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Andrew Scott Makes A Case For Why We Should Stop Saying 'Openly Gay'—And He's Got A Point
Actor Andrew Scott is being applauded by many online after suggesting a common phrase be retired.
During a recent roundtable held by The Hollywood Reporter, Scott, one of the stars of the gay-themed film All Of Us Strangers, said he has a problem with the phrase "openly gay."
Scott said he thinks it's past time the phrase was retired and replaced with something else, or possibly with nothing at all.
In the roundtable, Scott, who is best known for playing the sexy priest in Fleabag, told fellow actors Robert Downey Jr. and Colman Domingo, who is also gay, that "openly gay" singles queer people out.
He said:
“It’s an expression that we only ever hear in the media."
"You are never at a party and you say this is my openly gay [friend]. You never say it."
“Why do we put ‘openly’ in front of that adjective. You don’t say you’re openly Irish, you don’t say you’re openly left-handed."
And he explained that "openly gay" denotes someone choosing to be gay without shame—which suggests that being gay is inherently shameful.
“There’s something in it that’s a little near ‘shamelessly’. You’re open about it? I’d nearly prefer shamelessly."
Scott suggested instead that it's time to change how we talk about this, or maybe just stop talking about it altogether.
"If you’ve got to say it to understand it, just say ‘out’ possibly, or—you know what, just don’t say it at all. Now I think it’s just time to park it.”
His fellow actors, and Domingo in particular, seemed to thoroughly agree with him.
On social media, many applauded Scott for his take on the outdated phrase and agreed with his take on the connotations of "openly gay."
And the recent news of France's new Prime Minister, who is the country's first out gay man to serve in the position, got people thinking about Scott's comments too.
Scott also recently revealed he was told to stay closeted when beginning his career. Years later, he's on the shortlist of potential Oscar contenders for his role as a gay man in All Of Us Strangers. Good think he didn't listen!