Visibility matters, and I believe that not just Ben Platt, but EVERYONE who comes out, can make a difference.
Polls show that the public attitude toward gays is definitely changing; the clear majority supports LGBT rights and marriage equality.
At the same time, we now have a White House that is trying to roll back LGBT civil rights on every front, so the battle is far from over.
As for actors, it's still a career risk to come out (or be thought of, as gay). Rob James-Collier, a British actor who plays Thomas on ''Downtown Abbey,'' recently said he feels that PLAYING a gay character has hurt his career in America. And James-Collier identifies as straight. |
