Mark Ruffalo addresses Matt Bomer transgender casting controversy: ‘I hear you’

Mark Ruffalo took to Twitter to address objections to Matt Bomer being cast as a transgender sex worker in the film Anything.

“Love is at the essence of great storytelling and transcends all discrimination and politicization”, Ruffalo told Variety. According to LGBTQ Nation, the movie Anything will star actor Matt Bomer (who is not transgender) in the role of Freda Von Rhenberg.

In recent years, Jared Leto being cast as a transgender female in the film Dallas Buyers Club drew similar criticism. Ruffalo, an executive producer on the film, took to Twitter to respond to those concerns.

The casting choice was criticised on social media, with many asking why a trans actor wasn’t cast for the role. In a lengthy tweetstorm, Richards attacked the practice of “transface” as not only discriminatory but also risky. The usual justification is that movies and TV shows need recognizable stars to attract an audience, and now at least, no trans actor has enough box-office pull.

Many suggested that the part should have been given to an actual trans actress, while actress Savannah Burton (herself trans) claimed that “casting men to play trans women leads to violence against trans women”.

Nevertheless, Jen Richards’ observation that seeing cisgender male actors playing transgender women endangers real people’s lives is powerful and persuasive. “Our women are dying”.

“More cis men being sourced to play trans women”.

Others have echoed Bryne’s sentiments, including “Orange Is The New Black” star Laverne Cox and actress Jamie Clayton from Netflix’s “Sense8”.

And promptly got blocked for it.

Bomer has not yet publicly commented on the controversy.

As of Thursday, she was still waiting for a response to that suggestion. “I’m glad we’re having this conversation”.