--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of going to a GLAAD event and…" description: "\"Instead of going to a GLAAD event and standing on a soapbox, I am writing roles that I feel will change the narrative and open doors.\" — Tommy Dorfman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/tommy-dorfman-12435_change_instead-of-going-to-a-glaad-event-and-st_1754752.jpg" --- # Instead of going to a GLAAD event and standing on a… ![“Instead of going to a GLAAD event and standing on a soapbox, I am writing roles that I feel will change the narrative and open doors.” quote by Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/tommy-dorfman-12435_change_instead-of-going-to-a-glaad-event-and-st_1754752.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/tommy-dorfman-12435_change_instead-of-going-to-a-glaad-event-and-st_1754752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/tommy-dorfman-12435_change_instead-of-going-to-a-glaad-event-and-st_1754752.jpg) > “Instead of going to a GLAAD event and standing on a soapbox, I am writing roles that I feel will change the narrative and open doors.” [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating authentic roles changes narratives and opens opportunities more than protest alone. **In simple terms:** Write authentic roles to shift narratives. Key Takeaway Focus on inclusive storytelling. Themes representation media activism career writing Mood hopeful determined Type activist creative When to use this quote - scriptwriting - casting - media production Key Concepts narrative change industry influence Questions to Reflect On - What stories need to be told? - How can writers amplify marginalized voices? A Different Perspective Writing alone may not overcome systemic bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“In addition, discussing these things and making decisions at the outset of the collaboration can help to define non-writing roles. For example, who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-thorn/in-addition-discussing-these-things-and-making-decisions-at-the/) [J. Thorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-thorn/) > [Everybody writes their own parts and we don't step on each others toes. When it comes to writing we each have our roles and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/3-doors-down/everybody-writes-their-own-parts-and-we-don-t-step-on-each-others/) [3 Doors Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/3-doors-down/) > [I mean, I don't like playing male roles. I feel very uncomfortable, constrained, and bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-escola/i-mean-i-don-t-like-playing-male-roles-i-feel-very-uncomfortable/) [Cole Escola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-escola/) > [I am lucky to have the freedom to do a variety of roles. I feel blessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/i-am-lucky-to-have-the-freedom-to-do-a-variety-of-roles-i-feel-blessed/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [I need to make sure that I'm taking roles that I feel like I can communicate through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/i-need-to-make-sure-that-i-m-taking-roles-that-i-feel-like-i-can/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [I'm constantly proving myself. I have to always prove myself. There are roles where I feel like, "That should have been a straight offer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taraji-p-henson/i-m-constantly-proving-myself-i-have-to-always-prove-myself-there-are/) [Taraji P. Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taraji-p-henson/) > [The roles that I feel I get, or handed to me, or whatever, are not that interesting. I don't think it's a problem that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aunjanue-ellis/the-roles-that-i-feel-i-get-or-handed-to-me-or-whatever-are-not-that/) [Aunjanue Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aunjanue-ellis/) > [Every role is easy. As an actor it is my job to make my job easy. If I start hyperventilating about my roles, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rani-mukerji/every-role-is-easy-as-an-actor-it-is-my-job-to-make-my-job-easy-if-i/) [Rani Mukerji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rani-mukerji/) > [I'm not getting into rooms for cis roles. I started my career auditioning for those roles, and then I went to play trans roles.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-m-not-getting-into-rooms-for-cis-roles-i-started-my-career/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [A lot of these roles that I feel like I've had some sort of impact, or that have had an effect on me, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-koteas/a-lot-of-these-roles-that-i-feel-like-i-ve-had-some-sort-of-impact-or/) [Elias Koteas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-koteas/) > [I think politics and films are a great combination. Still, I have the urge in me to do really good roles. But I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaya-prada/i-think-politics-and-films-are-a-great-combination-still-i-have-the/) [Jaya Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaya-prada/) > [Television can be a little tricky in terms of finding roles that feel fully flushed out, which is why I love being in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-benanti/television-can-be-a-little-tricky-in-terms-of-finding-roles-that-feel/) [Laura Benanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-benanti/) > [I like to do new things, so I always take on roles that I feel will keep me on my toes. I never want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-panjabi/i-like-to-do-new-things-so-i-always-take-on-roles-that-i-feel-will/) [Archie Panjabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-panjabi/) > [I think when I first started acting there were different people who I thought, 'I want that person's career or that person's career.' And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-gugino/i-think-when-i-first-started-acting-there-were-different-people-who-i/) [Carla Gugino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-gugino/) > [I have done good roles. I feel good about myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratyusha-banerjee/i-have-done-good-roles-i-feel-good-about-myself/) [Pratyusha Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratyusha-banerjee/) ## More by Tommy Dorfman > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [Maybe I've limited my opportunities by being so open about my sexuality, but my thinking is that, if I come out of the gates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/maybe-i-ve-limited-my-opportunities-by-being-so-open-about-my/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [It's really rare that you find a designer who's willing to dress people who maybe present more masculine in their womenswear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/it-s-really-rare-that-you-find-a-designer-who-s-willing-to-dress/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [I can cook, but I just don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-can-cook-but-i-just-don-t/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > ['13 Reasons Why' was my first professional job out of college, so I don't have much to compare it to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/13-reasons-why-was-my-first-professional-job-out-of-college-so-i-don/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [I love when an outfit embodies the fluidity of my gender - it makes me feel the most confident and grounded, especially when attending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-love-when-an-outfit-embodies-the-fluidity-of-my-gender-it-makes-me/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [I love just being in the moment, and the most present I feel in my work is with theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-love-just-being-in-the-moment-and-the-most-present-i-feel-in-my/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [It's important for teenagers, young adults, parents, teachers, really everyone to see what the true High School experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/it-s-important-for-teenagers-young-adults-parents-teachers-really/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [I decided that I was going to stop trying to convince older, more established heads of studios or networks to understand me and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-stop-trying-to-convince-older-more/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [There is no Cura Gay, there's just gay. Or not. Or however you identify, and nobody should have say over something so personal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/there-is-no-cura-gay-there-s-just-gay-or-not-or-however-you-identify/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [I've been wearing makeup for as long as I can remember. I started by playing with my mom's lipsticks, then in ballet I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-ve-been-wearing-makeup-for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-started-by/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [I always hated that clothing was gendered when I was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-always-hated-that-clothing-was-gendered-when-i-was-young/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [I was an acting major.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-was-an-acting-major/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [I think for me, I just love that trust you have with theater and your ensemble and people you are working with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-think-for-me-i-just-love-that-trust-you-have-with-theater-and-your/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [This idea that you can 'cure' homosexuality is appalling and simply not true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/this-idea-that-you-can-cure-homosexuality-is-appalling-and-simply-not/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) [Explore all 55 Tommy Dorfman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Instead of going to a GLAAD event and standing on a soapbox, I am writing roles that I feel will change the narrative and open doors.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tommy Dorfman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/instead-of-going-to-a-glaad-event-and-standing-on-a-soapbox-i-am/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/instead-of-going-to-a-glaad-event-and-standing-on-a-soapbox-i-am/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/tommy-dorfman-12435_change_instead-of-going-to-a-glaad-event-and-st_1754752.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/tommy-dorfman-12435_change_instead-of-going-to-a-glaad-event-and-st_1754752.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/tommy-dorfman-12435_change_instead-of-going-to-a-glaad-event-and-st_1754752.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Instead of going to a GLAAD event and standing on a soapbox, I am writing roles that I feel will change the…” — Tommy Dorfman", "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": "Tommy Dorfman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Instead of going to a GLAAD...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/instead-of-going-to-a-glaad-event-and-standing-on-a-soapbox-i-am/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/instead-of-going-to-a-glaad-event-and-standing-on-a-soapbox-i-am/#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 } } ] } ```