John: You know, being gay has been never been a problem for me, as far as an entertainer goes. … And I’m extremely lucky to be able to do what I do because if I can help people by being open about who I am, then that is one of the greatest gifts you can possibly have.

Bailey: Yeah, it’s a total privilege, isn’t it?

John: Yes. 

Bailey: I feel like I’ve just been such a recipient of queer joy sort of all my life. Um, and it permeates through art in such a like, special way. But yeah, I think joy is like a universal, human experience and I think it’s something that everyone relishes. So…I think if you choose good work and you show up and put all your sort of love and enthusiasm into it. I think that sort of permeates through no matter what you’re doing. But yeah, I love the community. And yeah, I’ve always loved theater and going to the cinema and going to see live music and it’s that feeling that has always driven me into wanting to, to do what I do. So, to pay that back and to create more moments for other people to experience that feels completely, sort of thrilling actually.

John: Jonathan, did you ever feel when you were younger, pressured to hide the fact that you might be gay because of, uh, the business you were in, or you were just frightened? Or were you just confident within yourself that it didn’t really matter?

Bailey: I think, uh, there’s so much nuance to it. I think there’s, there’s a combination of all three. In a way I feel innately that I knew myself at quite a young age actually, and the hardware is one of confidence. And then of course you, you know, you just take on these stories and these narratives that are sort of like cobwebs. And the closer I got, you know, I found acting. And I think the reason why I loved acting is because for the first time, in a world where you have to sort of code switch and be hypervigilant about what you’re saying and how you come across, especially to your peers, if they’re gonna acknowledge something that you say or the way you say it as denoting of your sexuality to then get given a script and to actually be able to lean into the right thing to do and to then be truthful in it felt really, really good.

But then as that hobby sort of led towards an adult career, of course I was well aware that there are, and, you know, with even now, breaking glass ceilings about the possibilities and the limits of queer actors and what that means to an audience and whether that bleeds into commerce and how that affects it. So yeah, I think when I was in my early twenties, there was definitely an understanding that to be gay would be a hindrance. But I got to a point where I was just like there’s absolutely no way. I wasn’t gonna not hold my boyfriend’s hand in the street, and that was something that I felt so strongly in an animal sense. And of course if that meant that it was gonna impede any potential work, then I was willing to take that risk.

So there’s lots of nuance in there, but I think I feel very lucky to be born at a time that I was born into a world where fundamentally I was very confident about who I am and in my sexuality. Um but then of course it’s been challenging; I feel like I was in an escape room ducking and diving lasers which does feel really scary. But you know it’s never an easy path. Um but if you can just act with kindness then every step gets easier.

John: When I was younger and listen; I didn’t know I was gay but saw people like Little Richard. And Liberace stood out too; there was something different about them that inspired me. They were showmen with something magical about them. There was a lot of Little Richard and Liberace in me too. They influenced how I performed and how I looked; they had an incredible impact on me. But back in the 1950s nobody around me identified as gay; there were no examples in my family or community. My first real gay experience didn’t happen until age 23 when everything blossomed like a rocket taking off; music has always been central to my life.

Bailey: What makes the queer experience brilliant for artists is having to be radical at some point; expressing something bigger than what society understands is essential. Even before understanding one’s own identity or seeing others in similar situations can create connections through storytelling. Luckily for me, being born at a time when things were blossoming allowed me to appreciate how important representation is; shows like This Life, which my older sister watched excited me immensely.

I remember being captivated by characters from cartoons like Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid, which later made sense as my understanding evolved; shows like Heartbreak High, along with Queer as Folk, shaped my perspective too. When Brokeback Mountain came out during my sixth form years, it inspired me so much that my thesis focused on its representation of homosexuality; this gave me an excuse to revisit cinema multiple times despite its painful narratives—just seeing actors perform those stories showed how breadcrumbed our experiences had been.

Looking at figures like Ian McKellen—fearless gay actors who have always been out—reinforces this idea: many had no choice but to live openly from the start. Working with Matt Bomer on Fellow Travelers, witnessing his brilliance as he shares his life openly with his family has been inspiring; surrounding myself with such individuals makes me realize how much we can learn from younger generations who are articulate and empathetic.

I feel fortunate growing up during the nineties when legislation started protecting our community politically and legally; this accessibility fostered joy among us all. The next generation must learn how to harness this joy while communicating with their fans through storytelling—especially now when threats loom over our rights—but it’s amazing how generational relationships allow us all to benefit from those who came before us.

John: You spearheaded this new wave of gay actors—there are so many now! It’s wonderful because many were afraid they wouldn’t get roles if they came out; people like you along with Matt Bomer inspire young actors today such as Ben Whishaw or Andrew Scott—it’s truly amazing! Bravo! You deserve this award; I’m proud to call you my friend.

Bailey: Thank you! We’re taking over the baton—the legacy continues—and that’s what it’s all about: joy.