Darren Criss Says He Is 'Culturally Queer'

Darren Criss made a name for himself in Hollywood by playing prominent gay characters, but he said in an interview recently that, despite identifying as a straight, cisgendered man, he feels as though he is "culturally queer."

Criss Says His Upbringing In San Francisco Made Him 'Culturally Queer'

During an interview at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, Criss attributed his upbringing in San Francisco to his expanded worldview.

Entertainment Tonight reported that Criss was introspective when considering the role that made him a star on "Glee."

"Reflecting on the groundbreaking nature of the relationship depicted on Glee, Criss described it as 'f------- awesome.' He emphasized the significance of portraying a gay relationship on mainstream television. 'It was a narrative that I cared deeply about,' he added, underscoring the personal resonance of the storyline."

Criss Is Proud To Have Portrayed Mainstream Gay Couple

Entertainment Weekly reported that Criss said he's proud to have been a part of a mainstream gay couple.

"'Nowadays, we just call it a relationship on TV. But to contextualize it, a gay relationship on mainstream Fox, that's a pretty cool thing to be a part of,' he said, adding emphasis when naming the network."

Criss portrayed Blaine Anderson for five seasons on the hit Fox show about a group of high school glee choir members. Criss' character and the character, Kurt, played by Chris Colfer portrayed a loving couple during much of Criss' run on the show. The show even ended with their wedding.

Criss Has Been Inspired By Queer Culture

"'I have been so culturally queer my whole life,' he told the crowd. 'Not because I'm trying—you know, actually, I was gonna say, not because I'm trying to be cool, but I'm gonna erase that, because I am trying to be cool. The things in my life that I have tried to emulate, learn from and be inspired by are 100 percent queer as f---,'" said Entertainment Tonight.

"'It was in queer communities that I've found people that I idolize, that I want to learn something from,' he said. 'And I'd say that's a gross generalization, that's a lot of things and a lot of people. But I grew up in San Francisco in the '90s. I watched men die. There was an awareness of the gay experience that was not a foreign concept to me. So, it was a narrative that I cared deeply about.'"

Criss Will No Longer Play Gay Parts

In 2018, Criss made headlines when he announced in an interview with Bustle that he would no longer play gay characters.

"'There are certain [queer] roles that I'll see that are just wonderful,' Criss explains when we speak at a recent event for Clorox's What Comes Next in New York, a few days after he returned from an overseas tour with his Glee co-star Lea Michele. 'But I want to make sure I won't be another straight boy taking a gay man’s role.'"

Colfer Says 'Glee' Role Forced Him To Confront Sexuality

Meanwhile, Colfer has been vocal about his role as Kurt Hummel on the show pushing him to come out as gay.

"'I was absolutely terrified. And back then, people told their clients, ‘Don’t play gay characters because it will ruin your career,'" he recalled during a recent conversation on the Glee-centric 'And That’s What You Really Missed' podcast."

"'I also knew that [taking the role] would probably force me to answer and ask questions of myself that I wasn’t quite ready to do,' Colfer admitted. 'So, I’m actually kind of grateful for it in a way because I think it kind of pushed me into a path of honesty with myself.'"

Criss has been married to Mia Swier since 2019. They are the parents to daughter Bluesy, and announced in December they are expecting another child.