Darryl Stephens Talks "Noah's Arc" and Coming Out to "Instinct"

Actor Darryl Stephens is the cover feature of the October Instinct. At six pages, Jim ver Steeg's profile is probably one of the magazine's more in-depth recent cover features. There is also a smart fashion (and shirtless) editorial lensed by photographer Peter Brown. Kudos to Instinct for its third major cover feature in the past 18 months that featured black gay personalities.

In addition to promoting the limited theatrical release of Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom, for the first time Stephens responds to critics who questioned his reluctance to come out as openly gay gay during the broadcast run of Noah's Arc.

“We had seen other gay shows where the straight actors who were playing gay got a lot of the credit for doing all the work and for being braver actors. We were all just trying to avoid that,” Darryl says. But they were also trying to avoid adding to the challenges already felt by many in the industry. “I think as black actors we are all aware of the fact that the roles we are allowed to play are very limited. To step up and say “I’m gay” makes a lot of other doors close, too.”

It would be interesting to hear if publicly coming out has helped or harmed Stephens' career. Judging from the roles he has chosen—Noah's Arc, Boy Culture, Another Gay Movie, Ugly Betty etc—there doesn't seem like the potential for a career backlash. It may actually have helped. Stephens says his sexuality "has never been any big mystery or secret" and takes particular aim at "gay bloggers" who tried to make it an issue.

[C]ritics have wasted little time and a great deal of bandwidth to point out that Darryl has not shouted his sexuality from rooftops. “I’ve read a lot of very negative responses, not necessarily to my work, but to my choices, from gay bloggers,” he says. “There is a lot of hypocrisy in the criticism from the people who just don’t know what it’s like to put yourself out there. It’s fucking scary. It’s not like sitting at home on your computer.”

Darryl Stephens makes a valid point about privacy and self-identity, but, the larger point remains unanswered: Was it ironic that for a show that was considered "groundbreaking" for its portrayal of black gay characters and issues, with the exception of Doug Spearman, the black gay actors refused to come out? What message did that send to the "community? Perhaps we should pose these questions to actor Rodney Chester who "hosted" several black gay awards events and still denies he is gay.

Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom will be available in limited release on October 24. An excerpt of the interview with Darryl Stephens is availble at the Instinct website.

Darryl Stephens: Stepping Up, Standing Out [Instinct]

You May Have Missed ...
Behind the Scenes Video from Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom [R20]
Noah's Arc Has Sailed [R20]
Deal or No Deal? [R20]
Darryl Stephens on the "Out 100" [R20]
Jensen Atwood: The CLIK Interview [R20]
A Very Beautiful Darryl Stephens [R20]
Darryl Stephens in "Boy Culture" [R20]
Darryl's "Boy Culture" [R20]
A Conversation with Darryl Stephens [R20]
Rodney Chester: I'm STILL NOT Gay!" [R20]
Beyond the Sassy Sidekicks? [After Elton]
What Does the Future Hold for Noah's Arc? [After Elton]
TV's Most Influential Gay Sex Scenes [After Elton]
The Many Faces of Rodney Chester [Keith Boykin]
A Conversation with Keith Boykin [R20]
Patrik-Ian Polk in "Genre" [R20]
Hamilton Cobb: Big Deal Playing Gay [R20]
Uno Dos TREY [R20]
"Honey, I'm Home!" [R20]
DVD Review: "Noah's Arc" [R20]
Patrik-Ian Polk in "Genre" [R20]

Comments

[Anti-believer]

To Derrick:

your comment: "I don't want you either, butch queen".

Now I know that a lie. You know damn well that 2 fem queens don't want to be with each other cause they will be fighting over who should be bottom! I can hear it know:

Queen#1- "I was on top last night and didn't get to nut."

Queen#2- "Well, I was top the previous 2 times and I want to be on bottom cause I need to get fvck".

Queen#1: "You told me when I mmet you that you were more top than bottom."

Queen#2: "No, I didn't. Okay I lied. I need some dyck."

Queen#1: "I do too! This is working but we can still go shopping together."

[Anti-believer]

Queen#1: "I do too! This ISN'T working but we can still go shopping together."

[Derrick from Phily]

Anti-believer:

WOW, don't you remember Gary Merrill's speech from "All About Eve"? He spoke about theater not just being what's on the stage, but also, the movie screen, the radio, the circus, etc.

I admitted that for an openly gay man to make it in the movies or TV is unheard of-- UNLESS he doesn't care about becoming a top box-office star, but there have been many many homosexual actors who have played straight roles--some of whom were on the "down low" & some of whom were known by people in the industry to be gay.

You called me "ignorant". Maybe I'm ignorant of the mentality of homosexuals who long to be seen as traditionally masculine--"just like any regular guy". They don't impress this sissy. And I am also a very defiant sissy. I am defiant against homos who think that they are "un-clockably" masculine, and who are delusional in thinking that their shakey masculinity gives them the right to be arrogant and rude...and maybe a little ignorant too.

[Chris]

Bill,

Thank you for saying what you did. It never seems to amaze me the amount of hatred we have toward (what we perceive to be) our more feminine brothers. Those who are usually saying crap about them usually sound like a slow-leaking tire.

I can be a nelly queen and I can be butch--depends on my mood. If other gay folks are uncomfortable about my behavior, that is THEIR issue not mine.

[Derrick from Phily]

Anti-believer,

the above scene and dialogue you just wrote--now that's theater, isn't it. Whether performed on the stage, the radio, the movie screen or TV screen--it's theater.

Two fems together? It happens often. You've never see any? (I made the same mistake I make all the time on these blogs: putting my own personal feelings out there, and forgetting that I don't represent ALL fems...sorry, that's narcissism). I learned VERY early not to care what other gay men thought of me--atleast not sexually.

Some feminine gay males are sexually attracted to other gay men, some desire "trade"--rough street trade, or middle-class, educated Barack-type trade.

And Anti-believer, you talk about "ignorance"? You must be young, because you should know that so many feminine homos love being "tops". Being fem doesn't automatically make one a "bottom" Ask any drag queen.

Hey, remember in one episode how Noah tried to "top" Wade? Noah stuck a lubed finger up Wade's butt...ummm, sexy ('course Wade didn't let him go any further). Mr Polk knows what he's saying in his show. What you see aint always what you get.

[Anti-believer]

Theater is not television or film! Stop playing yourself!

Theatre means a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented.

Telelvision means broadcasting visual images of stationary or moving objects

Theatre is NOT television or film. If it was the same thing there would NOT be a separate union for theatre.

Television/Film Union: SAG & AFTRA

Theater: AEA

Learn the difference because you don't know what you're talking about.

Being gay in tv/film is not the same as broadway.

Re: the fem bottom... it's never 100% DUH!

[Anon]

Anti-beliver,

What's the difference between to fem queens arguing about who's going to be on the bottom and two butch queen arguing about it?

Butch Queen 1 "I bottomed the last two times its my turn top.

Butch Queen 2 "You knew I didn't like getting down like that when we first hooked up.

Or

Butch Queen 3 "Its my turn to bottom. If I wanted booty all the time I'd be with a woman."

Butch Queen 4 "Ah man, I thought you was a real nigga man."

[Derrick from Phily]

"Learn the difference because you don't know what you're talking about"

No, young gay man, you don't know what I'm talking about. But it really isn't important.

The argument about why feminine homos exist (and will continue to exist) will go on forever, I guess. I wish the best for the young guys (fem or masculine), but I need to stay out of the debate 'cause like I said earlier, " I don't want you either, butch queen"--that's been my attitude since before the Great Sylvester passed on.

[Anti-believer]

Poor Derrick...

[Rod Mc]

Hey there. Thanks for the feedback everyone. I understand coming out, 'Noah's Arc' and sexuality are strong issues for many of us, but please keep the discussion civil.

[Mike]

Thanks Rod.
The children (Butch & Queen) can get quite ugly on your message board.

[alicia banks]

ditto rod!!!

u rock

i love the show and the cast!

but it is an undeniable fact:

CLOSETS = COWARDICE!!!!!!!

our silence will never protect us
&
being out will never NOT be scary

but those of us who are brave do it anyway!!!

keep telling the truths that others evade...

u r my idol!

much love and respect,
ab

[alicia banks]

ditto rod!!!

u rock

i love the show and the cast!

but it is an undeniable fact:

CLOSETS = COWARDICE!!!!!!!

our silence will never protect us
&
being out will never NOT be scary

but those of us who are brave do it anyway!!!

keep telling the truths that others evade...

u r my idol!

much love and respect,
ab

[alicia banks]

ditto rod!!!

u rock

i love the show and the cast!

but it is an undeniable fact:

CLOSETS = COWARDICE!!!!!!!

our silence will never protect us
&
being out will never NOT be scary

but those of us who are brave do it anyway!!!

keep telling the truths that others evade...

u r my idol!

much love and respect,
ab

[ShadeTea]

good lord...i step away from the board for a couple days and come back to an all out battle between aging fem queens searching for relevance (Derrick from Philly) and angry butch girls SERVING and CUTTING the aging fem queens with frightening precision (Anti-believer) and edge!

this is a heating topic, but one that needs to be addressed..but, we should be civil..we don't have to get along at all, but we do need to be civil...

but aging fem queen, i mean, derrick, you might want to look in the mirror..because anti-believer is right...two fem queens will NOT date each other..for every fem queen couple you say you can speak of, me and everyone else here can find TEN fem queens who are with butch boys, sex sirens, dl thugs, etc.

get into it with gusto, TOOTS, but know that you are fundamentally wrong in your logic..and all THROUGH this post...you are.

[JHud fan]

Wait a minute. Shade Tea, you say "for every fem queen couple you can speak of, me and everyone else here can find TEN fem queens who are with butch boys, sex sirens, dl thugs, etc." But other posts in this thread state adamantly that the fem queen/butch boy pairings, such as the ones seen on shows like Noah's Arc, are a complete and unrealistic "queen's fantasy". I'm confused...which is it?

[elg]

By the time my cable provider picked up LOGO in my area, 'Noah's Arc' had already been cancelled. So I didn't see the show while it was on the air. I did manage to see one episode (on the internet) before it was cancelled. I, more or less, liked the one episode I saw. I recently bought the DVD of the first season, but haven't yet had time to watch it.

I just wanted to make several points. Wasn't Noah's Arc a dramedy (a comedy with dramatic moments)? A comedy is SUPPOSED to have a happy ending. The alleged "fantasy" aspect of Noah's Arc was, therefore, APPROPRIATE. I'm just saying.

[Carlos]

ELG, if you didn't watch the show when it aired, only saw one rerun and just one episode on the DVD ... you really don't know much on the subject.

No shade. I'm just sayin'.

[Lang B.]

My HEAD is spinning.

I don't know top from bottom right now (pun intended).

There are naturally fem guys who like to penetrate and masculine guys who like to be penetrated - end of story in my book. The rest is just over the top acting (homo thugs & drama queens a like).

My personal opinion is that Darryl was never really IN a "closet" that's all. like Clay Aiken, no big shocker.

I question whether he was concerned with future roles as pointed out before he stays within the gay theme. Has he been type casted or has he type casted himself?

Somebody please help me on this?
Is DL the same as not disclosing your sex preference?

What is coming out REALLY mean on a broad scope to us non actors/ celebs? Do I have to go to my local newspaper and declare it. Or is it more of self acceptance?

When is it apropriate for someone to know whether you like men or woman?

I mean this truly, It's not my biz whether my cousin or friend or neighbor is gay or straight.

A few close people to me know that I am sexually attracted to men but does that mean I am a coward or closet freak??? @ Alicia.

Good for Darryl for declaring his personal biz.

Cut!

[elg]

Carlos: The blurb on Noah's Arc DVD box says, in part, "LOGO's ground-breaking one-of-a-kind series Noah's Arc follows all four [main characters] as they chart an uncertain course through the City of Angels, where laughter and drama are never in short supply". The blurb indicates that the series was either a comedy or a dramedy.

My Merriam-Webster dictionary, 11th edition, says that a comedy is a "drama with a happy ending"; "a medieval narrative that ends happily"; "a drama of light and amusing characters and typically with a happy ending". The same dictionary says that a dramedy is a "comedy with dramatic moments". These are general definitions that apply to ALL comedies and/or dramedies. That includes Noah's Arc.

So you see, Carlos, it doesn't matter how many episodes of Noah's Arc I saw or didn't see. If the series was a comedy or a dramedy, a happy ending was REQUIRED based on the above principles. Meaning that if the fem queen wants the straight-acting hottie, well, it is APPROPRIATE in a comedy or dramedy for the "fantasy" to come true. What we think would (or would not) happen in a "real life" scenario isn't relevant in a comedy or dramedy.

[Carlos]

Oh that's real smart, ELG. Why even bother watching the series, just go by description written on the box.

'Cuz, you know, advertising and product descriptions are always accurate. /snark

[nathans]

we like who we like period ... fem-fem fem-masc masc-masc whatever works for you do you and f*** the haters .. Derrick Im on your side. It si clear hat there are alot of young ignorant kids on the site but hey they have to go through their issues like everyone

[elg]

Carlos: I don't know what your point is. You certainly haven't disputed my contention that the Noah's Arc series was either a comedy or a dramedy. A comedy or a dramedy (including Noah's Arc) is SUPPOSED to have a happy ending. So it was appropriate for the "fem" guy in Noah's Arc to end up with his "fantasy" man. That's MY point.