Actor Zachary Quinto has revealed that
the suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer moved him to come out gay.
During an interview with New York
Magazine released Sunday, Quinto referred to himself publicly for
the first time as a gay man.
While discussing his role as Louis
Ironson, a gay man, in the off-Broadway revival of Tony Kushner's
groundbreaking AIDS drama Angels in America, Quinto said that
the play was the “most challenging thing I've ever done as an
actor, and the most rewarding.”
He then added: “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.”
In
a blog post, Quinto, who is best known for playing a young Spock
in the 2009 J. J. Abrams-directed Star Trek reboot, expanded
on his reasons for coming out after he had previously dodged
questions about his sexuality.
“[I]n 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,” Quinto wrote, referring to Jamey
Rodemeyer, the 14-year-old Buffalo-area student who committed suicide
last month after being bullied for coming out gay.
(Related: Lady
Gaga performs Jamey Rodemeyer tribute; says “bullying is for
losers.”)
“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,” Quinto added.