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Billy Eichner 'Proposes' to Dan Levy 'Just to Make the Pope Angry'

Billy Eichner and Dan Levy

Two of Hollywood's leading gay actors spoke out against the Catholic Church's stance on same-sex unions Monday.

The Catholic Church's declaration that it will not allow priests to bless same-sex unions because God "cannot bless sin" did not sit well with two of Hollywood's gay romantic leads, and they don't care who knows it.

Difficult People and Billy on the Street star Billy Eichner and Schitt's Creek star/co-creator Dan Levy were among many LGBTQ+ people who called out the church on Twitter today, leading to an exchange where Eichner suggested, "Let's get married just to make the Pope angry!"

Levy responded with Two Men Holding Hands and Hearts emojis, prompting many of their followers to demand a livestreamed wedding, or at least a new series on Hulu.

The exchange added some humor to the legitimate anger from the LGBTQ+ community over the Catholic Church's history. "This is shameful, dangerous, and embarrassing (for them). Not to mention t h e h y p o c r i s y . . ." Levy tweeted earlier, in an apparent reference to accusations of child abuse by Catholic clergy.

"Can't a nice gay gentleman like myself just be able to sit here and enjoy Glenn Close's EIGHTH Oscar nomination without having to see this shit?" Eichner tweeted in response to the AP story about the church, to which Levy replied, "Never been more jealous of a caption. Kudos."

"On a serious note," Eichner added, "to everyone who goes out of their way to talk about how 'cool' this pope is...NO. The Catholic Church has abused the LGBTQ community for MILLENIA. So, go to church if you need to I guess but THAT's what you're enabling. Bye!"

Both actors are outspoken supporters of marriage equality and have broken new ground for representation of gay romance in film and television.

Eichner announced that his upcoming movie Bros, slated to be released by Universal in 2022, will be the first rom-com about gay men ever produced by a major studio, making him the first out gay man to ever write and star in their own studio film.

Levy's show Schitt's Creek, which swept the Comedy category at last year's Emmys and recently won the Golden Globe for Best Comedy Series, received widespread praise for its depiction of same-sex marriage. He went on to costar in Happiest Season, the first gay holiday rom-com backed by a mainstream studio, and is in the early stages of producing and starring in his own movie.

Eichner and Levy joined celebrities like Elton John in their remarks on Twitter. In his own tweet on Monday, John said, "How can the Vatican refuse to bless gay marriages because they 'are sin,' yet happily make a profit from investing millions in 'Rocketman' - a film which celebrates my finding happiness from my marriage to David?? #hypocrisy"

Musician Brandi Carlile, who won Best Country Song at last night's Grammys, tweeted, "I hate retweeting this because I don't want to perpetuate harmful shit- but for whoever needs to hear this-The desire to live your life with someone you love instead of being alone is not a 'sin' you ARE blessed and you have NEVER needed the opulent and hypocritical Vatican."

30 Years of Out100Out / Advocate Magazine - Jonathan Groff & Wayne Brady

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Christine Linnell