Zachary Quinto Comes Out – Inspired By Bullied Teen

Star Trek’s new Spock Zachary Quinto made big news over the weekend by revealing his is gay. In an interview and blog post the actor explained why it was important for him to come out after hearing about the suicide of a gay teenager. More details and reactions from some of Quinto’s fellow Star Trek stars below.

 

Tragedy compels Quinto to speak openly as gay man

Over his career Zachary Quinto has played a number of gay roles, including his first big role on Tori Spelling’s So NoTORIous, his Broadway stint in Angels In America and his upcoming recurring role on American Horror Story. However, until yesterday, Quinto didn’t speak publicly about his sexual orientation. The first reveal was in a New York Magazine Interview, here is an excerpt:

[Quinto’s] eight-month role in Angels was both “the most challenging thing I’ve ever done as an actor and the most rewarding” he says. Having to inhabit that terrible lost world, if only in his mind, took a toll. “And at the same time, as a gay man, it made me feel like there’s still so much work to be done, and there’s still so many things that need to be looked at and addressed.”

The actor soon followed up with a new blog post on his official site, which explains why he now feels he must come out as a gay man. Here it is in full:

when i found out that jamey rodemeyer killed himself – i felt deeply troubled. but when i found out that jamey rodemeyer had made an it gets better video only months before taking his own life – i felt indescribable despair. i also made an it gets better video last year – in the wake of the senseless and tragic gay teen suicides that were sweeping the nation at the time. but in light of jamey’s death – it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it – is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality. our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered citizen of this country. gay kids need to stop killing themselves because they are made to feel worthless by cruel and relentless bullying. parents need to teach their children principles of respect and acceptance. we are witnessing an enormous shift of collective consciousness throughout the world. we are at the precipice of great transformation within our culture and government. i believe in the power of intention to change the landscape of our society – and it is my intention to live an authentic life of compassion and integrity and action. jamey rodemeyer’s life changed mine. and while his death only makes me wish that i had done this sooner – i am eternally grateful to him for being the catalyst for change within me. now i can only hope to serve as the same catalyst for even one other person in this world. that – i believe – is all that we can ask of ourselves and of each other.

Here is the video "Its Gett Better" campaign video that Quinto was speaking about:

Although it may not come as a huge surprise to many, Quinto’s revelation made big news, being reported by many in the mainstream media. Quinto has recieved an outpouring of support on his site and via Twitter, including support from Star Trek luminaries Damon Lindelof, Roberto Orci, Jeri Ryan, Chase Masterson, .

For his part, Quinto sent out a message thanking everyone for the support:

UPDATE: Quinto talks to MTV

 

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Gay or not gay you rock zachary quinto!

Well done Mr Quinto! A bold move in Hollywood – sad that it should be so in this day and age.

Love and respect, ZQ!…you did it with class!…. and waiting for Spock!

:-) :-)

I agree with Nomad, it is sad that it’s still a big deal in this day and age! On the other hand, Spock and Uhura – that’s just not right! Sorry Bob ;-]

Good for Zach!

Unfortunately, there are a lot of evil people out there who would do anything to destroy somebody just because of their sexual orientation.

Hopefully, the time will come when gay people can be open about their preferences without the fear of reprisals or bullying.

Good on you Zach! It’s great to have an intelligent, eloquent young guy out there to inspire and support young people finding themselves going through difficult times.

Very proud and glad Zach is part the Trek legacy! LLAP!

Thanks Zachary for sharing your strength. This is something I am sure the whole Trek community already supports … however it is not just nodding in agreement, it is taking action when prejudice confronts those around us.

We broke this story over on the Live Chat. Lol.
But good for Quinto. As Spock would say.
To Deny ones self would be Illogicle.

LLAP !

Bravo, Zach!

Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations….

I’m proud of his decision. Honestly i never really looked past his professional career, so his sexuality never really crossed my mind.

He is a handsome guy and I’m sure his choice of men just got a lot broader now that he doesn’t need to keep a low profile haha
I wonder if He and George are gonna hit up the clubs now?….

See, this is why Spock’s my favorite. As someone working my way through the closet door myself, this gives me hope. Thanks for being honest, Mr. Quinto.

#11 + 13.

Take your bigotry somewhere else. It doesn’t belong here on TrekMovie.Com!

#15 good luck with that forest, I’ve had three good friends that have followed that path and are now through the closet door. It was difficult for them at first, I can only assume it took a lot of courage on their part but their lives are better for it now.

“Well I guess those days are over.”

Hmm. . . nope. Just checked, and murder is still illegal, and still wrong. But then, someone using Gandhi’s name to post against equal rights and decent treatment for all people is by definition impervious to all kinds of irony, let alone reason.

Mr. Quinto, your courage is an inspiration to us all. I didn’t like the 2009 movie, but this is nonetheless a proud day for Star Trek, and for the fans.

#16.

Well, in the words of Darth Vader, which, unlike you, don’t have to alter:

“I find your lack of faith disturbing!”

Good for you, Mr. Quinto. Ignore the wackos and haters!

Zachary does, indeed, rock. Hoping the positive feedback continues. And that, ultimately, it’s a non-issue. Live and let live long and prosper.

Ah, “Gandhi”…. there’s a difference between what’s moral and right and what you personally find distasteful. There’s no sense in disapproving of someone’s nature. You won’t change it, you just spread misery.

#19.

Well, I guess for someone so against those who prefer @$$holes, it’s pretty ironic that you happen to be one yourself!

I am so proud to be a ZQ fan. Sexual orientation should be a non-issue, hopefully someday when we evolve. Your brilliant and gorgeous, zachary, love you!

*sigh* Well I guess I won’t be marrying my celeb crush after all (like it was ever gonna happen lol.)

Much love and respect for Zachary on his decision to go public with this deeply personal issue. Perhaps in the not too distant future this won’t even be news worthy.

@13. “It is not prejudice to stand up for what is moral and right.”

But it is extremely arrogant and selfish to assume that your morals and sense of what’s right is the only viewpoint that matters. That’s like saying it’s not murder if the unarmed, non-threatening person didn’t have his shoe laces tied when you shot him/her. It’s right to you, but it really isn’t right for everybody, especially when it’s harmful towards someone for no real progressive reason.

#25.

You fool! Homosexuality is a love between two consenting adults. Two men or two women agreeing to share their lives, and their love. Not all that different from what heterosexual couples experience. Well, except for one partner not being able to get the other pregnant.

I don’t know how you equate homosexuality with homicide, or beastiality or pedophilia.

I don’t think I want to know.

Also, you’re a real disgrace to the Gandhi name.

I would like to add that I am more than a little disturbed that one this and a couple of other Star Trek boards by some of the negative comments(see posts 11 + 13) I have seen. One would think that Star Trek fans would welcome diversity. Whatever happended to IDIC?

Well done to him, hope he feel’s better about being open, I know my partner (of three years) and I do…

Good for him. Hopefully he’ll inspire gay kids who can now look up to “the guy who plays Mr Spock” as yet another in a very long list of gay artists and notables who’ve made their name upon the world.

Zachary Quinto, may you live long and prosper! That was a bold and courageous move, and doing that to help others raises my already high opinion of you. Now, get back to work and make that next Star Trek movie (dammit! Hee hee…)!

In a universe of infinite diversity in infinite combinations, Star Trek really has to get it together and have an ONSCREEN gay character aboard the starship Enterprise (we already have openly gays finally serving even in our ‘primitive, archaic’ 21st century armed forces.
Keep up, Star Trek! ;-)

As a gay Trekkie, this is great news! I was, strangely, unaware of this. When he made an It Gets Better video, I thought it was as an ally. I never really connected it with him being gay. I sometimes don’t like to jump to conclusions. But the reason why he did it is very commendable and I have the utmost respect for Zachary! You are my hero!

No disrespect, but didn’t we all know he was gay anyway?

Just like Neil Patrick Harris and Ian McKellen it makes absolutely no difference to me. Brilliant actors are brilliant actors.

Well, I kind of thought he was gay anyway. Doesn’t make any difference to me. He rocks as Spock! He has my full support.

@32 (TK421 – October 17, 2011)

I didn’t know he was gay, and I didn’t suspect anything.

Anyway, I admire his move. Right reasons, right thing to do.

Tell RED shirt to stop being a jerk!

No big surprise and either way I don’t care.

Didn’t realize ZQ’s being gay was a secret. No biggie. Looking forward to Star Trek II.

THRILLED for ZQ. Inspired by his courage. Grateful to him for speaking for all of us who would see an end to our nation’s last widely accepted form of discrimination.

The best to you, new Spock!

Well, judging from all the deleted posts I’ll give this thread another hour before it’s shut down. It’s a shame people can’t treat others the way they would want to be treated….

The hating of homosexuals is just another bigotry. These are the same kind of people who tried to deny African Americans civil rights, the same folk who would have some people classified as not fully human.

It’s cowardice and ignorance, pure and simple. There is no good reason for the hatred. But some people just have to hate.

It’s nice to see, however, that the vast majority of people here are supportive. But how sad that we even need to make this an issue.

I was ready to be upset with someone who referenced my post in a disparaging way, then realized that it was actually a reference to a post that had been deleted and my message then took that number. (See Anthony’s explanatory post above) All a bit confusing, but it’s all good. Again, rock on Zachary!

LLAP ZQ sexual diversity is the new hip.

Soooo are all the fans who wanted Sulu to become gay gonna switch to wanting Spock to become gay? JK

You know, I don’t get that much sh*t from kids my age. Mainly just adults. Maybe because I wear hearing aids no one wants to beat me up. Or maybe just lucky.

Saw your words, boborci. Thanks from the homos!

Your sexuality is part of who you are, yet doesn’t define you. I’m proud of you Zac for coming out, and it makes no difference in my already high opinion of you. I’m glad you were brave enough to make a personal stand about something you care so deeply about. In fact, I think I like you more now than I did before. You are simply an excellent actor. Being a Trekker, I considered Leonard Nimoy to be the one and only Spock, but after seeing the 2009 movie, you are the perfect choice to play his younger version, and no one could do it better.
Talented. Intelligent. Gay.
I hope I live to see the day when there’s no need to even clarify like it’s a “big deal”. Thanks for coming out and standing strong.

#43 all the deletions do indeed put a different spin on the thread. My post #15 now looks like I am congratulating myself for building towards coming out the closet whereas the poster it was originally directed towards is now being labelled a bigot due to the renumbering.

A good friend of mine is gay, and he outed himself to me. I actually had no clue he was gay, as his behavior in front of company is…well kind of ordinary I suppose you’d call it. When he outed himself, it was after a night of gay jokes at the table on game-night amongst a group of half-drunk friends who while not prejudice, simply have no qualms about telling a good joke at someone elses expense. There was such apprehension in his eyes, even in simply confiding in a friend, I can only imagine the kind of fear he must walk around with in his daily life.

We still tell gay jokes in front of him at the table (amongst other types of jokes), all in good natured fashion mind you, but not because we like screwing with him, but because the fact of the matter is, if you want to be treated like an equal, which he does, we are going to f**k with him just the same as we f**k with each other and everybody else. He admitted some time later he was actually glad to see our behavior and attitudes didn’t change at the table, as if they had, he knew it would have been because we were afraid of him now.

Quite honestly, no one cares he’s gay (just as no one would care if he was not)…so long as he keeps chipping in for beer.

Very proud and glad Zach is part the Trek legacy too

“Leave any bigotry in your quarters; there’s no room for it on the bridge.” Well done, Zach.