Tag: Coming Out Celebrity
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“Mean Girls” Star Comes Out As Gay
Mean Girls, possibly one of the campest movies ever made, responsible for countless quotes has another claim to gay fame to make it fabulous, one of its stars has come out as gay!
Daniel Franzese who starred as uber camp Damian in the 2004 comedy ‘Mean Girls’ has come out as gay in an open letter, first published in indiewire to his character. The 35-year-old actor wrote:
“Dear Damian: It’s been a long time since our last encounter. Ten years to be exact,” Franzese writes. “I was twenty-six; you were sixteen. You were proud of who you were; I was an insecure actor. You became an iconic character that people looked up to; I wished I’d had you as a role model when I was younger. I might’ve been easier to be gay growing up. You WERE beautiful in every single way and words couldn’t bring you down.
“What you may not know…When I was cast in the role of Damian in Mean Girls, I was TERRIFIED to play this part. But this was a natural and true representation of a gay teenager–a character we laughed with instead of at. (You can thank Tina Fey and Mark Waters for that. I can only take partial credit.).
“When we first made this movie, I’m not sure any of us knew how loved and quoted this movie would become. You certainly hope when you pour your heart into something, that people will respond–but to paraphrase Gretchen Wieners, ‘We can’t help it that we’re so popular.”
Franzese finished up his letter with:
“P.S. I hate it when people say I’m ‘too gay to function.’ I know you do, too. Those people are part of the problem. They should refrain from using that phrase. It really is ONLY okay when Janis says it.”
Brooklyn born Franzese, says that he hit a ‘gay glass ceiling’ after the role and was repeatedly turned down by Hollywood casting directors who were looking for more masculine actors.
He has gone on to star in numerous other shows and films, including The Comeback with Lisa Kudrow.
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Game Of Throne Actor Kristian Nairn Comes Out As Gay
Game Of Thrones Actor Kristian Nairns Comes Out As Gay
- Actor says he’s never tried to hide his sexuality
- Has tried in the past to lead interviewers into asking him about being gay
- Stars in the HBO drama Game Of Thrones
The actor who plays the gentle giant Hador in the Game Of Thrones series has come out as gay in an interview on the Game of Thrones fan site winteriscoming.net.
The 38-year-old said:
‘Well, in all honesty, when you talk about ‘the gay community’, you are talking about my community.
‘I am aware of it yeah, and I think it’s really lovely.
‘There’s not a day that I don’t get a few messages, but 99 per cent or more are super sweet and nothing smutty at all.’
Nairn has never tried to hide his sexuality and has in fact try to lead interviewers to ask him.
‘I’ve never hidden my sexuality from anyone, my whole life in fact, and I’ve been waiting for someone to ask about it in an interview, because it’s not something you just blurt out.
‘I’ve tried to lead the questions a few times, to no avail.’
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X Men star Ellen Page comes out
X-Men Actor Ellen Page comes out at a Human Rights Campaign conference.
• Ellen Page, an Oscar nominee came to fame in the Juno movie
• Spoke about wanting to live an ‘open and authentic live’
• Celebrities react with positivity over her coming out26-year-old actress Ellen Page has come out as gay at a ‘Time To Thrive’ Human Rights Campaign conference in Las Vegas saying:
‘I’m here today because I am gay
‘And because maybe I can make a difference. To help others have an easier and more hopeful time. Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility.’
TIRED OF LYING BY OMISSION
Page also said she was coming out because she was: ‘tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission. I suffered for years because I was scared to be out. My spirit suffered, my mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I’m standing here today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain. I am young, yes, but what I have learned is that love, the beauty of it, the joy of it and yes, even the pain of it, is the most incredible gift to give and to receive as a human being. And we deserve to experience love fully, equally, without shame and without compromise.’‘If we took just 5 minutes to recognize each other’s beauty, instead of attacking each other for our differences. That’s not hard. It’s really an easier and better way to live. And ultimately, it saves lives. Then again, it’s not easy at all. It can be the hardest thing, because loving other people starts with loving ourselves and accepting ourselves. I know many of you have struggled with this. I draw upon your strength and your support, and have, in ways you will never know.’
Ellen Page made her fame in the film Juno, however she has also starred in X-Men The Last Stand and Inception.
Her new film X-Men Days Of Future Past is due out in May 2014.
STAR REACTION
Former Boybander Lance Bass took to twitter to congratulate the star saying:‘I just watched Ellen Page come out! Wow! What a speech! Congrats!!’ the gay N’Sync singer captioned the picture. ‘We love you @ellenpage!!’
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Irish Eurovision singer comes out as gay
Irish hunk and Ireland’s representative in the 2013 Eurovision, Ryan Dolan has come out
During an interview on Irish radio, the Eurovision hunk and “Only Love Survives” singer Ryan Dolan came out. You can hear the interview here
Here’s what he said:
COMING OUT
It was only when I was 21, really that my whole family found about it. The first person I ever told was my older sister, and that was when I was 14. And then I just gradually told other people in my family afterwards. My father was the last person I told because I was afraid about what he would think – but he actually took it better than anyone I told. It was actually my mother that told him, because I was so afraid, on my 21st birthday. He just texted me and told me that it didn’t make one difference to him.My father was the I last person to find out because I was afraid of what he would think. I think he actually took it the better than anyone I told. I couldn’t ask for better parents, they’ve been great to me my whole life.
DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE
Thinking back now I wish I would have came out about it a long time ago. I think my youth was wasted worrying all the time about it. If I had been more open back then I would have been happier.I really did struggle growing up with that in my head and wondering how people would take it. I really got depressed about it for years. I did contemplate suicide. I never attempted suicide, but it was always a thought in my mind. I know depression can be hereditary, and I know it’s in my family. Over the last five years I’ve lost two uncles and an auntie to suicide – all on the one side of my family – my mum’s side.
COULDN’T BE HAPPIER
Now I’m completely happy, the last few years have been the happiest of my life since every one in my family knew. My life changed and the weight of all that stress lifted off my shoulders. Having dealt with it for all those years, it went away.YOUNG GAY PEOPLE TODAY
It’s not a big deal anymore. Things have changed compared to even when I was in school. Young people are coming out now at 15 or 16 which would never have happened when I was at school.There’s parents who might have an inkling there’s something different about their son or daughter. Maybe just ask them, and they don’t have to go through the pressure of coming out and saying the words.
NEW MUSIC
I wanted to write a song about myself growing up, which is how [Start Again] came about. The idea of the video is basically about two young boys in school, who know they’re gay. Everyone needs to love their life being who they are, who they really are and not to hide their feelings and things like that. I think it’s got a great message -
Brazillian Olympic Diving Hopeful Inspired By Tom Daley To Come Out
Ian Matos has been inspired by Tom Daley’s coming out video to make the leap in telling the world that he is gay.
- Ian Matos came out in a newspaper interview
- Diver was told by friends to stay in the closest until after Rio 2016
- Tom Daley’s coming out video inspired the diver to come out
An Olympic diving hopeful Ian Matos, 24, has been inspired to come out as gay after watching Tom Daley’s emotional coming out video, which he made in December.
Although friends had advised the diver to stay in the closet until after the Rio Olympic games in 2016, Matos changed his mind – and came out in a newspaper interview in his home country of Brazil.
Tom Daley’s coming out video has inspired other sports stars to come out of the closet including Thomas Hitzlsperger who came out last week.
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Former Aston Villa Football Player Comes Out As Gay
Thomas Hitzlsperger, German-born former Aston Villa and West Ham player, has announced that he is gay.
The 31 year old, who retired from professional football four months ago, made the announcement in the German newspaper, Die Zeit.
Speaking to Die Zeit, Hitzlsperger, who has played for Germany 52 times, said that he had come out because he wanted to “further the debate about homosexuality among sports professionals.”
He justified his silence on the matter until after his retirement from the sport, saying that homosexuality would “simply be ignored” in football. Nonetheless, he stated that he had “never been ashamed” of his sexuality, although he admitted that it had been “a long and difficult process” coming to terms with his sexuality.
Although Hitzlsperger is the highest profile footballer to come out as gay, to date, he is only the fourth footballer to do so.
Hitzlsperger’s coming out coincides with an upsurge in movements aimed at wiping out homophobia in football. Kick It Out, which was initially founded in 1993 to tackle racism in the sport, now encompasses all types of bigotry in football. And in 2008, the Justin Campaign was created in memory of Justin Fashanu, the first openly gay football player, who committed suicide in 1998.
However, campaigns to stamp out homophobia in the sport have met with debatable success. The most recent example in the UK is Stonewall’s ‘Right Behind Gay Footballers’ campaign, which was slammed for its links with betting company Paddy Power and for relying on gay stereotypes.
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Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts comes out
Host of Good Morning America comes out through Facebook post which mentions her long-time girlfriend Amber.
“Flashback 12/29/12….Hard to believe this was 1 year ago today..when I reached a critical milestone of 100 days post transplant…and KJ was finally allowed to come back home.
Reading this comforts me and I hope the same for you: “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.”
At this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude.
I am grateful to God, my doctors and nurses for my restored good health.
I am grateful for my sister, Sally-Ann, for being my donor and giving me the gift of life.
I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together.
I am grateful for the many prayers and well wishes for my recovery. I return every one of them to you 100 fold.
On this last Sunday of 2013 I encourage you to reflect on what you are grateful for too.
Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year.
Peace, love, and blessings to all..XO”
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Tom Daley In Relationship With Another Guy
Tom Daley is in a relationship – with a man, he revealed in a video this morning.
Hold the presses… Tom has something to say…
The Olympic diver has announced that he is happy in his new relationship – with a man – although he still ‘fancies’ girls.
Tom’s emotional video can be watched here.
The transcript of the video is here:
Hi guys, so most of you are probably wondering why I’m doing this video.
My life’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, to say the least, over the last couple of years. Losing my dad to cancer in 2011 was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to deal with in my life. Then winning an Olympic medal last year in 2012 in front of a home crowd, finishing my A Levels this year.. it’s been hectic.
One thing I consider to be pretty important is to have some form of private life and you’re probably thinking ‘well why did you do a book and why did you do a documentary and stuff’ but I’ve only ever talked about things I feel comfortable talking about.
When I was younger I didn’t like talking about a bullying situation at school, I didn’t like talking about my dad because obviously at the time it was a sensitive subject.
It’s one of those things where in an ideal world I shouldn’t be doing this video because it shouldn’t matter but recently I was misquoted in an interview and it made me feel really angry and frustrated. You know, emotions that I’ve never felt before when reading quotes about myself.
Honesty, for me is something I really do believe in. And I’ve always been honest. I may have been vague in some of my answers, but one thing I’ve never felt that comfortable talking about are my relationships, because it is what I get asked even if I’m doing sporting interviews ‘do you have a girlfriend, who are you seeing’ all that kind of stuff.
I mean, I’ve been dating girls and I’ve never really had a serious relationship to talk about. Now I kind of feel ready to talk about relationships. Come Spring this year, my life changed, massively, when I met someone and they make me feel so happy, so safe and everything just feels great.
Well that someone is a guy. And it did take me by surprise a little bit. It was always in the back of my head that something like that could happen. But it wasn’t until spring this year that something just clicked, it felt right. And I was like: OK.
Like I said, my whole world just changed right there and then. Of course, I still fancy girls, but right now I’m dating a guy and I couldn’t be happier. It feels safe and it just feels right.
People are going to have their own opinions and people are going to make a deal of this. Is it a big deal? I don’t think so. People are going to call me a liar, it’s going to be big, but I wanted to say something and right now I’m ready and I wanted to do it.
People will think: ‘what would your dad say?’ Well he always said: ‘if you’re happy, I’m happy’ and right now I couldn’t be happier. My mum’s been so supportive as well, I can count the number of people on my hand that I’ve told, but all my friends and family that I have told have been so supportive, which has been great.
But I told the rest of my family today and let’s just say they had mixed opinions, lots of them didn’t believe it, lots of them wanted me to keep it quiet. Some said why don’t you just do a statement, why don’t you do a magazine cover, why don’t you do a TV interview? But I didn’t want to get my words twisted, I wanted to put an end to all the rumours and just say it, to tell you guys. Because it’s what I want to do.
My friends and family are always there to support me and I hope you guys can be too. I mean I’m still Tom, I still want to win a gold medal for Great Britain in Rio in 2016. I’m still as motivated as ever to do that, and it would be great to have you guys on that journey too.
I just wanted to make sure that I got to tell you guys before I head off to Houston for a training camp I’ve got up until Christmas. I’m glad that I’ve got it off my chest.
And I hope you can join me on my journey to Rio 2016, too.
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FEATURE: 10 Celebs Who Came Out In 2013
It’s been quite a year for celebrity outings, and as yesterday was National Coming Out Day, we decided to highlight the wonderful celebs that came out in 2013.
Coming out is never easy, especially when the world’s cameras and press are following your every move and your career could fail because of it – so we applaud these celebs for coming out in 2013
Robbie Rogers
February 2013
In February Footballer Robbie Rogers came out after posting a blog entry on his website saying, ‘Secrets can cause so much internal damage. People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay. I always thought I could hide this secret. Football was my escape, my purpose, my identity. Football hid my secret, gave me more joy than I could have ever imagined’
Jodie Foster
January 2013
Hollywood royalty, Jodie Foster finally ended years of press speculation when she came out during her acceptance speech at the 70th Colden Globe Awards. In the speech Foster said: ‘I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago, back in the Stone Age. In those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends, and family, co-workers and then gradually, proudly, to everyone who knew her.’
Matt Dallas
January 2013
Former “Kyle XY” came out of the closet to his fans in the beginning of 2013, via Twitter – when he tweeted about his engagement to his partner, Blue Hamilton.
Jason Collins
May 2013
One of the world’s most famous Basketball players came out as gay in May 2013. He said that he chose to wear the jersey number 98 in tribute to Matthew Shephard who was a victim of hate crime in 1998. Collins called the number: “a statement to myself, my family and my friends.”
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Wentworth Miller comes out as gay
Actor and screenwriter, Wentworth Miller, best known for his role in hit US drama series Prison Break has come out as a gay man in support of the LGBT community in Russia.
CREDIT: Depositphotos
The actor posted an open letter on the GLADD website to the St Petersburg Film Festival organisers saying he was declining the invitation to be the guest of honour because “The situation [in Russia] is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly”.
The letter not only further highlights the current issues in Russia faced by the LBGT community, but also serves as a massive boost to them by sending them a clear and strong message of support.
GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz added “As people from across the globe continue to speak out against Russia’s horrific law, more celebrities and corporations should follow his courageous lead in openly condemning Russia’s anti-LGBT law.”
Wentworth Miller’s full letter reads:
August 21, 2013
Re: St. Petersburg International Film Festival / “Guest of Honor” Invitation
Dear Ms. Averbakh:
Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes.
However, as a gay man, I must decline.
I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.
Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I’ll be free to make a different choice.
Until then.
Wentworth Miller
Member, HRC
Member, GLAAD
Member, The ManKind Project
