Nathan Lane and George Takei got through it with a little help from friends.
Speaking at the Critics Association's inaugural LGBTQ+ Film and TV Festival held at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Friday (June 7), the actors reflected on the famous entertainers who helped them come out as gay.
During his acceptance speech as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Lane, 68, recounted the first time a theatre journalist asked him if he was gay during an interview “back in 1989.”
“I came out to my mother and two brothers when I was 21, and of course to friends and colleagues in the industry,” Lane said. “I walked in Pride parades in the late '70s, but no one ever expressed any interest in my sexuality.”
but, producer “Once I started playing gay characters, the topic started coming up more and more,” the star explained.
Lane said: Birdcage He spoke out again about his sexuality. “I wish I'd been braver then,” he explained, adding, “Like when Oprah Winfrey asked me on her show why I'm so good at girly things.” BirdcageIf I could go back in time, I would say, “I'm good at this because I'm a great actor. But if you ask me if I'm gay, the answer is yes, and I'm proud of it.”
Lane went on to detail how, while the TV host was “just messing around”, he “felt scared and overwhelmed just sitting across from Oprah Winfrey” and how, “once again, I wasn't ready to publicly declare my sexual orientation”.
“I expressed my fears to the late Robin Williams beforehand, and he gently said, 'Don't worry, Nathan. If you're not ready, we don't have to discuss it,' and he did his best to protect me through those awkward moments,” Lane said.
Lane later revealed that his decision to come out publicly was prompted by the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay student who was 21 years old when he was murdered in 1998.
Describing it as an “incredibly sobering moment”, the actor said, “I had already come out on a personal level, but now that I'm a so-called public figure, why not come out publicly if it might mean something to other people who are involved in their struggles? So I did, and I'm glad I did.”
Lane also shared words of wisdom he's inherited from acting stars, telling the audience: “One of the first lessons I learned as a public figure is to try to ignore what people write about you. Bette Midler once said to me in an angry tone, 'Don't read that crap. Go on the Internet right now and look up 'The Society for Assassinating Bette Midler.' What are you going to do? Fuck you!' She knows how to get to the heart of things.”
Meanwhile, in his acceptance speech, Takei thanked two men who helped him come out.
“I'm here tonight because of two men, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Howard Stern,” he said, explaining that in 2005, then-California governor Schwarzenegger “vetoed a same-sex marriage bill in California and I was furious.”
He continued, “I was 68 years old, and that was the year I came out and spoke out. After that, in many TV guest appearances, I became the gay George Takei.”
The actor then said that “radio pioneer” Stern “gave me the microphone and he became our official radio announcer.” Howard Stern Show, This allowed him to “To share my story and reach millions of people advocating for LGBTQ rights.”
“Because of Arnold, I came out to fight for change. Because of Howard, I was given a bigger microphone to use to speak up for LGBTQ equality,” he continued.
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The LGBTQ+ film and television festival event is Good Trouble Actress Sherrie Cora.
Along with Lane and Takei, Michaela Jay Rodriguez won the Vanguard Award, and Matt Bomer won the award for best producer for a Showtime drama alongside Ron Nyswaner, Daniel Minahan and Robbie Rogers. Travel companions.
The Emmy Award-winning team was also recognized. RuPaul's Drag RaceTrailblazer Award winner, I was herewhich won a reality TV award.
Stars from both reality shows attended the event, including Sasha Velour, Priyanka, Jaida Essence Hall and Latrice Royale, walking the red carpet in glamorous drag queens.
Presenters at the inaugural event included Charlize Theron, Ricky Martin, Ronan Farrow, Sean Hayes, Karamo Brown and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
The Critics Guild is made up of entertainment critics and journalists and hosts annual awards ceremonies, including the Critics' Choice Awards.
At the 29th annual ceremony held in January, Barbie, Oppenheimer, The Morning Show, Succession There were other people who received trophies.
“We're incredibly proud to announce this inaugural event showcasing the very best from the LGBTQ+ community in film and television,” Critics Association CEO Joey Berlin said in a statement. “Many of CCA's members identify as LGBTQ+, so this celebration is very meaningful to our organization.”