Buffy's Tom Lenk officially out of the closet

[lvsxy808]

From AfterElton.com via The Advocate:

http://www.afterelton.com/blog/micha...yer-andrew-out

It probably doesn't come as that big of a shock to fans of Buffy that Tom is gay, which probably isn't fair, as no doubt Lenk is capable of playing a wide-range of characters. Nonetheless, Lenk pinged quite a few gaydars including Buffy creator Joss Whedon, who told The Advocate that Andrew hadn't been planned as gay, but when Lenk auditioned they decided to take the character that way since "Tom has a bit of a fey thing going on in his persona that, you know, you can't really deny."

Good for him, and good for Joss being so gay friendly.

[Obiwanshinobi]

didn't he hook up with those italian broads on that Angel episode when Spike and Angel went to Rome? but all in all good for him. Wasn't he also in Tranformers as one of the hackers?

[exodus]

ObiWanShinobi wrote:

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didn't he hook up with those italian broads on that Angel episode when Spike and Angel went to Rome? but all in all good for him. Wasn't he also in Tranformers as one of the hackers?

Yep, that he was.

[Guy Gardener]

He was in a chocolate ad which made it to the otherside of the world.

Those two Itallian broads were either beards or bait.

Though I'm laughing right now because of David Fury's line from Doctor Horrible...

"Next up: Who's gay!"

[CaptainWacky]

"Ah, Captain Archer..."

[exodus]

^^^

[CorporalClegg]

All those psuedo homophobia rips Warren made are now in a whole new context.

In any case, it really isn't much of a surprise.

[Forbin]

I'm probably not the first to think, "No kidding."

[Caleuche]

I always disliked the character of Andrew as I found it slightly homophobic in how everything about him was played for laughs. He was the guy who when the heroes were out fighting was hiding at home in his pinny and rubber gloves washing dishes. His obvious crushes on Warren/ Xander/ Spike were always used for cheap giggles. There was none of the respect that Willow/Tara got. They had character outside of their sexuality and their romantic life was always treated as seriously as any of the straight characters. So to be honest I find it slightly disturbing that a gay actor would so willingly contribute to such a stereotypical character.

(Not to say anything about the fact that the first chance the Angel writers got they turned him straight.)

[Captain Craig]

If Clay Aiken hadn't already come out last month with his announcement that made anyone who pays attention say, "really, no shit" then this would seem bigger.
Tom Lenk as gay was nearly as obvious but not quite as obvious as Clay.

[CorporalClegg]

^
But then, how often is it that when a celeb comes out people are sincerely surprise?

[mostlyharmless]

CorporalCreepy wrote:

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^
But then, how often is it that when a celeb comes out people are sincerely surprise?

Doogier Howser?

[Caleuche]

^Or as odd as its seems now, most people seemed surprised by George Michael.

Rock hudson or Raymond Burr may be better examples of surprising coming outs though.

[Captain Craig]

CorporalCreepy wrote:

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^
But then, how often is it that when a celeb comes out people are sincerely surprise?

People were sincerely surprised in the 90's when it was abnormal for people to do so. Coming Out is so 'yesterday'.

The gay movement has been successful in making people go whatever and then say "back to some real news please".

[lvsxy808]

Caleuche wrote:

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I always disliked the character of Andrew as I found it slightly homophobic in how everything about him was played for laughs. He was the guy who when the heroes were out fighting was hiding at home in his pinny and rubber gloves washing dishes. His obvious crushes on Warren/ Xander/ Spike were always used for cheap giggles. There was none of the respect that Willow/Tara got. They had character outside of their sexuality and their romantic life was always treated as seriously as any of the straight characters. So to be honest I find it slightly disturbing that a gay actor would so willingly contribute to such a stereotypical character.

Why can't you just accept that as his character? People like that do exist. Besides, saying there's nothing else to his character but his gayness is totally inaccurate. He was never even explicitly stated as gay, for one thing - we only assumed based on heavy hints. Other than that, there was his nerdiness, his wanting to follow the crowd to belong, his growth from "nothing is real" comic book life to "things have consequences" real life. None of those are necessarily or stereotypically gay attributes.

Joss has also depicted other kinds of gay men, like Larry, who was a jock and a fighter. And other kinds of lesbians, like Kennedy, who was a mouthy princess.

(Not to say anything about the fact that the first chance the Angel writers got they turned him straight.)

Also completely wrong. For one thing, the writers specified in the script that it should be boys and girls together that Andrew met at the door. I believe it was director's choice to eliminate the boys. And did it not occur to you that those girls might be Slayers under his command, and he was simply their chaperone? Can a guy not walk through a door with a girl without being labelled "straight" ?