Noah Schnapp Won't Play Gay for Diversity Points: Why the Star is Getting Selective About LGBTQ+ Roles

Noah Schnapp's relationship with queerness has been a public affair almost since the beginning. When "Stranger Things" premiered in 2016, fans immediately theorized that his character, Will Byers, was gay—a reading that felt intuitive given the show's themes of otherness and the character's sensitive, artistic nature. At the time, Schnapp pushed back against the speculation, questioning whether being a loner or loving photography automatically meant someone was queer. It was a fair point, but it also felt like a deflection, the kind of thing a young actor might say when the industry wasn't quite ready for him to be out.

By 2022, when the Duffer Brothers confirmed that Will was indeed gay, something shifted. Schnapp told Variety that the show had "done it so beautifully" by making it a gradual arc rather than a sudden reveal. "Now that he's gotten older, they made it a very real, obvious thing, "he explained. "Now it's 100% clear that he is gay and he does love Mike. " The actor himself followed suit in early 2023, coming out as gay in a TikTok video that managed to be both playful and genuine—a tone that has largely defined his public persona since.

What's striking about Schnapp's journey is how intertwined it became with his character's. The blurring of lines between actor and role isn't uncommon in Hollywood, but it felt particularly poignant here. Fans who had watched Will struggle with his identity for years suddenly understood that Schnapp himself had been on a parallel journey. "Seeing how the world receives Will, and embraces him, has taught me through the years to feel OK in who I am, and how I express myself, "Schnapp told British GQ. It was a reminder that representation matters not just for audiences, but for the people bringing those stories to life.

Now, as "Stranger Things" launches into its fifth and final season—with Will's storyline set to take center stage once more—Schnapp is thinking carefully about what comes next. And his recent comments about being "picky" with future LGBTQ+ roles reveal something important about the state of queer representation in entertainment: sometimes, saying yes to everything can feel like a trap.

In an interview with "The Hollywood Reporter", Schnapp was refreshingly candid about his approach. "If the right project comes that I feel really resonates, then I will, "he said when asked about taking on more LGBTQ+ roles. "I don't want to just do anything. Because it's so personal to me, I've been a little more picky with those kinds of projects. I want it to really resonate and mean something, and not just be another one for whatever diversity points."

That last phrase—"diversity points"—cuts to the heart of a real problem in modern Hollywood. There's been a noticeable uptick in LGBTQ+ characters appearing on screen, which is objectively good. But not all representation is created equal. Sometimes, queer characters are written as one-dimensional, reduced to their sexuality, or included primarily so a production can tout its inclusivity credentials. It's the difference between authentic storytelling and box-checking, and Schnapp is clearly aware of the distinction.

What makes his stance particularly meaningful is that he's not rejecting LGBTQ+ roles outright. He's not saying he'll only play straight characters from now on, or that he wants to distance himself from his queer identity professionally. Instead, he's setting a boundary—one that prioritizes artistic integrity and personal resonance over visibility for its own sake. "I'm absolutely open to that, "he added, clarifying that he hasn't closed the door on LGBTQ+ characters.

Before Schnapp moves on to whatever comes next, there's still the matter of Will Byers'final chapter. According to Schnapp, Will's sexuality will be "a major plot point" in this final season, and the actor has expressed hope that fans will find the resolution "empowering. "

"I've been holding it in for so long, so I've been looking forward to the day this all drops, "he told "The Hollywood Reporter". "It's so touching and empowering. So getting to inspire a lot of people, and maybe even in the queer community for people to feel empowered to be themselves, I just can't wait to see how it touches people."

There's been considerable speculation among fans about what this might mean—particularly regarding the long-theorized romance between Will and Mike Wheeler . The show has built toward this moment for years, and the fact that Schnapp is describing it as "empowering" suggests that the Duffer Brothers are taking the emotional weight of Will's story seriously. It's not just fan service; it's a culmination of a character arc that has resonated with millions of queer viewers who saw themselves in a boy struggling to understand and accept his own identity.

What's also notable about Schnapp's recent interviews is his willingness to discuss the darker side of being a public figure. He's been open about how he's learned to manage his relationship with social media, particularly after facing backlash over his statements regarding Israel and Palestine.

When asked how he deals with online criticism, Schnapp admitted he's "still figuring it out." But he's also been thoughtful about setting boundaries. "As I've gotten older, and honestly with advice for my co-stars who kind of have learned to manage the online presence with their own lives, I've learned to value privacy a bit more and understand it's not healthy to be reading thousands of opinions about yourself every day, and creating some distance is good, " he explained.

This is wisdom that extends beyond Schnapp himself. Young queer people, in particular, often struggle with the pressure to be "out and proud" in highly visible ways, to constantly perform their identity for public consumption. Schnapp's approach—being authentic while also protecting his mental health and personal boundaries—models a healthier way of being queer in the public eye.

As the entertainment industry continues to grapple with how to tell queer stories authentically, voices like Schnapp's matter. He's not demanding perfection or suggesting that every LGBTQ+ character needs to carry the weight of representation for an entire community. But he is insisting on intentionality. He's saying that queer stories deserve to be told well, with nuance and care, not just ticked off as part of a diversity checklist.

For queer audiences, this is encouraging. It suggests that at least some of the young actors who have grown up in the spotlight while playing queer characters are thinking critically about representation and their role in it. Schnapp could easily take on any LGBTQ+ role offered to him—he's famous, talented, and openly gay, which makes him attractive to casting directors looking to signal their progressiveness. But he's choosing not to, and that choice is itself a form of representation: the representation of a queer person who knows his own worth and isn't willing to compromise it for visibility.

As "Stranger Things" comes to a close and Schnapp embarks on the next phase of his career, it will be interesting to see what projects he chooses. Will he return to LGBTQ+ roles when the right opportunity comes along? Will he explore other kinds of characters? Whatever he decides, he's already made it clear that authenticity will be at the center of those decisions.