Why ‘Love, Victor’ Star Michael Cimino Took a Gay Role Against Industry Advice

There are more LGBTQ stories and characters on TV than ever before, but some pesky Hollywood belief systems die hard.

When 20th Century Fox released “Love, Simon” in 2018, it was the first major studio blockbuster to center around a gay teen character coming out.

What had been an almost too common trope in queer cinema for decades only had its mainstream outing two years ago — making the milestone both momentous and years too late.

As with other studio hits centering underrepresented identities, the fact that it took so long is indicative of Hollywood’s heel-dragging approach on progress.That’s why it’s both demoralizing and unsurprising to learn that the long-held belief that unknown actors shouldn’t play gay is still alive and well in Hollywood; at least according to promising newcomer Michael Cimino, who plays a teenager discovering his queerness in Hulu’s adorable romantic comedy for young adults,

Read full article