Jared Leto was heckled at a recent Q&A session, for his “trans-misogynistic” portrayal of Rayon, a transgender woman in the Oscar nominated ‘Dallas Buyers Club’.

An audience member said to Leto during a Q&A session at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, “You don’t deserve an award for portraying a trans-woman, because you’re a man.”

Leto replied, “Because I’m a man, I don’t deserve to play that part? So you would hold a role against someone who happened to be gay or lesbian – they can’t play a straight part?”

The woman made the point that mostly cisgender actors play trans characters in television and film, and that more trans actors deserve to get the opportunity.

Leto responded to the woman, “Then you’ve made sure people that are gay, people that aren’t straight, people like the Rayons of the world would never have the opportunity to turn the tables and explore parts of that art.”

The audience applauded the actor’s response. It is reported that Leto continued the conversation with the woman privately after the event.

Leto received Virtuoso award at the 29th Annual Santa Barbara Film Festival for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club.

Watch the trailer for Dallas Buyers Club.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC6mv0KhOBY