Ask the Flying Monkey! (June 24, 2009)

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

Q: Just wondering if there is any information on Star Trek hottie Anton Yelchin's orientation? -- Logan, Terre Haute, IN

Anton Yelchin as Star Trek's Ensign Checkov

A: I confess I was confused by the casting of Yelchin as Chekov, because unlike the rest of the new Enterprise crew, he doesn’t look anything like original actor Walter Koenig, not even when you really, really squint.

On the other hand, Yelchin deliberately hams up the Russian accent, just like Koenig, apparently for comic relief. (Interestingly, both Yelchin and Koenig really are of Russian decent, with parents who emigrated to the U.S. Yelchin even has an accent in real life.)

The 20-year-old actor (who also appears in Terminator Salvation) has indicated in interviews that he’s straight.

Q: I am IN LOVE with The United States of Tara. Love Toni Collette, and young gay teen Marshall is amazing (yay for Keir Gilchrist!). What other young gay characters have been on television – like, under the age of 21? – Michael, Denton, TX

A: This last year has been something of a boomlet in gay teens, what with Tara, Justin (Marc Indelicato) on Ugly Betty, Maxxie (Mitch Hewer) on the U.K. show Skins, Riley (Argiris Karras) on the Canadian show Degrassi High: The Next Generation, and 14-year-old Rick (Nick Benson) on CBS’ canceled Swingtown.

Clockwise from top left: Keir Gilchrist, Marc Indelicato,
Nick Benson, Argiris Karras, and Mitch Hewer

Next page! Thomas Dekker's breakout gay role (not Heroes). Plus, out gay stars of international music.