In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Jason Stuart one of the most prolific character actors and an outrageous openly gay stand-up comedian. Jason Stuart has been in over 175 films and TV shows and has performed in major LGBT events, the Montreal Comedy Festival, Broadway, Comedy Clubs and to 100,000 people at the Millennium March in Washington D.C. Currently Jason's in TANGERINE the breakout hit from this year's Sundance Film Festival which was shot entirely on an iPhone 5S from filmmaker Sean Baker. Jason also just completed a dramatic supporting role as the plantation owner in Nat Turner’s biopic BIRTH OF A NATION from filmmaker Nate Parker who stars in the film along with Armie Hammer. Recently as the National Co-Chair of the Screen Actors Guild-AFTRA LGBT Committee, Jason presented the first ever Transgender Actor Panel at OUTFEST with Alexandra Billings (TRANSPARENT) Mya Taylor (TANGERINE) and D'Lo (SENSE 8). We talked to Jason about his fabulous career and his spin on our LGBT issues.
When asked what he would like to see happen for LGBT equality in the next few years Stuart stated, “The next issue we’re going to jump on is housing and job discrimination. I remember when I was working for HRC fifteen years ago I was doing a lot of comedy shows for their dinners and I remember people were being quite upset when gay marriage was brought up because they didn’t like the idea; marriage equality had not really been discussed. People thought that was such a big thing and that people would never go for it. Well it took over fifteen years for marriage equality to happen and they weren’t really focused on job discrimination and housing and now those are the next two issues that I’m part of. But what I’m really part of in my own life is trying to do things from where I stand. Eight or nine years ago I became the National Co-Chair of the Screen Actors Guild- AFTRA LGBT Committee and I created that committee with Duncan Crabtree-Ireland who’s the Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel at Screen Actors Guild-AFTRA and my idea is to create more opportunity for LGBT actors and it’s happening, slowly but surely. It’s not the idea of roles whether gay or straight parts for the person being an openly gay actor, comedian, singer journalist, stunt person, extra, it’s the idea of them being out and being accepted for who they are and being able to compete for jobs the same way out straight counterparts do and that’s something I’m very much part of.”
Jason Stuart has appeared in TV shows including Sleepy Hollow, Real Rob, The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, House, Entourage, The Closer, Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Everybody Hates Chris, George Lopez, My Wife & Kids, Charmed and Will & Grace. In film he’s been featured in Gia (w/Angelina Jolie), A Day Without A Mexican, Coffee Date, Vegas Vacation and Kindergarten Cop. Recently he’s appearing in James Franco’s Holy Land and Ira Sach’s Love Is Strange opposite Marisa Tomei, John Lithgow and Alfred Molina. On the comedy scene his new stand up comedy CD I'M THE DADDY AND I HAVE CANDY was just released on CD Baby & iTunes and he’ll be touring with his new show in the fall I'M ONLY GAY ON THE WEEKENDS. Jason will also be appearing in the comedic parody, HUSH UP SWEET CHARLOTTE? premiering in San Francisco at the historic CASTRO THEATRE on October 28th. Jason plays the role of British Journalist Mr Wills in this hilarious remake starring Varla Jean Merman, Matthew Martin, Mink Stole and David Millbern (Also the Producer). Written and Directed by filmmaker Billy Clift. View his award winning web-series, MENTOR which marked his directorial debut now available on his website.
For More Info: jasonstuart.com
This interview with Jason is very powerful with positive messages for young and mature LGBT. Very moving sharing his struggle with suicide and self-acceptance. He would be a great mentor and role model. I loved hearing him.
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