greg@olivej.UUCP (Greg Paley) (11/28/84)
I know that a certain number of articles never reach our sight, so this may be repetitive. So far I've seen a number of discussions about discrimination against gays in the work force. I have not seen any discussion of what has appeared to me to be a rapidly increasing reverse discrimination in the performing arts. Instances I've heard of first-hand (from straight friends who've been turned down for jobs or from gays who've witnessed the rejection of straight job applicants) have been in the fields of theatre, dance, musical comedy, and opera. At this point it seems more evident in administration and staff positions than onstage. There are, of course, cases to be dismissed as "sour grapes" from would-be "stars" who whine that the only reason they weren't cast for a particular role was because they weren't gay whereas the fact was that they were simply inadequate. I do know, however, of at least one "straight" tenor who has turned down for a production of Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes" because he was told that "a straight man couldn't possibly have the sensitivity" to do the part. I have, moreover, heard more credible stories from people who either have applied for jobs or been removed from a current job in the San Francisco Opera staff (ranging from high-level administration down to the box office) to be replaced by someone with less ability and experience who happened to be gay. The most visible example in San Francisco is a gay conductor who has a permanent position in the opera company but whose total lack of ability as a conductor has been embarrassing in performance to the point of inciting strike threats from the orchestra. Similar incidents are apparently coming up in the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, and numerous ballet companies. My wife and I, having been once active as singers, have a number of gay friends in various performing fields. With few exceptions, when I've brought up this subject with them, they have admitted that they saw the same thing happening. A few feel genuinely concerned that it's causing a blockade to genuine talent, and are afraid that this may lead to an eventual backlash. Many others, though, shrug their shoulders and say, one way or another, "well, we have to have SOMEPLACE of our own". I should say that, personally, my only concern is that I hate seeing more boundaries and walls set up, regardless of who is constructing them. - Greg Paley