Robert Gant Quotes

Glee' is a great show in terms of tackling social issues.

'Glee' is one of the very few mainstream outlets that is giving a voice to communities of people that don't necessarily have a loud voice, specifically the gay community. It gives a really positive and forward statement.

I'm getting to use my platform as the Bachelorette - on my season - to really make change through my experience.

Instead of going to a GLAAD event and standing on a soapbox, I am writing roles that I feel will change the narrative and open doors.

One of my favorites is 'Parks and Recreation.' Great show; awesome writing; beautiful, diverse cast. They also have a very diverse writer's room, which I love.

The significance of playing a South Asian character that's a lead role in a network primetime television show is certainly not lost on me.

As a gay man, I think the role of culture is central to how you change politics - culture is politics.

It would be extraordinary if the BBC were to make me the first black 'Doctor Who;' it would be extraordinary.

More Asians need to be on television as a positive role model.

It's about how you exist as a person in the world, and the idea that your work is more important than you as a person is a horrible, horrible message. I always think about a little gay boy in Wisconsin or a little lesbian in Arkansas seeing someone like me, and if I cannot be open in my life, how on earth can they?

They might have a long way to go before truly accepting gay people into their lives, but they have accepted the show into their living rooms each and every week.

I want to make films that make a difference. I want to be out and hope that that will make things better for gay people and for myself. I hope one day I can start to make the kind of projects or be involved with kind of projects that can really make a difference.

I mean, I am fully aware of my influence and my responsibility to society in general representing the gay community. But in the same time, I don't represent the entire gay community because it's a vast, vast community, as one can imagine.

I feel like I've been observed as an individual more than a gay person, or as a filmmaker with a certain point of view rather than a lesbian filmmaker with a gay point of view.

There was no real controversy with All In The Family. That came from the people on the business end.

I try not to put anything political on the forefront of what I'm trying to do creatively. At the same time, I do think it's wonderful when I hear people say that it's inspirational that I'm an Indian woman on camera. My life is very diverse, and my friends are a diverse group of people.

'Modern Family' has definitely opened up a lot of doors and I will always be grateful.

If I don't get a TV show next year because someone looks up my Wikipedia and it says 'openly gay,' then it's worth the risk because I've had so many years being openly gay and proud of myself as a role model.

Seeing the road show of 'A Chorus Line' in 1977 at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Memphis was a life-changing event for me: there were gay people, on the stage, and they all lived in New York.

If you're not at the table, you're on the menu.

I decided to host a couple of the 'In The Life' programs. And I did that really as a result of meeting a lot of young gay people in the Midwest who really had nothing to relate to. At least I felt this program is presenting them with some options.

We all know the power of film; we all know there's almost nothing more powerful than to see people on film that look and talk like you, like we do.

Homosexuality is like an inside baseball thing. It's like a gag that people share; 'How is your husband?' But when it comes to bringing diversity to a broader audience, suddenly it's a different road. It's what we call 'a risk.' Isn't it our responsibility to elevate the standards and change people's perceptions?

In creating my YouTube videos, I don't want to speak for my audience and the people I represent; I want to amplify their voices.

I wasn't able to relate to anyone on TV growing up, so I wanted to bring my own experiences to the screen.