Tom Hanks claims that, "rightly so," he is unable to portray a gay man today in the same way that he did in Philadelphia in 1993.
The Hollywood celebrity portrayed lawyer Andrew Beckett in the movie, who lost his career after his superiors learned of his sexual orientation.
The seasoned actor said, "Let's answer, 'Could a straight man accomplish what I did in Philadelphia now?'" in an interview with The New York Times Magazine. No, and that's correct.
We're over that today, and I don't think people would accept a straight man portraying a gay man as authentic
"Someone saying we're going to demand more of a movie in the present arena of authenticity isn't a crime or a boohoo. Do I come across as a preacher? I'm sorry if I've offended you."
"Their names are familiar to us. For each of the red ribbons that we wear here today, there are a thousand of them. They ultimately find rest in the loving arms of our merciful creator.
"A healing hug that lowers their fevers, clears their skin, and opens their eyes to see the plain,
self-evident, common-sense truth that is revealed by the benevolent creator of us all and was put down on paper 200 years ago by wise men, tolerant men, in the city of Philadelphia."
One of the first prominent Hollywood films to explore HIV/AIDS and homophobia was America, a legal drama released in 1993.