July 15, 2014
Quinto to Play Franco's On Screen Boyfriend in Ex-Gay Biopic
EDGE READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Out gay actor Zachary Quinto will join the famous for playing gay, straight actor James Franco in an upcoming biopic based on the life of a noted twink magazine publishing magnate turned anti-gay minister.
Variety reports that a 2011 New York Times Magazine article by Benoit Denizet-Lewis titled "My Ex-Gay Friend" will be the subject of the next Gus van Sant produced film. "Michael" is slated to star James Franco in the title role with Zachary Quinto as his former love interest. Actor Chris Zylka ("The Leftovers") is also slated to be in the film as another past love interest.
In "Michael," Franco will play Michael Glatze, former managing editor of the twink focused XY Magazine and founder of Young Gay America (YGA) Magazine, who declared himself "ex-gay" and now works as a conservative Christian minister in Wyoming. A former gay rights advocate, Glatze met former boyfriend Benjie Nycum while working at XY Magazine. The pair were together for ten years and went on to found YGA.
According to Wikipedia , YGA became a respected resource by high school and public libraries, youth groups and parents, and was seen as a sign that the gay youth movement was taking shape. The short-lived magazine would go on to win the National Role Model Award from the Equality Forum.
Glatze left YGA in 2007, after declaring he was no longer gay. He briefly entered the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) before becoming a conservative Christian minister. He now believes that homosexuality is a sickness and opposes LGBT rights. He has authored two pieces about his "change" that were published on the conservative (and largely anti-gay) website, World Net Daily.
"This isn't just a story about an 'ex-gay,'" Said Justin Kelly, who is set to direct. "It's actually a very relatable story about the power of belief and the desire to belong."
"I'm excited that everyone involved in this project is intent on telling a story that captures the full breadth of Michael's unusual life," said Denizet-Lewis. "From the inspiring gay leader I knew when I was young to the Christian pastor he is today."
