Manhood Includes Gay Men Too

After an appearance on Vault Talk Show, actor Maurice Johnson is facing scrutiny for comments regarding homosexuality in film and television. During the interview, Johnson—known for his role in Beyond the Gates—took a strong stance against playing non-heterosexual characters. While he initially claimed he wouldn't "do the role any justice" as a straight man, his further comments have been labeled problematic.

“Manhood is okay. We've gotten into this society where everything is just being pushed down our throats. And I'm a heterosexual male; those are the only roles that I play. I'm not gonna play any other role, you know, I'm not gonna do it justice. I'm not gay, go get a gay guy, to play this role... but you know I think women want to see this."

I acknowledge that a straight male not wanting to portray a gay man isn’t a form of homophobia. However, fixing his decision as a personal moral choice is.

"I have a nephew, I have guys that I mentor, you know, and I can't flip-flop and then, 'hey man, I need you to be a man out here and, you know, do this for your family.' I can't do that. I'm not going to do that."

For many, Johnson's comments echo notions of toxic masculinity and homophobia, as, based on his own words, it is clear he doesn't equate gay men with manhood. Newsflash, gay men provide for and lead families and communities.

Since the episode aired, many on the internet have taken Johnson to task and called out his toxic comments. Most notably, openly gay actor J. August Richards publicly responded and attempted to educate him. Check out the exchange below.

Since the initial response and online backlash, Johnson has only doubled down on his stance and continues to stand by his tone-deaf comments. At one point, while engaging online, Johnson admitted he did not have any intended hate for the LGBTQ community, referencing his role in Beyond the Gates, where his character's son is gay, failing to realize that playing a tolerant character does not excuse making exclusionary remarks in reality.

J. August Richards should be applauded for having this conversation in public. Hopefully, Johnson will eventually reflect on his comments and become receptive to the feedback he was given.

In the meantime, do you believe his comments crossed the line, or do you think the internet is overreacting? You can find the full interview on YouTube with comments beginning around the 15-minute mark.

Black, Gay and Married: the Primetime Relationship We've Longed to See

Despite the number of LGBT characters presented onscreen today only a small fraction are of color. Furthernore, of that percentage very few are safe from falling into the category of being portrayed stereotypically. As the diversity of LGBT characters continues to be featured more prominently in film and television, Black gay men are finally getting the chance to see themselves reflected as something more than that of a comedic prop, or as an accessory to an interracial relationship. NBC's newest series, Council of Dads, features the first married Black gay couple on a prime time television sitcom, a huge step even in the year 2020. Playing the roles of Oliver and Peter, are J. August Richards and Kevin Daniels, with Richards' character being one of three fathers helping the Perry family adjust after the death of the family's father, an event that completely changes the dynamic of the family going forward.

Daniels is an out actor who has appeared on shows such as Modern Family, Sirens, and Why Women Kill. Richards became a household name as a series regular on Angel, and has interestingly enough, despite having played predominantly "straight" roles previously in Hollywood, Richards also used this casting opportunity to officially come out to the world, revealing that he also identifies as gay. Needless to say, having gay Black characters protrayed by actual Black gay men is a refreshing step away from straight actors taking on gay roles. Speaking with the advocate about his coming out and incorporating it into the show Richards stated, "It was important to me that the nuances of the experience of being a Black gay man were represented on this show, because otherwise, why am I even doing it?"

Outside of the couple, the series also features a transgender child in the Perry family. This visibility is important and continues to highlight the diversity that exists within the LGBT community. Years ago I asked the question where were all the happy black gay couples on prime time television. It seems we finally have the answer.

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