Tom Hanks: The Actor Who Faced Backlash for Playing a Gay Character
Tom Hanks is widely regarded as one of the most beloved actors of our time, with a career spanning over four decades and numerous iconic roles under his belt. However, his portrayal of Andrew Beckett in the 1993 film Philadelphia was met with significant criticism and backlash, particularly from the LGBTQ+ community.
According to an article by Far Out Magazine, Hanks’s performance as a lawyer with HIV/AIDS was seen as groundbreaking at the time, but also drew criticism for being insensitive and inaccurate. The film, directed by Jonathan Demme, told the story of Beckett’s battle against homophobia and prejudice in the workplace. While it was praised for bringing attention to the AIDS epidemic, it was also accused of glossing over the harsh realities of living with the disease.
The article states that Larry Kramer, a prominent activist in the movement who was dying of AIDS at the time, called the film "heartbreakingly mediocre," saying that its failure to accurately portray the reality of the epidemic and the bigotry faced by gay men was worse than not telling the story at all. For many, Philadelphia painted a disappointingly saccharine picture of a much darker truth. It also portrayed Hanks as being in a seemingly asexual relationship with his male partner and made a simplistic homophobe-to-ally story arc for Denzel Washington’s character.
As noted by Far Out Magazine, Hanks faced personal backlash for his role, with many criticising him for playing a gay character. His friend, Mary Beidler Gearen, remembered that he received hate mail, saying, "I know when he did Philadelphia, he got hate mail. We have to be really protective of him." Despite this, Hanks took the responsibility seriously, and his acceptance speech for the Oscar he won for his performance was widely praised.
In his speech, Hanks paid tribute to his high school drama teacher, Rawley Farnsworth, and his classmate, John Gilkerson, who had died of AIDS in 1989. "I mention their names because they are two of the finest gay Americans, two wonderful men that I had the good fortune to be associated with, to fall under their inspiration at such a young age," he said. "The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels," he concluded.
Stephen Spielberg, who was in the audience that night, later said that Hanks’s speech did more to spread awareness about the horror of the AIDS epidemic than the film had. As reported by Far Out Magazine, this moment highlighted Hanks’s commitment to using his platform for good, even in the face of criticism and backlash.
In retrospect, it’s clear that Philadelphia was a complex and multifaceted film that sparked important conversations about AIDS and homophobia. While it may have had its flaws, it paved the way for future films and discussions about these critical issues. As Far Out Magazine noted, Hanks’s performance was a significant moment in his career, and one that demonstrated his willingness to take on challenging roles and spark important conversations.
The article by Far Out Magazine provides a fascinating insight into the making of Philadelphia and the impact it had on the LGBTQ+ community. It highlights the complexities of representation in film and the challenges of portraying sensitive topics in a way that is both accurate and respectful.
Source: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/only-time-people-wrote-hate-mail-to-tom-hanks/
