--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's the biggest thing I struggle with…" description: "\"That's the biggest thing I struggle with. We could never hope to represent every gay person in America. There will be people who will say, 'Well, my ex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/andrew-haigh-6364_america_that-s-the-biggest-thing-i-struggle-with_2571785.jpg" --- # That's the biggest thing I struggle with. We could never… ![“That's the biggest thing I struggle with. We could never hope to represent every gay person in America. There will be people who will say, 'Well, my experience of being gay isn't like that,' to which I can only say, 'That's fine.'” quote by Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/andrew-haigh-6364_america_that-s-the-biggest-thing-i-struggle-with_2571785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/andrew-haigh-6364_america_that-s-the-biggest-thing-i-struggle-with_2571785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/andrew-haigh-6364_america_that-s-the-biggest-thing-i-struggle-with_2571785.jpg) > “That's the biggest thing I struggle with. We could never hope to represent every gay person in America. There will be people who will say, 'Well, my experience of being gay isn't like that,' to which I can only say, 'That's fine.'” [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Representing a whole community is impossible; acknowledging diverse experiences is essential. **In simple terms:** Accept that no single story can represent all. Key Takeaway Embrace diversity of experiences. Themes inclusion representation diversity identity acceptance Mood thoughtful empathetic Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - film casting - community outreach - policy advocacy - public dialogue Key Concepts intersectionality social narrative media responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you amplify marginalized voices? - What limits exist in representation? A Different Perspective Attempts at universal representation can erase nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [I just don't know when, as a society... it sort of only became OK to represent gay people in the traditional sense, where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-gavaris/i-just-don-t-know-when-as-a-society-it-sort-of-only-became-ok-to/) [Jordan Gavaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-gavaris/) > [People like to pretend that all women have the same experience or that all gay people have the same experience. But everyone's life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/people-like-to-pretend-that-all-women-have-the-same-experience-or/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [I think it's a not-uncommon experience for gay boys, young men, and even older men to spend a lot of time in the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumaan-alam/i-think-it-s-a-not-uncommon-experience-for-gay-boys-young-men-and/) [Rumaan Alam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumaan-alam/) > [I don't feel there's anything about my experience of being gay that gives me more insight into "don't ask, don't tell," for example, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/i-don-t-feel-there-s-anything-about-my-experience-of-being-gay-that/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [People don't like what I represent, and they think I'm trying to represent the whole gay community just because I'm a gay person and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-grand/people-don-t-like-what-i-represent-and-they-think-i-m-trying-to/) [Steve Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-grand/) > [We don't want sympathetic liberals, we want gays to represent gays... I represent the gay street people-the 14-year-old runaway from San Antonio. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/we-don-t-want-sympathetic-liberals-we-want-gays-to-represent-gays-i/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [I deny that there's such a thing as a gay person. I deny there's such a thing as a heterosexual person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-deny-that-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-gay-person-i-deny-there-s-such/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [There's no difference between a gay person and a heterosexual person at the end of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/there-s-no-difference-between-a-gay-person-and-a-heterosexual-person/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [As a gay person, my life has been marginalized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-sachs/as-a-gay-person-my-life-has-been-marginalized/) [Ira Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-sachs/) > [I think as a gay person, there was no way in my generation to not grow up with shame and a sense of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-sachs/i-think-as-a-gay-person-there-was-no-way-in-my-generation-to-not-grow/) [Ira Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-sachs/) > [I would like to tell stories through the lens of the gay person, but not just for gay people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rannells/i-would-like-to-tell-stories-through-the-lens-of-the-gay-person-but/) [Andrew Rannells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-rannells/) > [For years I was the only publicly out gay person who was not a full-time gay activist: my position as a quasi-foreigner gave me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/for-years-i-was-the-only-publicly-out-gay-person-who-was-not-a-full/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [If You don't like Gay Marriage, Don't Marry a Gay Person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-you-don-t-like-gay-marriage-don-t-marry-a-gay-person/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I'm certainly not going to tell other people what they should do with their own personal lives. I think it's certainly easier for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-certainly-not-going-to-tell-other-people-what-they-should-do-with/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“I didn't set out to do a gay comic, but given the current political and religious climate in this country, I feel it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-braddock/i-didn-t-set-out-to-do-a-gay-comic-but-given-the-current-political/) Paige Braddock ## More by Andrew Haigh > [Whoever my films are about, they'll hopefully still have my sensibility, whatever that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/whoever-my-films-are-about-they-ll-hopefully-still-have-my/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [I think there's always a conflict within me about being comfortable and secure and then being an individual and fighting for what I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/i-think-there-s-always-a-conflict-within-me-about-being-comfortable/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [I didn't enjoy growing up. I was lonely. That's probably my base level to feel like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/i-didn-t-enjoy-growing-up-i-was-lonely-that-s-probably-my-base-level/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [My influences are all over the place. Different films have spoken to me at different times in my life, and they've helped create my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/my-influences-are-all-over-the-place-different-films-have-spoken-to/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [We have a choice every day to do whatever we do, and that choice is quite scary because it could absolutely change everything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/we-have-a-choice-every-day-to-do-whatever-we-do-and-that-choice-is/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [Men are both bad and awful. And women are both bad and awful. And they can both be good and wonderful on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/men-are-both-bad-and-awful-and-women-are-both-bad-and-awful-and-they/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [I would certainly not support Trump in any way shape or form, but I want to have sympathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/i-would-certainly-not-support-trump-in-any-way-shape-or-form-but-i/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [There's something about film that offers this opportunity to stick to a very, very clear single protagonist's point of view, and I like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/there-s-something-about-film-that-offers-this-opportunity-to-stick-to/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [For me, all you want from your actor is for them to engage on a deeply emotional level with the material. If you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/for-me-all-you-want-from-your-actor-is-for-them-to-engage-on-a-deeply/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [I've traveled a fair amount around the country and visited many states. It's amazing that Oregon is so different from Idaho; even though Portland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/i-ve-traveled-a-fair-amount-around-the-country-and-visited-many/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [The kinds of films I like are the ones that take their time. If you reach an emotional pinnacle too early on in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/the-kinds-of-films-i-like-are-the-ones-that-take-their-time-if-you/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [Coming from a different perspective on a society is really interesting. I love the Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Phantom Thread,' and that's a version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/coming-from-a-different-perspective-on-a-society-is-really/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [If you don't open your eyes to other people's lives, you can't even begin to understand how the world works at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/if-you-don-t-open-your-eyes-to-other-people-s-lives-you-can-t-even/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [For me, it's very important that shows about gay people are messy and complicated and are truthful about what we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/for-me-it-s-very-important-that-shows-about-gay-people-are-messy-and/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [People have very difficult lives. We can judge them for making the wrong decisions, but if you look harder and understand that these lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/people-have-very-difficult-lives-we-can-judge-them-for-making-the/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) [Explore all 99 Andrew Haigh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's the biggest thing I struggle with. We could never hope to represent every gay person in America. There will be people who will say, 'Well, my experience of being gay isn't like that,' to which I can only say, 'That's fine.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrew Haigh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/that-s-the-biggest-thing-i-struggle-with-we-could-never-hope-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/that-s-the-biggest-thing-i-struggle-with-we-could-never-hope-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/andrew-haigh-6364_america_that-s-the-biggest-thing-i-struggle-with_2571785.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/andrew-haigh-6364_america_that-s-the-biggest-thing-i-struggle-with_2571785.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/andrew-haigh-6364_america_that-s-the-biggest-thing-i-struggle-with_2571785.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's the biggest thing I struggle with. We could never hope to represent every gay person in America…” — Andrew Haigh", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Andrew Haigh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That's the biggest thing I struggle...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/that-s-the-biggest-thing-i-struggle-with-we-could-never-hope-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/that-s-the-biggest-thing-i-struggle-with-we-could-never-hope-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```