Colton Haynes was so moved to receive the Human Rights Campaign‘s Visibility Award that he walked up to the podium already crying.
“It’s taken me a long time to get here,” he explained.
Related: Freshly Out Colton Haynes Is Relishing In His Newfound Gayness
Haynes, best known for starring in the TV shows “Teen Wolf” and “Arrow,” came out as gay in May of this year after years of dodging public speculation.
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“It’s an extremely humbling experience for me to receive this award from the Human Rights Campaign, and to know that this is about my visibility,” he said.
Not everyone was pleased with how Haynes chose to handle his coming out. “Real O’Neals” star Noah Galvin called his decision to let people assume he was gay by dropping hints without definitively saying it directly “p*ssy bullsh*t,” which caused a serious backlash. Galvin has since apologized.
“Earlier this year, I guess my coming out, it was a bit splashy for people,” he said. “It wasn’t very surprising for those who already knew me the best…But that’s how entertainment works. It seems to make a bigger deal of everyone’s personal decisions.”
He added that it was up to him to be open and honest with everyone, which is why it was such a big night for him.
Related: Colton Haynes Responds To Noah Galvin Calling Him “The Worst”
“I’m asked to play so many different roles as an actor,” he said, pausing to collect himself. “Tonight I can actually be myself for the first time. It feels incredible.”
Haynes pledged to accept the award as a promise to LGBT youth.
“I don’t necessarily feel especially deserving of this recognition,” he admitted. “We all know there are…many other people who have come before me and blazed the trail as LGBT advocates and role models and I’m walking in their shoes and I’m following in their lead. Instead I’ll accept this award as a promise.
My promise is simple and real, and I’m not making it to you. I’m making it to the next generation of lesbians and gay men, bisexuals, transgender youth, and I hope my example will give them the confidence and hope to be who they are as well. And for them to conquer their own fears and their own hesitations.”
He added that he has never felt healthier or happier.
Watch Haynes’ moving speech below.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Well that was traumatising. And It’s not even like he was unburdening himself for the first time, he’s been publicly out for months now. Poor guy clearly still has issues to work through..too soon for him to be doing things like this.
CWM85
I don’t get why this is so hard from him when he’s been out to friends and family for years? And does he not accept himself, yet? And why did he come out when his career is not doing well, why not sooner? I think they could have given this award to someone who well who was already publicly out… one thing I have learned about HRC is they are a org, political group like any group and its basically a populairity contest. Despite hillary fip flopping and antigay past they endorsed her over the long time gay rights champion Bernie Sanders. Idk about HRC. I would donate to smaller advocacy groups who have more to give, offer those who are not big time phony politics or celebs.
CWM85
I worry about Haynes mental health. I’m not sure he was ready for all this and hope he is still getting help. Maybe he will regret this sometime for now… I only heard of him from this site and hope he is still able to find work… not everyone can be openly gay and still get jobs like NOH. You have to be convincing in straight roles as well… sadly that is how the hypocritical entertainment industry works.
Chris
I am happy for him. May he lead a long and healthy life.
robho3
I don’t see what the big deal is about this guy– and him coming out I don’t really think surprised anyone.
Jack Meoff
I feel sorry for Colton because people just seem to give him a hard time no matter what he does. He seems to have become the gay communities punching bag. I hope he is happy as he states that he is and that he continues to be a positive role model despite what some pundits think.
asby
You would think that having a gay older brother,who by all means seems well adjusted with a husband and kid…..Colton would come off a little bit more stable with the gay thing….There must be a-lot more going on with him than he lets on
Xzamilio
I think it’s the environment, and having to keep a “secret” that 1. Most people already knew about, and 2. One that would destroy his career if he actually had the talent to be a billable leading man (and I don’t think he does… sorry). It’s one of those things that I understand because when I was in the Army, I was closeted for about a third of the time I was in. Most people knew, but it was still something I didn’t admit because it’s one thing for people to make assumptions, and another to verbally say, because you can’t take it back. So Colton could just exist in his career and have plausible deniability on his side regarding his sexuality, but now, it’s out in the open, and that is a seriously scary feeling because now you’re not in control.
Of course, he could also be bipolar. There’s that.
bjoh249
So much negativity and judgement on here. Quite sad.
Josh447
Colton has been one of the most transparent actors about his emotional life I’ve ever seen. Lots of negatives in his past coupled with an anxiety disorder. Really got to love this guy for being so open. And he can convey on screen with the best of em. His acting in that bad boy role on Teen Wolf was nothing short of electrifying. He’s a good guy with lots of talent and lots to work through. Go Colton. You’re doing great.
Terrycloth
Wit wish the teleprompters were in front of him so it looks like his talking to us rather than the room.
DCguy
Glad Haynes is figuring things out, but what the he’ll HRC?? Somebody who denied it for years, had lawyers threatening to sue people that claimed he was gay and then didn’t really come out but just kind of hinted at it after he was no longer in a show gets the visibility award? I get it that people seem to want to hate Galvin for some reason, but that kid is out and proud at the beginning of his career and while on a network show. All I can say is Haynes must have a good publicist or somebody at HRC owes him money.
Kevin Wotipka
@CWM85: I think you just answered your own first question.
maxxbot
Dude spent years sending his high-powered lawyers out to attack anyone who suggested he was gay as “lewd and obscene.” Now after years of that he comes out and gets a reward for doing absolutely nothing. I didn’t have a high opinion of HRC before but they are sadly pretty much dead in my book, a worthless shell of an organization that no longer does anything helpful for a typical LGBT person.
maxxbot
@bjoh249: Maybe he shouldn’t have spent many years trying to destroy people with lawsuits?