Actor Thomas Dekker has come out as gay in a powerful essay posted on social media Thursday night.
The 29-year-old actor also revealed he married his husband back in April.
Dekker is best known for his roles as John Connor in “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” Zach on ‘Heroes,” and Adam Conant on “The Secret Circle.”
In 2011, Dekker told Out that he’d only had relationships with women but wasn’t “closed” to the possibility of a gay relationship.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
In the essay, Dekker says he’s revealing his sexuality since he was recently outed by a “prominent gay man.”
Related: This ‘Heroes’ actor allegedly threatened to quit if producers made his character gay
“My sexual orientation once again came into question this week when a prominent gay man used an awards acceptance speech to ‘out’ me. While he did not mention me by name, the explicit details of his reference made it easy for the public and media to connect the dots.”
It’s pretty clear Dekker’s talking about Heroes scribe Bryan Fuller, the creative mind behind Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me, American Gods. Wonderfalls, and Hannibal.
Earlier this week, Fuller’s accomplishments were honored at an Outfest event, and during his acceptance speech, he said:
“I had a brief stint on Heroes, where the gay character was ‘hetwashed’ after the actor’s management threatened to pull him from the show if he—the character, not the actor— were gay.”
As NewNowNext points out:
“He didn’t name anyone, but has been on the record as claiming Thomas Dekker’s character on Heroes, Zach, was supposed to come out, but Dekker’s management was worried it would affect his casting as young John Connor in a Terminator TV series.”
In his statement, Dekker writes:
“While it is an odd situation, I thank him because it presents a prime opportunity for me to publicly say that I am indeed a man who proudly loves other men. In fact, this April, I married my husband and I could not be happier.
I have never lied to the press about the fluidity of my sexuality but this man claiming that I came out is not true. Because I have not ‘officially’ until this moment. I simply refuse to be robbed of the glorious joy that belongs to me. To say the words myself. ‘I’m gay’. Those words are a badge of honor that no one can steal.
Sexuality and who you love is a deeply personal and complicated thing. For some of us, it takes to cultivate, discover and conclude. It is not something anyone should ever be ashamed of and certainly not something anyone should be rushed into….
I agree with many who believe it is an important responsibility for LGBTQ persons with a platform to come out. It has the power to change minds, challenge beliefs and make others feel understood and supported. It can strengthen the progression of our community and help disarm those who discriminate against us.
It is a brave, powerful and important thing to do but it is also a deeply personal decision. One that should only be made when you are ready….
If we are to stand strong in the gay community, our mission should be support, not exclusion; love, not shame. I choose not to look back on the past with a regretful heart but rather focus on the future with a hopeful one. A future where myself and all others can feel free to express their true selves with honor and dignity.
I embrace you, any of you, with open arms, kindness, faith and patience. For all of you who have supported me, before and now, I thank you from the bottom of my fledgling heart. Be proud of who you are. No matter how long it takes.”
So far, Bryan Fuller hasn’t said anything about Thomas Dekker’s message.
h/t: Unicorn Booty, NY Daily News
Spike
NOWHERE close to being outed. Nice try though.
Chevelter
Dekker can be seen in this funny clip from the 1999 WB series Grosse Pointe…playing a gay kid…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_tLuOH8jOk
Donston
Probably the best comedy WB created (unless you count Gilmore girls). Had no business ending with just one season.
Xzamilloh
I’m kinda hoping these actors stay closeted, because between Zachary Quinton and Colton Haynes, they become absolutely insufferably pretentious self-righteous blowhards
Donston
Hollywood is a cesspool of narcissism, megalomania, hypocrisy, public manipulation, abuse, etc. I’ve never looked at any of these people as “proper” examples. The name of the game is to stay closeted until you simply can’t any longer and then you use your sexuality for endless publicity or be completely evasive, low-key and full of shame throughout your entire career or to use the questioning of your sexuality to build an “interesting persona”. It’s all mostly BS.
Donston
His earlier comments on his sexuality could easily be deciphered as: “I’ve had sex with a lot of different types of people, and I’ve only truly dated women, but my sexual attractions are greatly or only with men”. It’s obvious with his admittance to being a “wild teenager”, having an extremely promiscuous stretch of his life and being abused at a younger age that he’s had to contend with a very convoluted ego and internalized homophobia. Being in Hollywood (which remains generally homophobic and full of people with internalized homophobia) and acquiring some fame just made those things even worse. I hope he’s found some peace. This is why it’s important to get an understanding of exactly who you are, all the dimensions of your sexual attractions and sexual instincts and garner self-respect and self-pride at a younger age and figure out what you want. Otherwise, internalized homophobia, self-destructive behaviors, constantly indulging narcissistic instincts, depressions, self-denial, etc are just gonna build.
Though these celebs and semi celebs and wannabe celebs continue to fvck up their public outings. He was hardly anywhere near outed. Fuller’s comments barely got any attention beyond a couple gay sites. He named no names (though he shouldn’t have bothered bringing it up at all). And many naively assumed Fuller was speaking of Quinto. Seems like Dekker merely took an opportunity to crack the glass closet and make it “official” while still playing victim.
It is a bit disconcerting that a very effeminate man who has been a d-lister for quite some time, who has at least admitted to gay relations in the past, is married to a man and has been in a relationship with a man for quite some time still didn’t feel like he could come out until he felt “outed”.
wld8hrt
There is no outing here. If you’re truly going to be honest, then just be honest. Come out of your own accord and don’t use some far-fetched reason to do it.
If that made it easier for you that’s great. simply state that. It would make you appear stronger and more confident in your identity.
I am happy for him and am not trying to overly criticize.
J.T.
There’s a lot of pretty boy petulance and whining going on here — from the original “hetwashing” of his character to his alleged “outing.” I suspect Dekker would still be unhappily in his closet if Fuller had not spoken.
Chris
This is confusing because Dekker’s character, not Dekker, was outed by Fuller.
But if you assume that Dekker, who’s been married to another man since April, wanted to come out. His management team doesn’t want him to do so, as evidenced by their threat to leave the show. Now everything makes sense.
Dekker took advantage of Fuller’s comments to out himself and resolve his conflict with his own people, thereby avoiding what happened to Colton Haynes.
Captain Obvious
Someone should’ve alerted him to the fact that his face outed him a very long time ago.
Brian
This boy has issues… and Bryan Fuller is the least of it.
JamJewel
What BS! The whole story about his aversion to his character being gay was in the media BIG TIME back then and he got a lot of shit for it. So Fuller was talking about something that was always in the public domain. Asswipe!
Doug
Huh? Thomas Dekker has been playing parts in Peaches Christ’s drag show productions in the Castro Theater here in SF for over three years now… did he seriously think that anyone believed he was straight?!
This is publicity stunt, and a weak one at that.
Sluggo2007
He thought he was hiding his sexuality? That’s the gayest face I’ve ever seen.
BartmanLA
If he’s been “happy” and “proud” all this time why is it NONE of his social media show’s him with his husband of nearly 4 months? The majority show him mostly with women or males he’s working with on projects, none indicating his husband… granted he might prefer to stay out of the limelight, but to make the claims he’s making Dekker should realize his claims of being a victim are going to be challenged since he steadfastly is looking to remain in the closet.
celebswikis
Thomas dekker is one of my favorite actor. all of his films is just mind blowing. I love you very much.
https://bollysuperstar.com/