Tom Lenk is Gay

slayerpower

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Tom Lenk makes out

Tom Lenk, aka Andrew from"Buffy", is officially out !

The latest issue of The Advocate features icon Harvey Milk on the cover, but a minor icon of geekdom, Tom Lenk (who played Andrew on Buffy the Vampire Slayer), also makes news by officially coming out in the issue (the online site doesn't feature the article).

After the jump, read more about Lenk's gay role on a recently canceled sitcom, his homophobic management and more!

It probably doesn't come as that big of a shock to fans of Buffy that Tom is gay, which probably isn't fair, as no doubt Lenk is capable of playing a wide-range of characters. Nonetheless, Lenk pinged quite a few gaydars including Buffy creator Joss Whedon, who told The Advocate that Andrew hadn't been planned as gay, but when Lenk auditioned they decided to take the character that way since "Tom has a bit of a fey thing going on in his persona that, you know, you can't really deny."

Technically, Andrew was never gay, but when we included him on our list of the "Ten Best Gay and Bisexual Science Fiction Characters", Whedon himself wound up weighing in on the topic.

Lenk says his coming out now was supposed to be timed to coincide with his first television same-sex kiss. The Buffy alum had been cast as the boyfriend of Jesse Tyler Ferguson's character on Fox's Do Not Disturb. Alas for Lenk, DNR didn't make it past its second episode before Fox showed mercy on us all and canceled the sitcom.

Lenk also discusses his less-than-pleasant childhood growing up in Camarillo, California, a town north of Los Angeles, where he was "constantly tormented", how theater was his escape, and how, post-Buffy, he learned his own management company was mocking him behind his back for being less than butch.

Despite the setbacks, Lenk stays optimistic about his future. And as Whedon says about Lenk, "He's very, very f**king talented." Here is hoping Lenk finds the right vehicle to express that talent.
 
He's totally camp on Buffy, gay or not, he's a great and hilarious actor.
 
My very first thought was, "No spit." (Except a word that rhymes with spit.)

News like Clay Aiken being gay was news.

But I'm glad he feels that he can be open about it.
 
caitaintdead
caitaintdead
I just told my boyfriend and he also said something that rhymes with no spit!
BuffyElevated
BuffyElevated
LMFAO You took the words right outta my mouth.
Not to sound callous, but, to quote Cordelia, I exibit no surprise. I absolutely adore Andrew, I thought he was a great character with good potential. And I think Tom is a sweet guy who really cares about his fans. He's very brave for coming out to his fans and the rest of the world and I wish him every happiness.
 
Sweetescape
Sweetescape
[No message]
See, with Andrew, I could never tell if that was all character or just Tom having fun. Cause, he played the vampire completely differently. So, I wouldn't have been able to comment before now, or before seing him in other stuff.
 
It probably doesn't come as that big of a shock to fans of Buffy that Tom is gay, which probably isn't fair, as no doubt Lenk is capable of playing a wide-range of characters.
Sums it up pretty good. Not a fair judgement to make based on a character but can´t say that it´s a surprise. And the only thing I can do is to agree with blondie.

I'm glad he feels that he can be open about it.
 
Well, this is a shock to me! I thought he was already out...
 
A
Allycat
lolz-karma
I was seriously just about to post this! I copied the URL of the article and everything!

Anyway, I'm sure this doesn't come as a surprise to anyone. Still, it's great that he was finally able to come out.
 
To be fair, I thought Lenk played Andrew as gay and that the show incorporated that in ways that made me giggle (like his mondo Spike crush). I didn't think one way or another about whether or not Lenk himself was gay, but because the only character I've really seen him play is gay, I can't say I'm shocked to imagine that the actor is gay. If the only role I'd seen him in was as a lady's man, though, I might be singing a different tune. That said, some actors who are not gay have played perfectly convincing gay people (Tom Hanks and Antonio Banderas spring to mind), so there's no reason to assume that just because Lenk played a convincing gay Andrew, he himself must be gay.

I just home Lenk still lives in CA and that the anti-gay-marriage prop doesn't pass. Long live equal rights! Vote no on Prop 8!
 
C
charmingslayer
Nice banner!
Yep, not really that suprised.
Good for Tom, Im glad he has come out and is comfortable with it, I wish him every happiness 🙂.
 
I am so happy for Tom. Whatever makes him happy , makes me happy. Cos I just adore Tom!

I wasn't really surprised. I had heard some rumors before , and seeing how Tom acts with all his roles, and how he generally is didn't surprise me. 🙂
But

GOOD FOR YOU TOM! Every happiness to you :cheering::cheering::cheering:
 
And this is important why? He's sexuality shouldn't matter, he was a great actor and I loved him as Andrew.
 
And this is important why? He's sexuality shouldn't matter, he was a great actor and I loved him as Andrew.
It don´t matter. At least not to me and seemingly not others that have posted in this thread. BUT that he feels comfortable to be open about it is a good thing, right? Celebreties are role models even if they don´t want to be and if your "idol" has to hide it how would you feel if you´re young and gay? Kind of gives the impression that it´s something wrong with it. It´s still not always easy for young (and older) people to admit to the "public" that they are gay. The more common it gets it´ll probably get easier for others to be open about it too. So that´s why I think it´s great news and definitely something worth bringing up.
 
Bluebird
Bluebird
[No message]
Not a surprise, but veeeery cute *_*

He looks gay in Buffy, so.


Cute cute cute, I love out gays, they are so brave and cool *_*
 
I always had a feeling he was gay in real life and on screen as Andrew but like everyone else his sexuality doesn't matter to me he's still a great actor. 🙂
 
Well this hardly comes as a surprise, I think we all knew he was anyway. Still its great that he feels comfortable enough to be out now.
 
Well, I don't think his sexuality is important as a matter for discussion or anything, but I do think it's important that famous GLBT folks come out -- especially right now, and especially in CA. Their rights are under attack. CA's marriage laws just became equal. Now, certain groups are trying to write discrimination into the state constitution in order to take that right away from same sex partners. The more people who are willing to stand up and be counted, the better. Maybe knowing (or, in this case knowing of and liking) someone they didn't realize was gay will put a human face on the issue for some and change bigoted minds.
 
E
eponinethen
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