When I started working in entertainment journalism at the now-defunct film magazine Premiere, one of my first tasks was to interview Nathan Lane from The Birdcage.
It was a section of the magazine called “In the Works” that was meant to feature first-look images and 300-word articles about movies.
In The Birdcage, the English version of the 1978 French comedy La Cage Aux Folles, Lane plays professional drag queen Albert, with Robin Williams playing his partner Armande. Albert is asked to leave home for the night when his son (Dan Futterman) returns home and plans a family dinner for his fiancée (Calista Flockhart) and his right-wing politician father (Gene Hackman) and mother (Dianne Wiest). All hell breaks loose when Albert shows up, dressed in full conservative middle-aged woman drag and pretending to be Armando’s wife.
This was in 1996. The film, directed by Mike Nichols, was a turning point for gay representation in film. It was a mainstream movie made by a major studio. At the time, Williams, who is straight, was called “brave” and “brave” for playing a gay character. Lane, on the other hand, was not the first openly gay actor at the time. Before my phone interview with Lane, I was told by a publicist that I couldn’t ask anything about her personal life.
In other words, there would be no question that he would play a gay man.
Lane came out publicly three years later, inspired to tell the truth following the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard.
A lot has changed in the 30 years since that no-personal interview with Lane.
Both in front of and behind the camera, LGBTQ representation in Hollywood is increasing and advancing in ways that were unimaginable 30 years ago. From “Philadelphia” and “Brokeback Mountain” to “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “All of Us Strangers.” 2025 saw the release of The History of Sound, a remake of The Wedding Banquet, Pillion, and Boots. The list goes on and on.
And last night, People magazine named Jonathan Bailey this year’s Sexiest Man Alive.
The title is a frivolous one. It is an achievement based on the person’s appearance. Sure, Bayley is “the kindest, smartest and most beautiful person on the inside,” as Ariana Grande said in a video congratulating her Wicked co-stars, but let’s be honest: If she didn’t have movie star looks, she probably wouldn’t be on the cover of this week’s People magazine. His many lust trap photoshoots over the past few years have proven his status as the “Internet Boyfriend” and helped him land the sexiest deals.
But the most important aspect of this year’s selection is the milestone of Bailey being the first openly gay person to be selected for People magazine’s Legacy Series. On one cover, the photographer captures Bailey submerged in water, with only her smiling face, wet hair and glowing skin. Another cover shows him shirtless and holding a dog. In the magazine, he lies on the beach, his chiseled six-pack on full display. The gay-coded photos also include one of Bailey in a spandex singlet and one of her licking a popsicle.
But let’s forget about physical appearances for a moment and understand what it actually means for Bayley to be voted Sexiest Man Alive. Oh, how I wish I had had an actor like Bailey to look up to when I was a kid. Being a young person now and seeing Bailey being celebrated will go a long way in letting them know that it’s okay to be who you are and dream big. Visibility is important. Visualization can help save lives.
Sexiest Man Alive will never erase the homophobia that is at the root of the physical and emotional torment so many bullies inflict on queer children. Bailey’s photo shoot and video will not stop political attacks against the LGBTQ community. Bailey’s visibility may cause some, if not many, homophobes to think even deeper, as his presence, fame, and sexual appeal pose a threat to their distorted narrative that homosexuals are a danger to society.
But Bailey’s visibility could help alleviate some of the homophobia, as well as the isolation and fear that many LGBTQ kids continue to face, no matter how much progress they make. And that’s what really matters.
In May 2024, on the Met Gala red carpet, I interviewed Bailey about his upcoming cameo in Heartstoppers, the groundbreaking Netflix series about gay teens. “I wish I had grown up like that,” Bailey said of the show, adding: “It’s not just for our community. It’s for everyone who is part of a family that has members of the LGBT+ community. It helps all of us.”
The same can be said about this year’s Sexiest Man Alive. He is helping us all.
