“At the time, I was a young closeted actor having his first taste of a little success and unfortunately, in my mind, my lucky break was inextricably tied to me thinking that I had to stay in the closet in order to keep moving forward.”
That’s Sean Hayes, giving a speech after accepting the Trailblazer Award at Outfest’s Legacy Awards show in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.
Related: Sean Hayes Gets Hopped Up On Sugar, Turns Into Barbra Streisand
“Looking back at my choice to stay silent, I am ashamed and embarrassed. What was I thinking? As if any of you had any doubts. I mean, right, could a straight actor ever do this….?”
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He then belted out Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” as one does.
“I know I should’ve come out sooner and I’m sorry for that,” he admits. “Especially when I think about the possibility that I might have made a difference in someone’s life.
Related: Sean Hayes Just Came Out. And He’s Furious You Made Him Do It
“I would probably be able to sleep a lot better than I do if I had acted sooner, but such is life. We learn our lessons only when we are ready.”
Watch a snippet of the speech below:
@SeanHayes admits he is embarrassed 4 not coming out sooner, during Will & Grace fame, for he could’ve helped others. #LegacyAwards pic.twitter.com/ChCssFeRnU
— Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) October 24, 2016
1EqualityUSA
Glad you’re out. Good for you for being honest.
salumbre
It was a pretty transparent closet, though. Like EVERYBODY knew. I’m glad he’s coming to terms with the whole thing, and in the end coming out in his own time and on his own terms. People should not be forced to come out unless they are actively doing damage to the queer community.
waz101
Did he really need to come out?
Not sure anybody thought that he was anything but gay anyway?
Brian
He was never leading-man material to begin with. It doesn’t help that he has a cheesy grin that even Paul Lynde would envy.
asby
Trailblazer Award? …For what? …Playing a gay character while still in the closet on the hottest TV show at the time?
Captain Obvious
I thought he was out when I was a kid. Didn’t he star in a gay movie being the biggest queen of all time? Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss? I watched it like 5 or 6 times on one of the movie channels.
dodgy
As was said of another… Yes, he was in the closet, but the door was open and everyone was looking in.
JJinAus
Only Sean thought he was in the closet. There were blind and deaf Mongolians who knew better.
JerseyMike
in or out.. was his decision to come out when HE was ready..
Sluggo2007
I knew he was gay the first moment I saw him and never gave it another thought.