With LGBTQ+ Delight Month now in full swing, Chris Colfer is reflecting on his personal journey to residing in truth.
The California-born actor and writer endeared himself to a technology of followers as Kurt Hummel on “Glee,” which ran from 2009 to 2015. Although his character was proven to be grappling along with his queer sexuality all through most of the musical collection’ early episodes, Colfer mentioned he was warned that revealing he was homosexual in actual life can be detrimental to his Hollywood profession.
“When I read the script for the first time is when I saw it was an openly gay character, and I was terrified,” Colfer recalled whereas showing on “The View” this week. As soon as filming on “Glee” commenced, the actor mentioned he “had a lot of people tell me, ‘Do not come out, whatever you do, because it will ruin your career.’ So I hid for a little bit.”
As buzz in regards to the present started ramping up, nonetheless, Colfer understood that hiding his true self would turn into extra of a problem.
“I also told them, ‘I can’t hide it with my voice … I’m more effeminate than most people. I can’t hide it,’” he defined. “And they said, ‘Don’t worry. As long as you never address it, you’ll be rewarded for it in the end.’”
Colfer first publicly addressed his sexuality whereas showing on “Chelsea Lately” in 2009, shortly after the premiere of “Glee” that very same yr. He mentioned he made the choice to go towards the recommendation of his handlers after an opportunity encounter with a younger fan at an occasion.
“This little boy secretly slid me an envelope when his parents weren’t looking, and I opened it up and it was a little note that said, ‘Thank you,’” he mentioned. “And there was a little paperclip chain that was the colors of the rainbow, and in that moment, I knew I have to come out.”
He went on to notice: “At the time, I was thinking, ‘If I’m an openly gay actor, I may never win a major award, I may never get to play a superhero.’ But I think being a beacon of positivity and providing that comfort for people is way more important than attention.”
Over the course of its six-season run, “Glee” featured an array of LGBTQ+ characters and tackled queer points together with homophobia, transphobia, same-sex marriage and parenting. By the top of the collection, Kurt Hummel had married his longtime boyfriend, Blaine Anderson (performed by Darren Criss), and the couple have been anticipating a child by way of Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), who was appearing as their surrogate.
In recent times, Colfer has been closely centered on writing. His twentieth guide, “Roswell Johnson Saves The World!,” was unveiled this week.
Watch Chris Colfer’s look on “The View” under.
