Cannot compare the 2 movies. Leslie played a man who was gay, but he was still a man and did not want or need to identify himself as a woman. John played a man who had to convince everyone he was a woman, and he more a less identified himself as a woman, therefore a "straight" woman, not a gay man. They had different standing points and different motives for their crossdressing. Both actors excelled at portraying their repective roles.