Happy Pride!

I remain shocked that Red State newspaper subscribers don’t love the editorials in their local papers.

This is such a silly take.

Take your kids to all the drag shows you want. Not my idea of appropriate entertainment for my six-year-old, but you do you.

What most republicans have objected to is schools and public libraries hosting these events for young kids.

I have to say, isn't the drag thing a little non-PC in 2022? 

Trans women are living authentically as women. 

But, drag queens -- as in the picture accompanying the Sentinel tweet -- are men, usually in what's eventually a costume, that is an exaggerated version of a woman, with big hair, too much makeup, huge fake eyelashes, and flamboyant, garish clothing. 

It seems like a kind of mockery of womanhood, not unlike white people performing in Blackface. 

What makes drag performances an acceptable art form? 

The most terrifying thing of all is a clown at a library.

I enjoyed this whole interview, but the bit in red has gotten a lot of attention. 

I think it's true, but odd. 

I'd agree that you shouldn't cast John Wayne as an Asian, or change the race of a character in a book, for the movie. 

And, part of this is because not only is it wrong, but it's because there are few roles available for Asian actors, and because Asian actors can't play white roles. 

But, there's nothing so obviously discernible about sexuality that would prevent a straight man from play a gay man or vice versa. 

And, unless you're also saying that gay men can only play gay men, then there is no shortage of roles for gay men.  

So, why has this become a thing?

We’ve been talking a bunch about cultural shifts. I want to ask about cultural shifts related to the two movies you won Oscars for.
Timely movies, at the time, that you might not be able to make now.

That’s exactly it. There’s no way a straight actor would be cast in “Philadelphia” today and “Forrest Gump” would be dead in the water. Gary Sinise would not have been able to play Lieutenant Dan because he has legs?

Not that. I’m positive that its premise alone would mean that “Forrest Gump” would be mocked and picked apart on social media before anyone even had a chance to see it. There’s nothing you can do about that, but let’s address “could a straight man do what I did in ‘Philadelphia’ now?” No, and rightly so. The whole point of “Philadelphia” was don’t be afraid. One of the reasons people weren’t afraid of that movie is that I was playing a gay man. We’re beyond that now, and I don’t think people would accept the inauthenticity of a straight guy playing a gay guy. It’s not a crime, it’s not boohoo, that someone would say we are going to demand more of a movie in the modern realm of authenticity. Do I sound like I’m preaching? I don’t mean to.

We could all stand to eat more fiber.

This is a lot easier to say when you're not the one who lost the medal/scholarship/place on the team. 

You mentioned the issue of transgender inclusion in sports, which is such a hot subject right now, as many states have passed bills that ban or limit transgender sports participation. Where do you stand on this issue?

I’m 100% supportive of trans inclusion. People do not know very much about it. We’re missing almost everything. Frankly, I think what a lot of people know is versions of the right’s talking points because they’re very loud. They’re very consistent, and they’re relentless.

At the highest level, there is regulation. In collegiate sports, there is regulation. And at the Olympic and professional level. It’s not like it’s a free-for-all where everyone’s just doing whatever.

And I think people also need to understand that sports is not the most important thing in life, right? Life is the most important thing in life. And so much of this trans inclusion argument has been put through the extremely tiny lens of elite sports. Like that is not the way that we need to be framing this question. We’re talking about kids. We’re talking about people’s lives. We’re talking about the entire state government coming down on one child in some states, three children in some states. They are committing suicide, because they are being told that they’re gross and different and evil and sinful and they can’t play sports with their friends that they grew up with. Not to mention trying to take away health care. I think it’s monstrous.

I would also encourage everyone out there who is afraid someone’s going to have an unfair advantage over their kid to really take a step back and think what are we actually talking about here. We’re talking about people’s lives. I’m sorry, your kid’s high school volleyball team just isn’t that important. It’s not more important than any one kid’s life.

Show me the evidence that trans women are taking everyone’s scholarships, are dominating in every sport, are winning every title. I’m sorry, it’s just not happening. So we need to start from inclusion, period. And as things arise, I have confidence that we can figure it out. But we can’t start at the opposite. That is cruel. And frankly, it’s just disgusting.

So, we need to really kind of take a step back and get a grip on what we’re really talking about here because people’s lives are at risk. Kids’ lives are at risk with the rates of suicide, the rates of depression and negative mental health and drug abuse. We’re putting everything through God forbid a trans person be successful in sports. Get a grip on reality and take a step back.