James Deen Has One of the Most Progressive Views of Homosexuality, and All That Matters is “The Simpsons”

James Deen has once again proven he’s not only one of most authentic, intelligent, and progressive performers in the porn world, but he looks like the valedictorian of awesomeness compared to pretty much all of Hollywood.

In an interview today with Gawker (most newsworthy is that Gawker put out original reporting of substance), Deen discussed his recent role in The Canyons, co-starring alongside Lindsay Lohan in Deen’s largest mainstream crossover to date. While the movie received a paltry 21% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, it did receive a modestly healthy 79% audience score (nearly the same ratio for Wet Hot American Summer, which I get wet just typing). Mainstream acting aside, it’s pretty much agreed by anyone who’s ever seen Deen’s adult work that he’s the best actor the biz has seen in a very long time.

But the best part of the entire Gawker interview came when Deen revealed his exceptionally progressive and masterfully understood views on homosexuality. When asked if he was uncomfortable having to kiss his male co-star in a gay-sex scene for The Canyons, Deen responded:

Not really. I’ve kissed other dudes in my life, so it’s not really a big deal. I have this conversation a lot because there is still a lot of homophobia in the world and in adult films, when you’re sharing a scene with another dude and a lady, sometimes certain things come up: gay this, gay that. The way I define gay or homosexuals is a sexual attraction to a member of the same sex. I fully believe that people can engage in any sort of activity. Like I hate basketball, but I’ve played basketball before and it doesn’t make me a professional basketball player.

Deen goes on to discuss sexually experimenting with other males when he was younger, but that he ultimately never developed an attraction to them. As a straight guy myself who’s hooked up with other males and engaged in sex work, people often have an impossible time wrapping their heads around how one can engage in homosexual activity without being homosexual, and Deen’s analogy hits the nail on the head.

Deen then waxes lyrical on all sorts of sex and gender dynamics theory, like he was a regular Charlie Glickman:

Really, what it comes down to is that for every girl that likes it in the butt, there is a dude that likes it in the butt. And for every girl that doesn’t like it in the butt, there is probably a gay man out there who doesn’t like it in the butt. … Some people like it in the butt and some people don’t. Just because some people like to put things in their butt, it doesn’t make them gay; it doesn’t make them not gay if they don’t; it’s just a sexual preference. There is a difference between wanting to feel something in my butt, and if that thing is phallic shaped it’s because that is what makes it feel good. If I want my female partner to do it, I feel like that’s straight: You just like it in the butt.

Now, as I’ve said – I’m a straight man. But holy shit did James Deen just give all of sex-positive America the biggest boner it’s ever seen?

When asked about dealing with Hollywood types and the mainstream dismissing him as a novelty act, Deen responded by basically saying that very few things in Hollywood, including himself, actually matter. “If it’s not on The Simpsons it doesn’t exist,” he professed. And basically, he’s right.

Recounting the advice of a friend, Deen continues, “‘You’ve gotten where you are by just being yourself. Who cares if anyone knows who you are, just be yourself and as long as you’re personally happy it’s all good.’ I thought about it and it made a lot of sense. I try to always operate under that. I got my fans by just being me.”

Though I’m sure it’s never been an issue, we’re all cheering for you to keep it up, James.

Watch the trailer for The Canyons below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5uTtNLUmCA