Tyler James Williams is “not gay,” and isn’t a fan of all the speculation
In a Pride Month message, Williams calls out the "dangerous" culture of overanalyzing someone's behavior in an attempt to discern their sexuality
Aux News Tyler James Williams
Lovably obsessing over Abbott Elementary’s Gregory Eddie certainly isn’t a crime in Tyler James Williams’ book; he just requests that it happen free of constant online sleuthing about his (and others’) sexualities. In a Pride Month-centered message shared to his Instagram Stories, Williams addressed his own sexuality by first confirming he’s “not gay,” and then opining he’s not impressed by the aggressive level of speculation some public figures face over whether they are or aren’t queer.
“Usually I wouldn’t address stuff like this but I feel like it as a conversation is bigger than me,” Williams wrote in a message posted to his Instagram Stories, per Deadline. “I’m not gay; but I think the culture of trying to ‘find’ some kind of hidden trait or behavior that a closeted person ‘let slip’ is very dangerous.”
“Overanalyzing someone’s behavior in an attempt to ‘catch’ them directly contributes to the anxiety a lot of queer and queer questioning people feel when they fear living in their truth,” he continues. “It makes the most pedestrian of conversations and interactions in spaces feel less safe for our gay brothers and sisters and those who may be questioning. It also reinforces an archetype many straight men have to live under that is often times unrealistic, less free, and limits individual expression.”
As Williams sees it: “Being straight doesn’t look one way. Being gay doesn’t look one way. And what may seem like harmless fun and conversation may actually be sending a dangerous message to those struggling with real issues.”
Ultimately, Williams refuses “to inadvertently contribute to that message;” and closes out the message by wishing a Happy Pride to his “queer and questioning brothers, sisters, and individuals.” As a self-professed “ally,” he concludes he’s
“committed” to “helping to cultivate a future where we are all accepted and given permission to be ourselves.”
51 Comments
He’s not gay, but all those homosexuals should really stop sucking his cock.
A solid classic from the days of yore.
Come on Tyler, everyone’s a LIL bit gay.For reals tho don’t overwrite your favorite tv/movie star to be what you want them to be, they’re actual people
Breaking News, Local Man Makes Sense
I was born this way (straight). You were born your way (gay). Gay or straight, straight or gay it’s all okay.
Tyler James, you know by tattling on your friends, you’re really just tattling on yourself.
Yeah I definitely think people obsessing over who anyone wants to bang is strange. I’m not going to go so far as to say it’s ‘unhealthy’, but holy crap are there any number of other things that are more productive to think about than who a random celeb likes to fuck.
As long as they aren’t actively harming the gay community then it’s no one’s business. People like Miss Lindsey Graham can go straight to hell, though.
Honestly?I’m really sick of the “homophobic Republican is clearly closet gay” thing.“Oh ho ho you’re a closet gay hahaahahaha.” seems like a really nasty joke at the expense of actual gay people who are struggling with their identity.
And there’s the problem ^^. Reducing ppl— esp gay ppl— to whom they want to bang. Being gay is so easily reduced to only their sex life. And it’s a great way to strip away their humanity by saying stuff like “I don’t wanna know what you do in bed!!!!” after someone says he’s gay— even thought he’s not told you ONE DAMN THING about what he likes to do in the bedroom. You don’t see a lot of comments like that when the subject is “heterosexual” controversy.
I thought the idea was that gay/lesbian/bisexual folks are just like everyone else, *except who they like to fuck.*
It’s like the obsession over Bert and Ernie and the people who point to that and go “well they’re clearly gay.”In an attempt to seek out representation you play in to unhealthy stereotypes. Two male friends that live together are clearly gay? Oh…okay.The same thing is going on with Gwen in the new Spider-Man movie. There’s a small but vocal contingent online who are overanalyzing her body type and other aspects and saying “she’s clearly trans.”But in doing so, they’re perpetuating the same harmful stereotypes that TERFs use to devalue both trans-women and women who’s bodies aren’t acceptably feminine enough.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
What’s with the separating out some of the “words” of his “quote” instead of just “quoting him in full?” Do you think he’s lying?
Of course, that’s the point. This site is only for groupthink now.
He SAYS he’s “not gay”, whatever THAT means
Cringy confession time: About 18 years or so ago, I referred to myself as the “gayest straight dude in the world” because I liked certain cute and girly things and also was able to be openly emotional. I stopped with that moniker once a friend pointed out to me that all it does is further cement what “typical” straight and gay behavior looks like.
Things were VERY different 18 years ago, and there’s nothing cringy about acknowledging your past mistakes and growing as a person. You should be proud of yourself.
Thank you, and I know. Still, sometimes you think of a past version of yourself and go: “Oof.”
I do the exact same thing. I’m only 35, but I’ll look back on things I’ve said and done 5, 10, 20 years ago and shutter. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by friends who are better than I deserve, so I can learn from them. Sounds like you’re been given the chance to be better as well.
Definitely. But we’re humans and humans fuck up all the time. A decent person can make plenty of mistakes too. As long as you’re generally well-intentioned and capable of introspection and learning, you’re good.
This is a great response, and this type of response is one of the few reasons I still come here.
I did similar in the 80’s and 90’s don’t beat yourself up about it.
I was the same way. I used to describe myself the same way and I’ve also stopped. Mainly because I feel people are too caught in trying to compartmentalize everything and can’t just let things be. Am I straight? Sure, I guess. I’m attracted to women (both cis and those who identify as one). But do I enjoy many things that would stereotype me as gay? Hell yeah I do. I’m too old to care about what a “straight man” should like, and just do what I enjoy.
Exactly what a gay dude WOULD say
Now I am picturing this as an episode of Everybody Hates Chris. Rochelle would be happy because she ain’t raising no babies. Julius would probably also appreciate his son bring gay since you could share your clothing budget with your partner to save costs.
Possibly he should just stick to saying words that Quinta Brunson writes for him
he speaks just fine for himnself. Nothing wrong with what he said.
No wonder your head exploded, it’s full of farts.
Wow, this is a really nice and thoughtful statement.
No wonder Everybody Loves Tyler James Williams.
A straight man ought to be able to wear a letter jacket as a cape without everybody’s tongues wagging.
I thought that was only acceptable if the coat goes past your waist and you are a Mafia don, pimp or other major crime figure.
Meh. People gossip and speculate, if you want to be famous its part of the job.
Wanting to act or make things doesn’t mean they want to be famous.
uh, if theyre in a tv show, it does.
“uh, if theyre in a tv show, it does.”
No, it doesn’t.
“uh, if theyre in a tv show, it does.”
So the fact that you’re being an asshole means that you want a giant cock shoved up your hole?
Wanting to act or make things doesn’t mean they want to be famous.
He’s not whining about privacy. He’s very clearly calling out the notion that there is a specific way a straight, “masculine” man “should” behave and anything that falls outside of that definition is labeled as “gay”. Bending over backwards to fit someone else’s definition of who you are and how you should behave – how you should talk and act and what you should enjoy – is fucked up. That kind of thinking drives homophobia, toxic masculinity, etc.
ok. if thats what he meant, thats reasonable.
He’s not whining about privacy. He’s very clearly calling out the notion that there is a specific way a straight, “masculine” man “should” behave and anything that falls outside of that definition is labeled as “gay”. Bending over backwards to fit someone else’s definition of who you are and how you should behave – how you should talk and act and what you should enjoy – is fucked up. That kind of thinking drives homophobia, toxic masculinity, etc.
DISCLAIMER: Transfolk know whether they are a man or a woman, and what kind of man or woman they are (butch, macho, femme, sensitive, girly, non-binary, etc.)
But it really sucks that our limited public imagination has made it so the emergence of trans-identification has sidelined the idea of gender non-conformity. Maybe I’m wrong, but it feels now like the parents of a little feminine boy will jump right over gay? or theatre kid? to OMG trans! which could be correct, sure, but also really feels like it fuels strict enforcement of gender roles and performance.
“But it really sucks that our limited public imagination has made it so the emergence of trans-identification has sidelined the idea of gender non-conformity.”That not true at all. The trans right movements has helped gender fluid, non-binary and other identities that don’t fit in the archaic cis-gender binary come out and be able to express themselves. And I’m not sure what parents you know, but most don’t jump over gay to trans, especially given that gay is much more common. Any expert (and hopefully good parents consult them), will tell them that gender play is very normal and not necessarily a sign they are trans (or gay, or any letter of the pride spectrum). They recommend supporting the child by allowing them to explore, not making assumptions and reminding them of your love no matter what gender or orientation they are. The ones enforcing gender stereotypes are usually the one terrified that their child is not straight or cis-gendered. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-support-a-child-who-is-showing-signs-of-gender-divergence-6181809
I get it. All I’m saying is it seems like negative media fascination and the cultural moment has primed the ignorant to see not a spectrum of gender but, at best, a reaffirmed traditional gender regime where a person is still one, the other, or on the way to becoming one or the other. Like I said, I could be wrong.
The ignorant don’t need to be primed for that, that’s the cultural message they’ve gotten for decades, if not century. The cultural moment, at least form trans folk and other LGBTQIA+ folks, is that of gender diversity in both identity and expression.
“All I’m saying is it seems like negative media fascination and the cultural moment has primed the ignorant”
Nice of you give an excuse to homophobes/transphobes.
“Maybe I’m wrong, but it feels now like the parents of a little feminine boy will jump right over gay?”
*ahem* Transfolk know whether they are a man or a woman, and what kind of man or woman they are (butch, macho, femme, sensitive, girly, non-binary, etc.)
THANK YOU.
I wish we could get to a point where nobody cares about other peoples sex lives. I dont want to know anything about your sex life, straight or gay. I shouldnt even know if you are straight or gay, its not relevant to anyone other than potential partners. Keep it to yourself, mind your own business.
For 50+ years I have been teased, assumed, and bullied for being gay, even when I have never been gay, because I do not act and live up to the rigid strangulating masculine expectations of society and those around me. Even in graduate school my major professor teased and bullied me and called me homophobic names because I was not “masculine” enough. He knew my wife. I am tired of it. We need to have an expansive way of viewing strait men for the mental well being of all of us.
That’s some fucked up shit. I’m sorry you have to go through it.