American Ballet Theater Dancer James Whiteside | Advocate Now

Though Whiteside has received some pushback from his peers, he says the larger community has become more accepting in recent years.

It's changed since I started professionally. I started professionally in 2002, and I'm not the first or the last person to have, you know, to moonlight as something perhaps not everybody understands," he tells Sonia Baghdady of Advocate Now. "So, yes, I did feel reticence from some groups, but overall, my uniqueness has been celebrated in my field and I am grateful and very happy for that."

As a dancer who is also a gay man, Whiteside has faced many stereotypes throughout his career, but he says he doesn't let them define him.

"I face stereotypes every day and some of them I even live up to," he laughs, continuing, "You have to have a strong will to be in this field where you will be susceptible to prejudices and preconceived notions. But I am absolutely stronger than any ideas other people have about me."

Whiteside says one way to make ballet more inclusive is to produce and perform contemporary shows so diverse stories can be see on world-renowned stages.

"When it comes to actually pushing the needle forward on the work, it's difficult because I do classical ballets that are, in some cases, hundreds of years old," Whiteside explains. "I work for a company that does classics as well as new works. And in the new works, I do hope to see fresh tales told."

Whiteside is also the host of Front Row podcast, which provides discussions and advice for varying artists in the entertainment industry.

"My goal was to tell people what it's like being an artist and how you can sustain a living while being an artist," Whiteside says. "It's about the business of creativity."

Front Row is available to stream online. For more interviews like these, watch Advocate Now on The Advocate Channel.