Dustin Lance Black has spoken out again closeted gay actors who hide their sexual identity.
The Oscar-winning screenwriter spoke to Attitude about his new show When We Rise, and also shared his candid views on actors who lie about their personal life.
In the interview, he said: “I have no respect for someone who lies about their sexuality.
“At the very least say “no comment,” just keep your personal life personal. But if you’re going to closet yourself, that sends a negative message.”
Black, who is engaged to Olympic medallist Tom Daley, suggested agents and managers demand that actors hide their sexuality.
He said: “I’ve never encountered homophobia in casting from the studios or networks – not once, not ever.
“Where you encounter it is with the agents and the managers, they’re the ones who have an outdated notion of the price an actor might pay if it’s discovered that they’re LGBTQ.
“Often they don’t want to see anything happen that might compromise their investment.”
He added: “I think they cripple their actors because they stunt the star’s ability to be open and honest, and an audience can feel that.”
The 42-year-old won an Oscar in 2008 for his script for Milk, a biopic about gay rights activist Harvey Milk.
