Out actor Sir Ian McKellen argues in a
new interview that gay men are more masculine than straight men.
McKellen, 77, is best known for playing
Gandalf in the The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
trilogies and Magneto in the X-Men films. He came out in
1988.
In a joint interview with Sir Patrick
Stewart, McKellen reflects on the military roles he's played.
“I’ve probably played even more
military men than Patrick,” McKellen told the London
Evening Standard. “Gandalf is a soldier, Magneto is a
soldier, Richard III, Coriolanus, Macbeth. And I think the reason is
because I want my revenge on them all.”
“Who?” he's asked.
“The people who start wars,
perpetuate them and glory in them. 'God save our gracious Queen, send
her victorious?' I’m sorry. What does that mean?… If that’s
what masculinity is, then I don’t want any part of it at all. I
think gay men are more masculine than straight men. Because, guess
what? They love other men!”
Reaching for Stewart's hand, he added:
“So when bully boys say: 'Faggot!' you say, ‘That’s right, I’m
with the boys.'”