Any actor can play an LGBT role - Matt Bomer
As context, Murphy had cast Bomer, a gay cisgender actor, as a lover of a female character, The Countess, played by Lady Gaga, in American Horror Story: Hotel.
“I think it was so great what Ryan had going on this year, just with all different kinds of actors of all different walks of life, all different sexual orientations, playing all different types of roles,” he said at a Paleyfest event for the series. “Straight, gay, it didn’t really matter. It was sort of just like, `You guys are actors. You can play any role no matter what, whether that role is straight, or gay, or whatever.`"
Notably, American Horror Story: Hotel had also cast another gay cisgender actor, Denis O`Hare, in the part of a transgender woman, a controversial practice many refer to as "transface."
Many prominent members of Hollywood`s transgender community, including Sense8`s Jamie Clayton and Her Story`s Jen Richards, have spoken out against Bomer`s "transface" in Anything. In response, Bomer had blocked and then unblocked Clayton on Twitter.
Mark Ruffalo, who is a producer of Anything, eventually responded to the controversy on Twitter.
"To the Trans community. I hear you. It`s wrenching to you see you in this pain. I am glad we are having this conversation. It`s time," he said.