The Struggle Between Roy Cohn And Homophobia

However, Roy Cohn’s stance against communism is not the only aspect of Reagan era conservatism that he portrayed, he also portrayed acts of homophobia, ironically so. During the Reagan administration, there was a clear lack of interest in solving the AIDS epidemic. Although the disease was rampant, due to AIDS being seen as a “gay disease” many of the evangelical politicans under Reagan dismissed the issue. Moreover, homophobic and anti-gay sentiment was rampant among his administration. Roy Cohn took the typical conservative approach against homosexuality and refused to admit he was closeted, even until he died of AIDS. In fact, when talking with his nurse, Belize, he states, “you’re a butterfingers spook faggot nurse” (155). It is quite clear
The reason Kushner adds a character such as Roy into the play is to not only critique the mainstream American conservative belief but to also highlight the struggle closeted homosexuals faced in an anti-gay society. Because the mainstream culture disavowed homosexuality, it was a struggle for gay individuals to be open about their sexuality. Therefore, closeted gays were forced to repress their inner feelings and become isolated from society. Roy Cohn is the icon for repressed homosexuals who are too scared to come out of the closet due to social stigmas. Kushner was able to intertwine these themes of Reagan era conservatism, sexual repression, and social isolation all through the development of one character within the play. Without the many rewrites, Kushner would not have been able to portray the development of these themes in such a magnificent
Kushner took an issue so immense, the AIDS crisis, and condensed all the feelings, emotions, and lived experiences of AIDS sufferers into two cohesive plays. Understanding that Kushner and many of the main actors experienced the tragedy and destruction of the AIDS epidemic firsthand, it helps the audience truly embrace and relate to the emotions expressed during the play. Angels was not just a typical play, it was an emotional expedition that highlighted the immense national issues of its era. That’s why Kushner had to rewrite it over and over, he had to get it right or else he won’t be able to capture the devastation of the AIDS epidemic and comment on the broader social issues facing the nation during its