Most of us were lucky enough to decide when we came out, when we officially told those that mattered to us at the time that we were "that way." Was it on National Coming Out Day? Christmas? Some random drunken night?
But how many of us were told that we could not come out? We've told ourselves before that it would be for the best to not reveal that part of our lives to others, but imagine if you were counseled to "stay straight."
In a recent interview with GayTimes.co.uk, Garrett Clayton opens up about his delayed coming out:
“One of the first things somebody who was instrumental in starting my career did, they sat me down and they said, ‘Are you gay?’ And I could feel the pressure of the question, so I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m gay, or bi, or whatever’, because suddenly I could feel that there was something wrong with that in this person’s eyes,” he says.
“They looked at me and said, ‘No one wants to fuck the gay guy, they want to go shopping with him, so we’re going to have to figure this out.’ It turned into this situation where I’d get calls and they’d say, ‘You still need to butch it up’. I literally had to change everything about myself at that point, otherwise I was never gonna make it.
“And that was so conflicting, because here’s somebody offering you your dream, but they’re telling you that you’re not good enough the way you are. You’re talented, but who you are isn’t good enough.” – GayTimes.co.uk
GayTimes.co.uk briefly elaborates about Clayton's personal struggles, depression, and therapy. You'll have to buy their issue to learn more about how his family reacted to his coming out.
But we don't need to read that to elaborate on the pressures placed on these young actors, pressures that we regular joes not in Hollywood may not have, pressures where others tell you you shouldn't come out so your career can flourish, but also where others that are out are upset that you are not coming out and being honest.
Clayton mentions some of those pressures in a recent Instagram post.
We've even mentioned some of those pressures in past posts like:
- Do We Still Need To Make A Big Deal Of Celebrities Coming Out?
- Gus Kenworthy's Disappointed That More Athletes Haven't Come Out
- Sean Hayes: I 'Owed The Gay Community A Huge Apology' For Staying In The Closet
Pressures from Hollywood to stay in, pressures to come out.
We're all different creatures. We all have our concerns, our own lives, our own hurdles that we need to get over before opening those closet doors. But we do hope that Garrett Clayton's sharing of his experience may make it better and easier for the next young star to come to terms with Hollywood, with their career, and with themselves.
h/t: gaytimes.co.uk
It ain’t just Hollywood
It ain't just Hollywood darling.
Sending him a ton of love !
Sending him a ton of love !