A gay show without gay cast members no longer, Vanderpump Rules casts its first full time gay male cast member 12 seasons in…
Hayu’s Vanderpump Rules has always been set at SUR, the West Hollywood restaurant run by Lisa Vanderpump and West Hollywood, or WeHo, is internationally known as an LGBTQ+ hub. Yet for more than a decade, the show built around that setting largely told the stories of straight, mostly white staffers. A 2019 critique noted that the series featured special Pride episodes while almost never hiring queer cast members; until this reboot, the only regular cast member who publicly identified as LGBTQ+ was trans hostess Billie Lee.
Media critics noticed the disconnect. Coverage of the reboot pointed out that one of the new cast members, Venus Binkley, is the first gay man to be a lead cast member of Vanderpump Rules—a notable change for a show that often celebrated West Hollywood Pride without gay stars. Other outlets similarly observed that the reboot is “slightly less white and marginally less straight,” highlighting Venus as the show’s “queer male star.” This long-overdue representation sets the stage for a conversation about how reality TV depicts queer people in queer spaces.
Meeting Venus Brinkley
Venus Binkley, a Texas‑born server at SUR, sees himself as “the glue” of the season‑12 group. Official bios describe him as the friend everyone turns to for advice or gossip, but that support system also places him at the centre of cast feuds. A fashion column affectionately dubs him a “pot‑stirring gay best friend,” praising his crimped hair, angel‑numbers necklace and flamboyant style. Beyond aesthetics, this description hints at his role: he’s often the confidant, the secret‑keeper and, when necessary, the agitator.
In our interview, Venus acknowledged that stepping into reality TV as an openly gay man feels both groundbreaking and weighty. He said that being the first gay full‑time cast member is an honour and “a responsibility to humanity.” He wants viewers to see a gay man living authentically in mainstream reality television so that younger queer people feel empowered to do the same.
Venus admitted that the weight of being a trailblazer affected his on‑camera behaviour: ordinarily he doesn’t talk about his sexuality constantly, but on the show he made a point of bringing it up because normalising gay identities matters.
“You know, I’m not constantly talking about my sexuality in daily life,” he said. “But I do make it a point to bring it up as much as I can because that is important to me. I think it’s important to the gay community.”
This purposeful visibility contrasts with earlier seasons, which treated LGBTQ+ identities as accessories for Pride‑themed storylines rather than integral parts of the cast.
Holding the mantle in the West Hollywood Gayborhood
Venus is acutely aware of the irony that he is the only gay cast member on a series set in a famously queer neighbourhood. “Everyone is gay besides the rest of my co‑stars,” he joked, noting that he feels the responsibility “in [his] bones.” His presence answers a long‑standing critique that the show never reflected its gay surroundings.
In episode recaps, commentators noted that bisexual cast member Audrey Lingle openly discusses dating both men and women in conversation with Venus, and remarked that the Hayuverse has rarely allowed gay men to be fully developed characters.
The new cast is also younger and more diverse. Venus described the group as primarily Gen Z with some millennials. That generational mix, he said, makes the reboot “more open‑minded, more laid back” than the original. He noted that there are now HR policies on set, meaning cast members must temper some of the wild antics that characterised early seasons.
Venus doesn’t think the reboot is “better” than the original—he reveres the OG’s legacy—but he believes it reflects a different cultural moment.
Navigating love, hate and online chatter
The premiere of season 12 drew mixed reactions. Some fans felt the new cast looked like influencers trying too hard, while others appreciated the fresh helpings of SUR‑ver drama. Venus is aware of the criticism, but he said the love outweighs the hate: within days of premiering, the reboot became the most‑watched show on multiple streaming platforms.
What’s next for Venus?
As the series moves forward, Venus Binkley is determined to ensure that other queer people see themselves reflected on screen. Regardless, his message to the queer community is clear: representation matters. For a reality show set in a gay neighbourhood, having a gay cast member should be the norm, not the exception.
You can watch the current and all twelve seasons of Vanderpump Rules weekly on Hayu in Canada.
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