I have energy beams, and you have no pants.

29th January 2012

Post reblogged from stay the night with the sinners with 29 notes

huntsmonsters:

“The funny thing about the acting business is that there are more poofs in it than you can have hot dinners thrown at you, but no one is out. It’s not so bad here, but in Hollywood - Jesus Christ. Why don’t they just admit it? No one cares if they’re gay or not. I certainly don’t. In this so-called liberal industry, no one has the guts to come out because of “the box office”, but someone has to be the first in the firing line. Without the suffragettes a lot of women would have thought, ‘Why should we have the vote?’ And I think that the same argument exists today. People should stand up and be counted.”

-Martin Freeman

Here’s the thing. This quote is making its way around tumblr, and a lot of people are getting very upset about a straight man telling people in Hollywood that they have an obligation to come out. I understand why the way he phrased it might push some people’s buttons. But in my opinion, if the only thing keeping you from coming out is a fear of what will happen to your box office gross, you should come out. If you’re famous enough that people would actually find out and possibly care, you are enough of a public figure that you coming out could make a huge difference. I understand that sexuality is a private matter, but the fact of that matter is, until LGBTQ rights are solidly established, sometimes it’s hearing about one celebrity you love coming out of the closet that makes close-minded people think twice, the same way finding out a relative is gay can make them rethink some of their views. I think the point he’s trying to make is that if, in any civil rights movement, none of the people in that minority were to ‘stand up and be counted’, to make it known that, for instance, they wanted the right to vote as women, then the status quo would be the status quo eternal. People’s sex lives are a private matter, absolutely, but right now we are living in a world where your conservative uncle might vote for a Republican, anti-gay bigot like Rick Santorum because he doesn’t know that you, his nephew, is gay. So I understand what he’s saying here. Famous people in Hollywood have more pull in society than most politicians, and when they come out and live their lives as who they are, they have the opportunity to lend that image and that media attention to the issue. They have the opportunity to be a representation of how being gay changes nothing about their talent, charisma, or skill as an actor.

And let’s also be clear - I see a lot of people discussing this quote in the context of anti-gay bullying and the high rates of suicide amongst gay teenagers. That isn’t what he’s talking about here. It should go without saying that if you are in a situation where your life or your psychological well-being are in imminent danger if you come out, then obviously it’s best to wait until you are at a more stable place. He’s talking specifically about the ‘Tom Cruise’ style stars who have been rumored to be gay for years but have refused to come out of the closet presumably because they fear a loss in revenue and public attention. That is what we’re talking about here - financially stable movie stars, not poor, financially dependent kids.

Regardless, I think Martin Freeman ought to be cut some slack. I don’t think his intentions were malicious - and I don’t even necessarily disagree.

Yes this. (Bolded by me for emphasis)

Tagged: martin freemanunpopular opinions

Source: huntsmonsters

17th June 2011

Post reblogged from I'm insane - are you just getting that now?

I just read that Stephen Fry will be the Mayor of Esgaroth

fuchsimeon:

…

Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch and Stephen Fry?!

GIVE! MOVIE! TO ME! NOW! *hyperventilates*

This is gonna be the best thing EVER!

Oh my. That is a rather impressive cast. c:

Tagged: ian mckellenThe HobbitJ. R. R. TolkienMartin FreemanSir Ian McKellenBenedict CumberbatchStephen Fry

Source: fuchsimeon