Is it safe to be out in the entertainment industry?
equity.org.uk, 26/1/2012
A new Equity survey on whether it is safe to be out about your sexuality in the entertainment industry has raised serious questions about how safe it is to be honest about your sexuality as a performer. Almost half of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transexual actors have not come out to their agents and more than a third have experienced homophobia at work, according to Equity's survey.
The survey, which was undertaken in the Autumn of 2011 by Equity's Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender Committee, was open to any Equity member and the majority of the respondents were performers.
The key findings are:
81% are out in their professional lives
94% are honest about their sexuality to their fellow performers
57% are not open about their sexuality to their agent
35% have experienced homophobia in their profesional lives.
Max Beckmann, Equity's Equalities Officer, commented: "The findings that 81% of survey respondents are out in their professional lives and that 73% found the decision to be out easy is hugely encouraging and suggests an industry in which it is safe to be out. What is truubling is the finding that only 75% of respondents are out to their agents and it is particularly concerning that 35% of respondents have experienced homophobia in their professional lives. This goes some way to explaining why many respondents say they weigh up whether or not to come out on a job by job basis and while not hiding their orientation often do not 'broadcast it' ".
Malcolm Sinclair, actor and President of Equity, commented: "I have never felt that being gay has worked against me but the finding in Equity's own survey that just under half of all gay performers are not out to their agent in the UK is worrying. But then work is scarce and, whether sexulaity is a barrier or not, people may just err on the side of caution. They don't want to test the water to see if it's all right.
"I think the great issue today is the nightmare problems facing gay teeenagers in coping with vicious bullying in schools."
Actress Sophie Ward, who describes her experience of coming out in 1994 as a "raw time" commented: "I don't think coming out in our industry is an issue any more. Yes, there is homophobia, as there is in any industry. People who worry the most would be those up for leading male or female parts, where the audience is wanting to identify with and follow the story of those people."
The objective of Equity's campaign is to encourage members to be out at work. Equity will campaign to raise the issue of being out among members and in the industry and challenging the perception that the entertainment industry is completely tolerant of different sexualities and that there are no problems.
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου