9 Straight Actors the Gays Claimed Anyway

You don’t have to be gay to be embraced by the LGBT+ community, although if you’re not invited it can be a rough transition. Ask Robbie Williams . 

Still straight allies who do the work and are genuine about their advocacy there’s a place for you here. It should also be noted, superficially if you look good in a Spider Man onesie that’s grounds for automatic acceptance. The nine people below may be straight, but the gay community has claimed them as its own. 

Nicholas Galitzine

So full of charm and respect for the community, “Red, White and Royal Blue” star Nicholas Galitzine identifies as straight, but we are going to claim him anyway.  His leading man energy and portrayal of gay male relationships is so charming and heartfelt he had given us access to mainstream rom coms. Even when he plays a straight man, like in the film “The Idea of You,” he’s able to make our gay hearts flutter. 

Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal has been a longstanding member of the gay community ever since “Brokeback Mountain,” maybe even longer.  His pinup status since the 90s is legendarily, almost every baby gay at the time had a crush on him. He continues to stimulate our lust in movies like the “Roadhouse” remake and the TV series “Presumed Innocent.” His honorary gay card is still valid. 

Andrew Garfield

Looking at Andrew Garfield in his tight Spider Man suit is still iconic. But beyond the VPL, he’s a VIP in the gay pop culture space due to his sensitive performances and overall love of musical theater. Not to stereotype gay men, but theater kid energy is definitely a quality the community embraces.  His portrayal of Jonathan Larson, the playwright and composer of “Rent,” in the 2021 film “tick, tick…BOOM!” was Oscar-worthy.

Henry Cavill

Some people fantasize about Prince Charming coming to save them on a noble steed.  But in 2013, a lot of gay men wanted to be rescued by Henry Cavill, specifically in his Superman costume. After that came “Witcher” and everyone’s gaydar blew a sprocket.  His universal man-crush appeal is something to be admired, but to us gays, he’ll always be the Man of Steel second only to another honorary gay, Christopher Reeves. 

Chris Hemsworth

Funny, self-deprecating and just an overall fun guy, Chris Hemsworth is the official straight hunk of the gay community.  If you didn’t fall in love with him in the 2016 all-female reboot of “Ghostbusters” you may want to revisit it. His comic timing, airhead dynamics and prescription Ray-Bans are all we needed to approve his perpetual membership. 

Tom Holland

The official, eternal straight twink of the gay community is another one who wore the Spidey costume. Speaking of marvel, Tom Holland is one, and how he stays looking so young seems like witchcraft.  He’s also popular on social media where he keeps things playful and engaging. He received backlash over a same-sex scene in the series “The Crowded Room,” but he forged ahead despite the hate. It’s something we as a community have in common.

Justin Baldoni

Maybe you’re asking yourself, “Who is Justin Baldoni?” It’s a fair question but your pop culture score card just nose-dived. He has a large gay following online thanks to his ally-ship and how he redefines straight male masculinity. He wrote a book called “Man Enough,” and in it, he featured gay men and discussions on how they define masculinity. Justin isn’t afraid to respectfully ask the hard questions about gay men in the modern world, and for that he gets a pass. 

Riz Ahmed

British Pakistani actor and singer Riz Ahmed has become an adopted straight member of the gay community not only for his acting chops, but his unwavering support. He voiced the gay character in the animated film “Nimona,” but more than that he’s extremely vocal about gay rights.  Superficially and subjectively he’s also very handsome which means his advocacy gets a further reach. 

Idris Elba

Idris Elba is the straight daddy we gay men love to watch, and any list of handsome men embraced by the gay community wouldn’t be complete without including him.  As an actor he exudes confidence on the silver screen and in politics. He signed a letter supporting gay rights in Ghana. It’s that kind of inclusivity and love of human rights that the LGBTQ+ community appreciates.