20 the stars who went gay for pay

"Films provide an important voice for LGBTQ+ people as they offer much-needed representation in the media, and actors do a vital job bringing the stories of queer characters to life. However, very few high-profile LGBTQ+ roles are actually played by out LGBTQ+ actors. Actors who are open about their sexuality often struggle to carve a successful career path for themselves - a fact that is not helped by their heterosexual counterparts filling up roles that some might argue should be reserved for them."

"It's not just straight actors who have gone gay on-screen, gay actors have played against their off-screen sexuality also. Well known for playing Sue Sylvester the sadistic coach on the hit show Glee, Lynch is a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. She played a lesbian on-screen 2000's Best in Show, but has also played an array of straight characters."

"From Paula in The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) to Julia Child's sister Dorothy in Julie and Julia (2009), this out gay actor has her fair share of straight roles under her belt."

"Out gay Welsh actor Luke Evans has made the transition to Hollywood leading man over the last decade and in 2017 he played the villainous Gaston in Disney's live action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. The star also played the boyfriend of bisexual actor Michelle Rodriguez's character in the Fast and the Furious franchise. He has also starred in hit films like The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) and The Raven (2012)."

Films provide representation for LGBTQ+ people and actors bring queer characters to life. Few high-profile LGBTQ+ roles are played by out LGBTQ+ actors, and open actors often face career challenges. Heterosexual actors frequently take roles some argue should go to LGBTQ+ performers. Jane Lynch, an out gay supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, played a lesbian in Best in Show and has also portrayed many straight characters, including Paula in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Dorothy in Julie and Julia. Luke Evans, out publicly since the start of his career, became a Hollywood leading man, playing Gaston in Beauty and the Beast and appearing in the Fast and the Furious franchise as a boyfriend. The text begins to introduce Wentworth Miller but is cut off.

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