In the homophobic, closeted Hollywood of the past, rich and powerful gay media players were sneakily referred to as the “gay mafia.” This “lavender mob” was thought to use its influence in Hollywood to advance an immoral gay agenda. But things have changed, and these days, it's a great time to be gay in Hollywood. The current crop of openly gay writers, directors and producers in the U.S. entertainment industry are more successful than any previous gay generation, and they are forging a golden age of opportunity for creative gay entrepreneurs.

Gays in the entertainment industry now compete on a more open and level playing field, and homosexuality is simply one more common bond in an industry where networking means everything. In a 2003 interview with Details magazine, Hollywood-based gay casting director Lee Daniels said of his gay colleagues, “We've got each other's back. It's a good thing to work amongst your peers.”

Here is a sampling of today's openly gay, behind-the-scenes movers and shakers who are shaping the global entertainment industry.

Garth Ancier — In the 1980s, Ancier supervised production for prime time NBC comedies Cheers, The Cosby Show, Family Ties and The Golden Girls. By 1986, he was programming chief at FOX, where he helped develop the hit shows The Simpsons, Married … With Children and In Living Color.

In the 1990s, Ancier served as entertainment president for The WB, where he helped develop Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek, 7th Heaven, Felicity and the Ricki Lake talk show. In 2004, Ancier became chairman of the WB Television Network (which merged with UPN last year into the new CW network), and he now serves on the board of trustees of the National Council for Families and Television. He has raised funds for the Campaign for Military Service, a group that supports allowing gay men and lesbians to serve in the armed forces. Ancier received the 2004 Spirit of Hope Award from the Help Group, a nonprofit organization serving children with special needs.

Cool Quote: “I'm not embarrassed about anything on television, with the exception of Dr. Laura.” ( Sept 21, 2000 )

Paris Barclay—Paris Barclay has made a name for himself as a producer, director, and writer. He is the winner of two Emmys, both for directing episodes of NYPD Blue. He also received numerous other Emmy nominations for his work on NYPD Blue as well as The West Wing, and received the Stephen F. Kolzak award from GLAAD. The Director's Guild Association not only nominated Barclay for his directing work six times (with a win in 1999), but this year also honored him with the Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award for his work with the DGA including his current position as DGA Vice President. So far this year Barclay has directed new episodes of Dirt and CSI. Barclay also demonstrated his writing prowess as a columnist for The Advocate for a number of years.

Cool Quote: In regards to the recent Isaiah Washington controversy, Barclay spoke up saying, "Actors with addiction problems have been let go unceremoniously--this is much worse." (AfterElton.com)

Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks — These two gay business partners produced the films American Beauty, Down With Love, Big Fish and The Forgotten. American Beauty took home the best picture awards for Cohen and Jinks at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and the Producers Guild.

On his own, Cohen produced the two Flintstones films, Mousehunt, and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar! He has worked for the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD and the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council of the Democratic National Committee. In 1995, he co-founded Out There, a group of openly gay and lesbian entertainment industry activists, with out lesbian producer Nina Jacobson; both Cohen and Jinks serve on Out There's steering committee.

Cohen has been honored by Lambda Legal, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Equality California and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. He served on Outfest's board of directors from 1995 to 2000, and he is currently on the steering committee for the Larry Kramer Initiative for Gay and Lesbian Studies at Yale University.

Cool quote: “I do find that gay people are always very open and accepting of meeting other gay people. We will go to parties where there will be heads of studios and top writers and top directors … who are gay, and they'll be mixing with somebody who is an assistant or just out of college or a creative executive. The [straight] heads of studios won't mix with the assistants in the same way.” — Dan Jinks (The Advocate, Dec. 9, 2003 )

Roland Emmerich — This producer, writer and director's highly successful films include The Day After Tomorrow, The Patriot, Godzilla, Universal Soldier and mega-blockbuster Independence Day. Emmerich was also behind the idea to cast gay actor Jaye Davidson (The Crying Game) as Ra in his 1994 hit sci-fi film Stargate.

Emmerich's films have won numerous awards, including a Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film (Stargate) and an Oscar for Best Visual Effects (Independence Day), but he also received the infamous Razzie Award in 1998 for Worst Director of the Year for Godzilla. He recently made a donation of $150,000 to the Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Restoration.

Cool Quote: “These images [from gay and lesbian films] have saved countless lives and shaped the LGBT communities we know today. The independent gay and lesbian films of the last 30 years have had no one to save, restore and protect them until now. I'm proud to play a part in launching the Legacy Project and encourage everyone to help save these precious, affirming images.” (Outfest Press Release, Jan. 23, 2006)

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