George Takei in Do I Sound Gay?

You would think from the title of this post that I'm sharing a new George Takei viral video, but he's actually appearing in an interesting documentary titled Do I Sound Gay?. I know this is a bit off-topic but I'm always excited in anything George Takei does. Fellow Asian American queer, Margaret Cho, also appears in the film.

At the moment it looks like the only place the film will be screened in the Boston area is at the Kendall Square Cinema in Cambridge beginning next Friday, July 24, 2015. Writer/Director David Thorpe will be there on July 24th and 25th, details TBA.

Do I Sound Gay?

Directed by David Thorpe
77 mins

Is there such a thing as a “gay voice”? Why do some people “sound gay” but not others? Why are gay voices a mainstay of pop culture—but also a trigger for anti-gay harassment? After a break-up with his boyfriend, journalist David Thorpe embarks on a hilarious and touching journey of self-discovery, confronting his anxiety about “sounding gay.” Enlisting acting coaches, linguists, friends, family, total strangers and celebrities (including David Sedaris, George Takei, Dan Savage, Margaret Cho, Don Lemon and Tim Gunn), he quickly learns that many people—both gay and straight—often wish for a different voice. In Thorpe's feature-length documentary debut, what starts as a personal journey becomes a chance to unpack layers of cultural baggage concerning sexuality, identity and self-esteem.