"As a straight man playing a gay role," he began, but the audio system could not compete with the din of forks.

None of my friends said, 'Gee, why do you want to play a gay role?'

"There are actors one can mention who still wouldn't touch a gay role," he said.

Playing a gay role was hardly a career risk.

He became famous in this film because of his gay role.

They saw the gay role functioning as a "master status" around which other roles become organized.

Continue reading the main story It's still a little taboo for a mainstream actor to do a gay role

Paulate continued to play gay roles in movies and television.