A Homonormative Hollywood

A note from the editor: 

This piece was originally intended to provide coverage on the documentary & talkback for OUTSTANDING: A Comedy Revolution from an authentic point of view. Thus, we specifically sought out a queer writer to cover it. However, our plan changed when we faced repeated rejections from our queer colleagues. A harsh reality hit us:

It’s 2024, and Hollywood assistants still don’t feel comfortable being “out” at work.

To be clear– this is not a criticism of the wonderful writers we spoke to or anyone who is not openly queer in the workplace (or at home, for that matter), but rather a crucial acknowledgement of the work that still needs to be done to achieve equity in this industry. It’s pride month and the streets of NYC & LA alike are covered in rainbows; yet, the success of “Good Luck, Babe” does not shield queer assistants from fear of personal & professional repercussions for exposing their true selves at the office.

We have shifted this piece to honor the work of our queer creative elders, while also calling out the ongoing injustices we face today. This is Pride. 

- Lucy Stover (your Co-Editor-in-Chief of THA)

A Homonormative Hollywood

By Connor Seaman - Executive Assistant, Paramount Global Creative Group

After landing my first real Hollywood gig, I thought the “fake it till you make it” part of my life was finally over. But–when the unavoidable topic of dating finally arose–I played dead. 

I allowed everyone to make their lazy cishet assumptions. I altered pronouns. Smudged details. Anything to slide through a conversation awkwardness-free and protect myself from the risk of being treated differently. Or, even worse, inferiorly. 

It was embarrassment-free, but it wasn’t shame-free. The sad part is, being honest would have had zero impact on my job at that company. I know that now, yet the memory still aches in me today. Perhaps I’m embarrassed like the way you recall that stupid thing you did in third grade math. Or, perhaps, because there are many, many other companies that aren’t nearly as welcoming to the LGBTQIA2+ community as they were. Perhaps things could’ve turned out much differently.

It’s memories like this that reverberated in my mind as I walked to the screening for documentary OUTSTANDING: A Comedy Revolution, where I had the pleasure of hearing a Q&A with Page Hurwitz (Director/Writer/Executive Producer), Jeni Matson (Editor), and Todd Glass (Comedian/Cast Member). This powerful film pulls back the curtains on gay representation in comedy and highlights the pioneers responsible for creating space for queer comics. Page is a comic-turned-filmmaker who made her debut with this doc in an attempt to spread awareness of the struggles she faced as a queer comedian trying to combat irrelevancy. Many were pleased when Netflix released “Outstanding” in 2022, which showcased exclusively queer artists, but Page took it to the next level when she pitched them an idea that dove into the true nature of Hollywood’s heteronormative history.

The documentary shed a horrifyingly familiar light on just how much degradation, transphobia, & homophobia had to exist in the gay public space before it became acceptable by cishet society. Before we had TikTok to make it “trendy,” we had comic trailblazers Robin Tyler, Lily Tomlin, and Sandra Bernhard breaking glass ceilings and… well, closet doors. They might be household names now, but each comic vividly remembered a time when their own identity was the biggest skeleton in their closet and how their life changed when their personal and professional selves melded to one.

Personally, I made the leap of faith during an interview when I opted to highlight my leadership experience with Pride resource groups, something I typically glaze over. Given my past negative encounters, I braced myself for a similar reaction. Instead, I saw the team’s eyes light up, and they exchanged excited glances. Soon, we were chatting about connecting me with their Pride resource group leader. It was every gay employee’s dream: I had stumbled upon an unreservedly accepting environment.

This experience opened the door to more company resources, new connections at Pride events, and genuine encouragement when discussing LGBTQ+ topics. While I am incredibly grateful for these resources, I know I am one of the lucky ones. Queer community in the workplace is essential and not only for the reasons you think. Yes, it feels good to be able to yap about our weekend plans fearlessly with our coworkers. But, more importantly, psychological safety in the workplace increases one’s productivity, creativity, and overall career satisfaction. 

So if we’re “out” on Instagram, why aren’t we just out at work? Society’s not ready to accept that the topics of sex and sexual orientation are not congruent. Besides the risk of jeopardizing job security and development (bit of a big one), we don’t want our bosses viewing us as sexual beings and vice versa. 

Actually, 70% of straight cisgender workers in America say “it’s unprofessional” to talk about sexual orientation or gender identity at work. But 80% of straight cis people say they talk about relationships and dating in the workplace daily or weekly, according to the most recent Women in the Workplace data. This is, admittedly, not entertainment-specific but it gets the point across.

We want to be taken seriously. We want to be treated with respect. And we are already assistants, so you know how often we’re granted those liberties… 

But, on the flip side, queer community in Hollywood can ignite and expand queer joy for everyone. When asked what prompted her to make the documentary, Page agreed. Growing up, she felt ostracized in the comedy space and yearned for a place where she could find not just allowance, but acceptance. She eventually found it in the San Francisco stand-up scene. 

“I found my community. More than that, I noticed there’s an idea here. Queer comedy really emerged and became more popular and occupied a bigger lane in comedy.” She saw the idea that there can be this niche, raggedy group, fighting against all odds just to exist, with potential pouring out the roof, and realized it had been happening all over the world for most of history. This was the story she needed to tell. This was her story, along with so many others, and she saw it was a story begging to be learned from. Begging to be used as an example of what good comes from queer liberation in entertainment.

Many of us are stuck, still waiting for queer identities to become more normalized. But who creates normality? Us. Queer professionals are already normal. We are normal. It’s time for us to start normalizing our presence ourselves.

By no means do I aim to pressure anyone into being gayer in the workplace. However, if I could lend a tad bit of advice to the curious reader, I think being queer in the industry is a badge of honor that we should wear proudly. More than that, we need to recognize that it will always be an integral part of our identity. Instead of hiding it, we should center it. 

If you spend your entire career as a chameleon trying to blend in with heteronormative surroundings, you may lose the sense of what makes you unique. No one claims that it is easy, but many have put themselves on the line to prove that it is possible. Read the room, trust your gut, and sometimes just say “f*ck it.” 

Unfortunately, there is no guidebook to wearing rainbow in the mailroom, if you will. But my advice is to channel unabridged honesty and confidence. Your love life and identity are equally as important and cool and worth speaking about as anybody else’s. Being yourself is the most powerful person you could be.

Plus, we’ve got your back. Happy Pride 2024.