While we may get annoyed with you for being a queer-baiter, I know you're not to blame. The more you ambiguously hint, the more we eat you up. The LGBTQ+ media nearly exploded after you mentioned you're "a little gay" in your recent New York Magazine interview. You've consistently teased us, always in the form of art or humor, which has allowed you to keep your personal sexual orientation a mystery. You've kissed men on multiple occasions, and in many of your movies have made not-so-subtle references or jokes about your sexuality. You even sat down and conducted an interview with yourself between your dual personas: Straight James and Gay James.
In your recent interview, a promotion for your newest film King Cobra, about gay porn stars, you stated:
... [I]f your definition of gay and straight is who I sleep with, then I guess you could say I'm a gay cock tease. It's where my allegiance lies, where my sensibilities lie, how I define myself. Yeah, I'm a little gay, and there's a gay James.
A little gay, ay? Mainly straight? Talk about bi-erasure much?
Before we get too much further, let's look at the most accurate and inclusive definition of bisexuality from bisexual advocate and scholar Robyn Orchs. She said:
I call myself bisexual because I acknowledge that I have in myself the potential to be attracted -- romantically and/or sexually -- to people of more than one sex and/or gender, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree.
Now that we're on the same page, I want you to know that my goal isn't to force you to identify as bisexual -- or anything for that matter -- if you don't feel it encompasses your sexual identity. If you don't want your sex life and sexuality to be in the spotlight, that's your prerogative, and I respect your decision. But from how you behave and what you say, it seems you do like having the question of your sexuality at the forefront of your career, which is why I think it's acceptable for me to discuss it openly.
It's problematic how you currently discuss your own sexuality. It's blatant bi-erasure, and promoting a duality of sexual orientation. Instead of being bi, you're gay when it comes to one specific sexual or romantic attraction, but straight when it comes to another.
I don't know what's going on with you. You could be fluid, you could be in denial, you could be afraid of using the label -- as many celebrities have been. Or it could all be an elaborate queer-baiting facade meant to promote your popularity. If so, it's working. I am writing you this letter.
Regardless, I don't care. I'm concerned that you're perpetuating the idea that bisexuals don't exist, and if we do, we're X percent straight and X percent gay. I'm often asked the infamous 50/50 question or which gender I prefer. I hate this question, because at the end of the day, I'm not gay or straight. I'm 100 percent bisexual.
James, I don't know what you're up to, but I do know that what you say holds weight. Bisexuals exist, and if you wanted to, you could be a hell of a leader in the community. A beacon of bi-visibility. Instead of queer-baiting us, or doing whatever it is that you're doing, you could be making a huge difference for the lives of millions in the LGBTQ+ community. You have power and could use it.
Think about it.