queer roles at the 2018 Golden Globes below.