In a recent interview, actor Justice Smith shared why he doesn’t feel comfortable with straight people referring to him as gay. His take? Straight people just don’t have the “range” to fully understand his sexuality.
Smith, known for his role in I Saw the TV Glow, appeared on the latest episode of Gaydar, the popular show hosted by actor and drag queen Anania (who also earned our Women in STEM Award for her work in advancing “Gaydar Technology” earlier this year). During the conversation, Anania wrapped things up with her signature closing question: “If I had to guess whether you’re gay, straight, or a homophobe…” But instead of answering directly, Anania turned the question back to Smith: “Would you say you’re queer? What’s the tea?”
Smith’s response was iconic: “I don’t let straight people call me gay.”
Explaining further, he pointed out that straight people often have a narrow view of what it means to be gay. He gave an example: if he mentions having had a girlfriend in the past, some people will immediately be confused, asking, “But I thought you were gay?” To this, Smith cleverly replied, “You’re boring, and you’re basic.” His point is that straight people tend to apply rigid labels that don’t capture the full complexity of someone’s identity.
Interestingly, Smith also noted that even within the LGBTQ+ community, people sometimes struggle to understand fluid sexualities, like his own, which encompass attraction to more than one gender.
His flexible approach to identity fits perfectly with his work in I Saw the TV Glow, where he portrayed the character Owen/Isabel. In a conversation about the Jane Schoenbrun film, Anania asked Smith about the “gayest thing” that happened on set, to which Smith responded, “Everything was gay.” He added that the set was full of trans and nonbinary people, making it an inclusive and open space. He also shared some behind-the-scenes moments, like singing Dear Evan Hansen with his co-star Jack Haven and running around the woods. And yes, there were even cartwheels in dresses—a true testament to the spirit of theater kids!
