Actor-screenwriter Wentworth Miller, best-known as the star of the Fox TV drama Prison Break, has come out publicly as a gay man and declined an invitation to visit Russia saying he’s “deeply troubled” by Russia’s brutality toward the LGBT community.
Miller, who wrote the recent Nicole Kidman thriller Stoker, received an invitation to attend the St. Petersburg International Film Festival, but felt that as a gay man he is not comfortable traveling to Russia.
Read Miller’s full letter below:
Dear Ms. Averbakh:
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.
Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes.
However, as a gay man, I must decline.
I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.
Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I’ll be free to make a different choice.
Until then.
Wentworth Miller
GLAAD’s national spokesperson Wilson Cruz issued the following statement commending Miller:
“Wentworth’s bold show of support sends a powerful message to LGBT Russians, who are facing extreme violence and persecution: you are not alone. As people from across the globe continue to speak out against Russia’s horrific law, more celebrities and corporations should follow his courageous lead in openly condemning Russia’s anti-LGBT law.”
[h/t: GLAAD]
BarLackey
What an elegant response! Good for you Mr. Miller!
Homophile
F’ing finally!
Wonderful letter! Hopefully other actors/entertainers will be motivated by Russia’s horrible treatment of the LGBT community and come out and speak out against LGBT oppression everywhere.
Fourltrfred
Woo hoo! He’s awesome.
Jackie
What a wonderful letter! WTG Mr. Miller.
Teleny
Nicely done!
erikwm
Not only is he sexy, he’s smart! Good for him!
robho3
bravo!!!
Caine
amazing!!!!
tdx3fan
He is quite easily the hottest gay male star on the scene today, and better yet he has taken some very serious roles. It also does not hurt that he looks like an actual man unlike pretty much every other gay star that looked like a stereotype.
erasure25
@tdx3fan: Aww, did you have to end your comment on such a negative trajectory?
ChiChi Man
When celebs come out in a gossip rag, it’s cool. But when celebs out politically like this, it’s incredible.
Yiannis
Bravo, Mr. Miller. That’s the best way to come out!
etseq
@tdx3fan: …says the self-loathing gay man. He’s as a gay as you or me when his legs are up in the air…enough with the femmephobia.
Katbox
So he WAS dating Luke McFarlane?!
Luke McFarlane is in great shape.
boring
Ahem.
I think you mean the Park Chan-wook thriller Stoker.
hf2hvit
@tdx3fan: And what are you… The standard to which all forms of masculinity are compared???
scotshot
@etseq: I don’t have femmephobia. Guys like Jack from “Will & Grace, the couple from “Modern Family, etc. are not representative of all gays. It seems that stereotype is what heteros are comfortable with.
At one point I worked in construction, and have had other jobs which involved some pretty heavy labor & I’ve never described myself as straight acting or ‘masculine. I’m not trying to be negative or denigrating, but rarely, if ever we see men (& women) from different walks of life & lifestyles.
Alberto
My faith in humanity is restored!!!
Cam
This is what the bigots are terrified of. Gays start coming out in large numbers can’t be demonized.
Good for Mr. Miller….and Fuck Vladimir Putin and the bigots in Russia.
Alberto
He’s now my hero
Kangol
LOVE IT! Yet another brave man of color comes out, and he’s taking a powerful stance against monstrous, homophobic Russia!
Way to go Wentworth Miller!
gapourcio
Now he comes out as gay. Not so much when repeatedly questioned about it when the show was on! Hot guy, good actor & writer. Keep your head up Miller.
Cagnazzo82
…And may he *NOT* be the last.
That glass closet out there in Hollywood is already way too crowded!
Metro135
Go Wentworth!
s312g
I actually am extremely proud of him. I know there’s been speculation like crazy. But you have to understand that in Hollywood, sex symbols are not able to come out gay. Agents don’t like working with gay men because it’s too hard to find them decent work. So what he’s doing is a brave and heroic thing. This whole Russian situation is seriously hitting the LGBT community hard and what he’s doing is extremely great. I think it’s time that more actors come out. I know for a fact George Clooney is gay. His coming out would give every gay A-list actor out there enough courage.
Cagnazzo82
@s312g: Maybe he’ll be the first spurt that breaks the dam 🙂
You gotta imagine all the other A-list closeted gay actors out there are looking at this and weighing their options to see if it’s worth 🙂
Hell, one of them might be reading this thread right now.
Geoff B
Let’s face it, this isn’t news to most of us. Having said that, I’m glad he came out on his own terms and am especially glad he used his coming out to lend a voice to such an important issue. Thank you Mr. Miller. You’ve done a lot of good with your bravery and selflessness.
northwest
Wentworth Miller’s eloquence, intelligence, grace and dignity are in stark contrast to the hateful, bigoted Russian government that is denying the LGBT community its basic human rights. How could they see a letter like this and still feel the sick position they take on gays is the right one?
AndrewIB
Nicely done..good for him, Well done.
Derek Williams
Great result, and great courage. I can only hope he won’t be the last.
james_in_cambridge
So all the gay rumors were true, once again. Also, thanks for standing up for what’s right Mr. Miller!
tdx3fan
@etseq: I am not selfloathing in the least. I am pretty damn proud of who and whst I am. I am also not femm loathing. I actually quite like and respect femms. I just think it is nice to have every segment of the population represented. Also, my guess is that he is a top. Hence, your legs in the air comment is inaccurate.
tdx3fan
@hf2hvit: I never claimed to he anything of the sort. Funny how all you queens feel the need to get offended, when you all know that you have had plenty of your type represented in the media. Meanwhile, the middle state gay football player suffers in silence because the last thing they want to be is a Glambert or a NPH, and that is the typical media repesentation of gay men.
tdx3fan
@Cagnazzo82: He is far from A-list and never really will be. In fact, he probably managed to damage his acting career. However, he is also a writer and creator, and that type does not face the same discrimination as often.
Dev.C
It’s about time he came out, I actually gave up thinking he would ever admit he’s gay.
fredo777
@gapourcio: “Now he comes out as gay. Not so much when repeatedly questioned about it when the show was on!”
What’s your point? Whether or not he’s in a show or never does a show again, his decision to come out (or not) is his own, just the same as any of us.
Also, yesssssss. What a gorgeous addition to our ranks + eloquent manner of coming out.
Bee Gaga
I had absolutely NO idea at all I always thought he was sooo sexy and just mmmm, doesn’t he have a girlfriend?
john
Wentworth Miller i like you so much.You are a great example for all the people who have fame and influence!! with that attitude you can make things better for gays throughout
the world.I love you!!!
HirsuteOne
Perez Hilton was right again.
Rockery
Hmm so its true, congrats on coming out – let me go to Perez and see all the other “uncomfirmed” past stories, he really has got a lot of them right
Dxley
I’m happy for him, but from my side, he didn’t need to come. The Luke MacFarlane(hope I spelt that correctly) used to fuck this guy. We all know that, but good thing he brought the clarity to doubters!!!
startenout
@scotshot: I am glad for Wentworth’s coming out, but there is no reason why we have to tear down the work done by other actors who play the fey segment of our society…the ones who DO exist. We’ve had a number of “butch” counterparts to look up to as well like Bobby Cannavale on Will & Grace who played the cop Will eventually married; or Matthew St. Patrick who played the openly gay cop on Six Feet Under dating the equally “straight acting” closeted funeral director played by Michael C. Hall; the character of Steven Carrington worked on on oil rig and then fathered a child while trying to be straight (I know a guy who did that, too.) From Oz, Torchwood and Scrubs to Glee, Queer As Folk and Dawson’s Creek, TV has featured numerous gay characters that run the gamut including blue collar workers, cops, football players and doctors. Just because you choose not to see them and complain about their absence doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
scotshot
@startenout: I did not tear down the work of actors who play gay characters. Ask a hetero about a gay character on TV/movies, odds are they’ll say Jack. Reread the post.
Frommyheart
I really admire this guy. His intelligence, eloquence and class. His coming out was incredible honest and moving. This is not just and only coming out, it’s also a beautiful example of real human maturity. It makes me full of respect for him for ever.
Thank You Wentworth Miller.
Btw. (a little words to all these peoples who are like ‘too late’ or ‘i knew it!’etc etc…)
I think…coming out is very very personal decision, no one should expect it from anyone who doesn’t want to make this step. Never ever.
Let other choose his/her own rhythm and time and way, then it will bring good fruits. Because this is his/her life and price – not yours.