Darren Criss, known for his role as Blaine Anderson on Glee, identifies as a straight, cisgender man. Despite this, he emphasizes his connection to queer culture, stating, “I have been so culturally queer my whole life.” He said this during a recent panel at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo A.K.A. C2E2. He said that 90 percent of the things that he has tried to learn from or emulate are queer. Criss revealed his upbringing in 1990s San Francisco, where he witnessed the devastation of the AIDS epidemic. This deeply influenced his connection to narratives centered around LGBTQ+ themes. Speaking extensively about portraying Blaine and his relationship with Kurt, Criss emphasized the privilege he felt in depicting such a significant character. Despite his success playing gay roles, including Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story and Hedwig in the Broadway musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Criss expressed reservations while talking to Bustle in 2018 about continuing to accept queer roles. He voiced concerns about potentially occupying spaces that should be reserved for LGBTQ+ actors, stating, “I want to make sure I won’t be another straight boy taking a gay man’s role.”

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