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'Something like Little Britain is not particularly helpful...the word gay has become used as a derogatory term'
'The only gay in the village'
Ian McKellen criticises Matt Lucas's 'only gay in the village'
Sir Ian McKellen has criticised the "misleading" portrayal of "camp" gay men on television, and in particular Matt Lucas's 'only gay in the village' character.
The actor was addressing sixth form drama students at Sudbury Upper School in Suffolk on the subjects of homophobic bullying and gay stereotypes. The East Anglian Times reports McKellen advising the students, who are making a short film about gay issues for a competition, that the representation of gays on television was not always a reliable guide and that education could help prevent the word 'gay' being used as an insult.
"The idea of camp can be misleading," he said. "I have to confess that I am a little disquieted at times by the way that gays are portrayed, particularly on television. Something like Little Britain is not particularly helpful. I know Matt Lucas will say that he is gay and it is not offensive but I don't think it gets the right message across.
"If you are gay you don't have to be camp. Also the word gay has become used as a derogatory term and this is something which education can help to resolve. Either that or we choose another word to describe ourselves. I rather like another G word - glorious."
McKellen's visit to the school was organised by Stonewall, which is running the film competition about anti-gay prejudice in school and society.
