"I really don't think you should have to self-identify as a spokesmodel to play gay, but if you're an actor with no love for the homos, maybe you don't want to sign up for a show where the main storyline is about a teenage girl falling for her female best friend.
But on Wednesday night, at a roundtable for youth-focused media and marketing pros hosted by Ypulse.com, The N's Dixie Feldman slipped and said that's exactly what happened on their teen soap South of Nowhere.
To be clear -- Feldman echoed what the exec in charge of the show, Matt Welton, told me last month about Viacom's tween cable network: Everyone in charge, from their parent company on down, has generally been very supportive of the gay story. Welton happily named off a half-dozen high-ranking queer execs and writers on South of Nowhere, including himself, and the show is without doubt groundbreaking (and, I admit it, totally addictive and adorable).
But Feldman, The N's editorial director, also revealed that one actor on the show felt that the positive portrayal of coming out -- and the decidedly less positive picture painted by a conservative Christian mom who tries de-gay her dykey daughter -- was "morally wrong." So, said Feldman, the actor asked to leave the show. (An "edited" version of the discussion will eventually be pod- and videocast at Ypulse.)
No names were named, but there's been one leading cast member conspicuously absent both from the many gay award shows where the soap has been lauded and the PSA for GLAAD that plays frequently on The N: Danso Gordon, who plays Clay Carlin, sweet girl Spencer's adopted brother. (There are a couple actors playing smaller roles who aren't making the rounds, either.) But I love Clay and have often credited his nuanced performance! Say it isn't so!
The season ended with a bang, literally, when a drive-by shooting interrupted post-Prom coitus, and the question of who's been hit won't be resolved until next season. A call to the network yesterday yielded a frantic "I'm not even sure that's true!" followed by a promise to get back to me by the end of the day followed by...nothing. At least not yet."
Then a girl with guts asked Danso if it was the truth what they're writing, he said:
"Whatup. No, I dont mind you asking me a question, do I want to talk about it much...not really, but since you had the courage to ask here we go. Yes, I will be leaving the show...how, when, I dont know. I am leaving for my own personal reasons that have to do with my Faith and personal integrity. It was a difficult decision to make, however, when someone is involved in something that directly opposes his/her integrity, then that person has to ask themselves why they are doing it. For the money? To make sure they dont offend people? I asked myself these questions and I obviously came to my answer...the show went against my personal Faith and integrity and therefore I made the difficult decision to leave.
I appreciate your kind words (smile) and I also wish you ALL the blessings that God has planned for you in this year! God bless."
How is this even possible? He's an actor that signed up for a gay show, and now he realizes that it opposes his integrity? I've read a lot on forums about this "situation" and believe it or not, but teens actually think he has guts for being honest. Guts? I can say a lot of things but guts is not on of it. I stole a quote from filmgrrrl who apparently can read my mind: "Good riddance.....if he was saying the same thing about ANY ethnic/cultural group besides the LGBT community, he'd be roundly condemned. I (being the old grrrl that I am) have been around long enough to be fed up with this kind of crap....hiding behind "morality" to justify one's homophobia/intolerance/bigotry.... If you ask me, he comes off like some Stepford guy.....God bless, blah, blah, blah......'
As others have said, if he had issues with gay characters, he shoulda never signed on....And, btw, good luck getting work as an actor Mr. Danso since half the creative people in LA and who work in American theaters are freakin' gay, gay, GAY!!!!!!!"
I wonder what the other cast members have to say about this, Maeve Quinlan, an incredible sweet women who loves her gay roommates, will she be okay with this? Gabrielle Christian, the typical girl next door or sex bomb Mandy Musgrave, who will stand up for us? I'm curious to see where this is going.
Let everyone know about this situation and support the gay community!!!
