Breakthrough Black and Latino Roles on the Big Screen

Another early mainstream black film from the same year also had another gay character. Norman . . . is That You? featured young actor Michael Warren in the title role (he would later star in NBC’s Hill Street Blues) as the son of Redd Foxx. His role marked the first time a black gay character was the protagonist of a major movie. Norman was in love with a stereotypical, limp-wristed gay man, which served as fodder for Foxx’s numerous jokes. The tagline of the silly blaxploitation comedy says it all: “There’s a sexual revolution going on and all the leaders are in my family!”

“GET ON THE BUS”

It wouldn’t be until the 1990s that complex, multi-dimensional depictions of American black gay men were fully realized on the silver screen. The role most often mentioned is that of Kyle (Isaiah Washington) in Spike Lee’s 1996 historical film Get on the Bus. The plot follows a group of black gay men on a cross-country trip to the Million Man March. The characters Kyle and Randall were a committed couple and a stark contrast to the current prevailing stereotypes of black gay men.

“Isaiah Washington's character really stood out to me,” says Los Angeles-based novelist Fred Smith. “Kyle was multi-layered and in the midst of a highly homophobic environment on the way to the Million Man March. I felt empathy and pain for the character and his life experience.”

The novelist says the role of Kyle brought some much-needed depth to the presentation of black gay men on film and depicted them as “working professionals, family men, community members, and active with issues” that are not necessarily gay or gay-related.

“Their love story was brilliant,” agrees Kevin E. Taylor. “They were involved with the black community and dared assume the public acceptance for their relationship as they traveled a new road. Not just to Washington, DC for the Million Man March, but the new road for black gay men.” Taylor pauses. “I cried after seeing them.”

Isaiah Washington’s role in Get on the Bus was notable because, at the time, he spoke out forcefully against homophobia. That made his recent problems on the set at Grey’s Anatomy and at the Golden Globes all the more confusing, says television host and author Keith Boykin. “The f-word-using Isaiah Washington is not the same man I first saw on the screen playing an openly gay man in Spike Lee's groundbreaking 1996 film. Nor is it the same man who wrote an article in Essence a few years ago where he condemned homophobia.”

“PUNKS”

Two films are mentioned most often as featuring the most poignant roles for black gay male characters: Punks (2000) and Brother to Brother (2004). “Both offered magnificent portrayals of black gay characters,” says Kevin E. Taylor. “But if I had to pick one role as the most important” for black gay characters on film, “for me it would probably be Rockmond Dunbar in Punks.”

The film was the 2000 debut written and directed by Patrik-Ian Polk who would later create the groundbreaking Noah’s Arc series on Logo. The movie shared a similar plot: Three black gay men and their Latino gay friend are looking for love in Los Angeles. Hot-bodied Darby (Rockmond Dunbar) moves in next door to Marcus (Seth Gilliam). To complicate matters, Darby had a girlfriend but seemed to be falling for Marcus.

“The whole ‘is he or isn't he?’ mystique about his character was real,” explains Fred Smith. “Much in the way we try to figure out new people in our various environments. But what was most exciting about their [relationship] is that we got to see them interact and have that slow build-up to friendship and possibly more.”

“I couldn’t help but swoon over Rockmond Dunbar’s character,” admits Kevin E. Taylor, laughing. “He was just so tender and vulnerable in his own discovery of his affection for another man. Especially that part when he tells Seth Gilliam, ‘Stop putting yourself down. You’re beautiful.’ He was simply brilliant.”