MAKING NEWS

Zach Quinto, Teen Suicide Inspires ABC Newsman Dan Kloeffler To Come Out

 

We’re usually getting our beauty sleep when ABC’s World News Now airs. But the overnight news series made some news of its own in the wee hours yesterday, when co-anchor Dan Kloeffler came out. And he did it in a really funny, casual way: Reporting on actor Zachary Quinto‘s own recent admission he was gay, Kloeffler, 35, joked he would break his rule about dating actors for the Star Trek star.

We’re right there with you, Dan.

In a blogpost on the ABC News site, Kloeffler wrote:

I’ve never shared that I’m gay on-air, even though I’ve been out to my family, friends and co-workers for years. In fact, an old boyfriend – now best friend – has always given me a hard time about not doing so. But for the same reason that Zach decided to come out, I too, no longer wanted to hide this part of my life.

There have been too many tragic endings and too many cases of bullying because of intolerance. As a kid I wanted someone to look up to, someone that could relate to the feelings I was having. Most of all, I wanted to know that it would get better.

And it did.

As a journalist, I don’t want to be the story, but as a gay man I don’t want to stand silent if I can offer some inspiration or encouragement to kids that might be struggling with who they are.

Though the impetus for both men was the ongoing epidemic of gay-teen suicides, it’s wonderful that Quinto’s honesty (and hotness) inspired Kloeffler to share his truth. And that Kloeffer realizes acknowledging your full self doesn’t compromise a reporter’s ability to report the news objectively.

We wonder who will be inspired by Kloeffler’s coming out. Anybody going to watch Anderson today? No special reason—we’re just asking.

Source: Gawker.com. Image via ABC

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