Ask the Flying Monkey! (March 11, 2009)

Have a question about gay male entertainment? Ask the Monkey! (Please include your city and state and/or country.)

Q: What do you think about this whole “gay face” mini-meme? – Michael

A: The Flying Monkey just heard about it  and I’m already tired of it.

While studies show there is no difference in the actual physical facial characteristics of gay versus straight men, other studies suggest some gay men might hold their faces, especially in the mouth area, in such a way that makes other people more likely to identify them as gay.

And this is news why? We all know there are physical and verbal stereotypes – mannerisms and such that are associated with gayness. We also know that sometimes the stereotypes are right – some gay people do conform to them – and sometimes they’re wrong: many gay people don’t conform to them, and some straight people who do.

Again, I’m not sure what’s new or interesting about any of this.

Q: I watched Chris Leavins in The Hanging Garden last night. It’s a marvelous movie. I think the jury is still out on where Chris falls on the Kinsey scale, but has he ever played gay anywhere else? -- Nick, Omaha, NE

A: Wow, “Chris Leavins” from The Hanging Garden (which I also liked) is actually Chris from CuteWithChris.com! That’s a connection even the Flying Monkey has never made.

Alas, Chris never responded to my query, so I have no idea what, if any, other gay roles Chris has done, or even if he has a gay face.

Q: Just watched The Visitor and couldn't take my eyes off of Haaz Sleiman! While I suspect he isn't gay, Wikipedia says he was in the "African-American gay comedy film Ski Trip." Does the Monkey know anything the internet doesn't? – Rudy, New Orleans, LA

Haaz Sleiman

Photo credit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

A: When I asked a publicist if Sleiman’s face is gay or straight, he also never got back to me. I have it on good authority, however, that Sleiman has a gay elbow.

Incidentally, you know that Sleiman is playing a gay nurse in the new Showtime series Nurse Jackie with Edie Falco, right? I’ve seen the pilot for the show, coming this spring, and it’s pretty good.

Next page! Perez's latest outing. Plus Bobby Hill's just fine the way he is.