Douglas Booth: Saying ‘that’s so gay’ is damaging
By Ben Kelly
In a new interview, published in Attitude‘s March edition, actor Douglas Booth has spoken about his commitment to feminism, and the importance of rejecting homophobic language.
“Words we use like ‘Stop being such a girl’ are so damaging. I have an amazing friend in America who raised her kids with that kind of language banned. ‘That’s so gay’ is another example. She wouldn’t allow it around her children, which gets them into the right mindset.”
He added, “Just for young guys to be around and correct each other with things like that, it’s very important.”
Speaking about his support for the HeForShe campaign, which friend and co-star Emma Watson got him involved with, Booth said, “I was very lucky to be born a boy, which comes with certain privileges that it shouldn’t. I think there’s some very admirable women fighting a great fight, but men are 100% a part of that as well.
“I feel there needs to be more pride in saying you’re a feminist – male or female – and there shouldn’t be a stigma around it.”
The actor, who has previously played Boy George in Worried About The Boy and Pip in Great Expectations, was on our screens over Christmas in the Agatha Christie adaptation And Then There Were None.
He’s about to star in the new film version of the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – a parody mash up of the Jane Austen classic and modern zombie horrors.
Attitude’s March Issue, featuring newly-out world champion freeskier Gus Kenworthy’s first ever shoot with an LGBT publication, is available to download now at pocketmags.com/attitude, to order directly to your door from newsstand.co.uk, and will be in shops next Wednesday (February 3).
Also in Attitude’s March Issue, alongside all your usual fashion, fitness and travel features and real life stories:
- We explore gay sex, love and relationships in our Valentine’s Love & Dating special, as we delve into the world of apps, hook-ups, and how to make a relationship last.
- Aussie singe-songwriter Josef Salvat discusses sexuality, experiemtation and why as a straight man he’s not afraid to kiss men in his music videos.
- This Book Is Gay author Juno Dawson speaks to Attitude as she begins to undergo her transition, ahead of a new monthly column exploring the best of LGBT culture.
- Sheila Reid has a right ole’ knees-up playing How Gay Are You? as Benidorm returns to UK screens.
The new issue of Attitude is now available as a digital download from pocketmags.com/attitude. It’s in shops next Wednesday, February 3, and print copies are available to order from newsstand.co.uk.
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