Kevin Spacey Equates Being Asked About Sexuality With Bullying

In a new interview with The Daily Beast about his new film Casino Jack, Oscar winner Kevin Spacey found himself unexpectedly pressed to discuss his sexuality. Journalist Kevin Sessums asked Spacey if they could talk "man-to-man" and offers to go off the record. Spacey says they can stay on the record, and the two men have a very interesting discussion on the topic.

After telling Spacey the gay community has always "proudly claimed" Spacey as one of "our own," he asks why Spacey doesn't return the favor. To which Spacey responds, "Look, I might have lived in England for the last several years but I'm still an American citizen and I have not given up my right to privacy."

Sessums says he disagrees and that being gay isn't a private matter because heterosexuals don't consider their heterosexuality a private matter and that he isn't asking Spacey what goes on "behind a locked door."

At this point, Spacey says he wants to "enlarge" the subject and brings up bullying and gay teens committing suicide. Says Spacey, "I think what we have seen in terms of gay teenagers committing suicide because of bullying is anguishing. I think young people, if they are feeling like they are confused, need to know that there are people to talk to and that there are places they can go and not feel alone. But I feel that they have just as many rights as I do to not be bullied. And I don't understand people who say, 'Well, this is a terrible thing that is happening to this young person whose life is being exposed,' and then turn around and do it to another person. People have different reasons for the way they live their lives. You cannot put everyone's reasons in the same box. It's just a line I've never crossed and never will."

Sessums responds that he doesn't feel his asking Spacey these questions is the same as bullying and asks if Spacey might ever do an "It Gets Better" video. Says Spacey, "Yeah. Absolutely. I'd do one of those. But why is it in this country that kids might think it's okay to bully and make fun of somebody? I'll tell you why, because what do they see in the media happening all the time? In the media they seem to think that's okay. So if we stop using sexuality as a weapon against people maybe everyone will eventually get cool with it."

Sessums finishes the line of questioning noting that he stopped being an actor because he couldn't "lie" anymore, prompting Spacey to say, "I don't live a lie. You have to understand that people who choose not to discuss their personal lives are not living a lie. That is a presumption that people jump to."

It's a complicated issue and I think both men make valid points. Spacey has every right to not talk about his private life, but he's also an actor out promoting a movie and whether celebrities like it or not, part of the promotional game involves journalists asking questions about their private lives which actors can answer or not.

Spacey completely loses me when he compares his situation to that of gay teens being bullied. Yes, I get it must be a drag to have journalists repeatedly asking him whether he is gay or not, and he probably doesn't mean to literally equate his situation to the gay teens who killed themselves, but to compare the two and to say that asking him about it is akin to using a "weapon" simply makes him look out of touch. Given that he's incredibly successful and wealthy and that his being "bullied" involves declining to answer questions, well, that's a pretty weak comparison.

As for Spacey being willing to do an "It Gets Better" video, I have to wonder why he thinks he's qualified to participate in that campaign. It's fine if he wants to not discuss his sexuality, but in doing so he does send a message that if he is gay, he does not want to be identified as part of the gay community. Declining to be counted as one of us seems quite at odds with also telling gay teens "It Gets Better." I think that message is better delivered by men and women who are out.