Charlie Carver in ‘The Boys in the Band’ (image via Instagram)Charlie Carver, one of the actors starring in the new Netflix screen adaptation of The Boys in the Band, shares in an interview with Variety that he decided to publicly come out five years ago after being on the receiving end of a literal slap to the face for not appearing masculine in public. According to Carver, he was attending an Emmy Awards party in 2015 when a gay colleague criticized him three times throughout the evening for how he ‘presented’ himself. “I was told that I needed to ‘get it under control’ around people in the business,” Carver shared with Variety. At the end of soiree, Carver ran into his friend while waiting for his car at the valet. Asking his colleague for ‘clarification’ about the earlier comments, the man slapped Carver across the face. “It wasn’t playful but intentional, pointed and meant to be instructive. A slap,” says the actor. “I told him that if he ever touched me again, I would name him.” While the episode was certainly shocking for its physicality, Carver, who is 32-years-old today, says, “That was the moment when I said to myself, ‘I can’t do this. I cannot police myself in that way.’” The actor, who was best known at the time for regular appearances on Desperate Housewives and Teen Wolf, came out a few months later in January 2016 via his Instagram account.
Two years later, Carver made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning revival of Mort Crowley’s iconic play about gay men at a birthday party in Greenwich Village, The Boys in the Band. All of the actors in the highly-acclaimed production were openly gay/bisexual. The entire cast was reunited, along with the production’s director Joe Mantello, by producer Ryan Murphy for the newly-released TV version of the play. Carver stars in Boys as the hunky “Cowboy,” a hustler hired as a gift for “Harold,” the birthday boy in the story played by Zachary Quinto.
Carver is also currently appearing as a series regular in Murphy’s new psychological thriller for Netflix, Ratched, in which the handsome actor plays “Huck Finnagan,” a disfigured hospital orderly. And he’s set to appear in the upcoming The Batman alongside Robert Pattinson and Zoë Kravitz. Carver recently told The Advocate he’s “felt this sort of sense of relaxing” into himself since coming out. “To have kind of other champions in this business who gave me a chance, Ryan Murphy being one of them, they saw something in me and they let me be a part of it,” Carver shared. “Then opportunities led to other opportunities … I started kind of stepping into myself, and I believe when you do that, doors open.” You can catch Carver (and all the ‘boys’) in The Boys in the Band, currently streaming on Netflix.
Professional English Rugby player Levi Davis (image via Instagram) Some news items you might have missed: • Gay Star News: Professional English Rugby player Levi Davis (above) has come out as bisexual – a first for a professional player with his career still ahead of him. The 22-year-old is also famous for his other love – music. Last year he formed a band to take part in the Celebrity X Factor competition and got through to the semi-finals. • Attitude Magazine: “I realized that being gay and growing up around people and in a culture where that wasn’t celebrated – where it was reviled, in many ways – had an impact on me. Happy as I am, I’m still working out the fear I grew up with: that by revealing who I really am, I will somehow lose the love of the people who are important to me.” – Jim Parsons in a new interview with the UK publication. • Lambda Legal: A federal district judge ruled in favor of a woman who was denied Social Security survivor benefits after her partner of more than two decades had passed away. Helen Thornton and Marge Brown lived as a couple for 27 years, purchasing a home together, and raising a child. Brown passed away in 2006 of cancer years before marriage equality came to Washington state. The Social Security Administration (SSA) refused to give Thornton survivor benefits after Brown passed away. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman • The Atlantic: “They may or may not have dirt on him (Trump), but they don’t have to use it. They have more effective and less risky ways to employ him. He has aspirations to be the kind of leader that Putin is, and so he admires him. He likes authoritarian strongmen who act with impunity, without checks and balances. So he’ll try to please Putin. In the Army we call this ‘free chicken,’ something you don’t have to work for — it just comes to you. This is what the Russians have in Trump: free chicken.” – former National Security Council official Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman. • Axios: In a new clip from an interview with Bob Woodward, Donald Trump said that his relationships with world leaders are better “the tougher and meaner they are,” naming Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as an example. • CBSN: Meeting with officials in California to discuss the wildfires that are devastating the state on Monday, Donald Trump pushed back when Wade Crowfoot, secretary of California’s Natural Resources Agency, told him the science regarding climate change needed to be looked at. “It’ll start getting cooler. You just watch,” said Trump. “I wish science agreed with you,” Crowfoot replied. “I don’t think science knows actually,” Trump remarked with a smirk.
Singer/songwriter Josey Greenwell (photo via Big Picture Media) In advance of his upcoming album, City Games, out singer/songwriter Josey Greenwell recently released a teaser music video, “102.” Greenwell and his co-writer/producer Daneon penned the track (featuring Philup Banks) about “the feelings of ‘compare and despair’ with seeing everyone online living lavishly, when in reality that’s not their truth.” Wait – you mean, everyone’s fabulous Instagram lives aren’t real??? The handsome indie artist adds that the title is “a play on the phrase ‘keep it 100,’ but the song’s BPM is a chill 102 so, keep it chill and keep it real!” The Latin-infused mid-tempo track has an infectious bounce that’s pretty hard to resist. And if you listen to the lyrics of “102,” you can hear part of Greenwell’s personal story shared loud and proud.
I’m first to admit been a hot messAnd I had more names than your contactsThought I was too cool but too lameNow he straight, now he gayAnd I talk kinda funny but I put it downGotta grow up and own what you throw around
Greenwell initially moved to Nashville after graduating high school to pursue his dream of a career in music. But in a series of videos posted to his YouTube channel, titled The Road To Me, the artist candidly shares how homophobic advice from ‘industry experts’ repeatedly urged him to stay in the closet. As years went by and a few seemingly promising deals fell through, Greenwell, at the age of 21, released an independent album of all his work to date, titled My Life on the Radio. Marketing the indie release on his MySpace page, he won a fan-voted contest to be the opening act for Little Big Townʼs 2009 “A Place To Land” Tour in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He went on to open for more country acts such as Zac Brown Band, Dierks Bentley, and Steve Holy. He also hosted and performed at various LGBTQ Pride Events across the nation. But with no record label, management, or financial support, Greenwell became increasingly discouraged. Unhappy with his career, Greenwell moved to Miami, Florida, and in 2012, he released his single “Stuck in My Head” which reflected an expanded sonic landscape influenced by his experience in Miami. With this new single and having completed his first European tour, he revisited Nashville record labels hoping to be signed to a record contract. But ultimately, music executives passed. In one of those Nashville label meetings, a few well-known executives advised him to rebrand his image and leave “all questions of sexuality up to the listener.” He was told a good way to be asked fewer questions about his then-referred to “current issue” was to appear “more masculine.” Greenwell shares that he was advised not to do interviews because his “gender expression would be too ‘gay.’” Taking their unfortunate advice to heart, Greenwell moved back to Nashville in the fall of 2013 to begin production on what would become his country-pop EP titled Road Map, released under the stage name “Nate Green.” The blend of country influences coupled with dance-pop production proved popular with a new audience. But it wasnʼt long before the media realized ‘Nate Green’ appeared to be a non-gay version of ‘openly gay, Gay Pride performing Josey Greenwell.’ The result was a frenzy of public backlash, especially from the LGBTQ community, who regarded his seeming retreat back into the closet as a sort of ‘betrayal of gay pride.’ During the period of backlash, Greenwell recalls a writer coming up to him in a club and saying, “Hey, I wrote that awful thing about you.” The artist remembers, at the time, it seemed like the writer almost wanted to be thanked. “This was the journey, and looking back, it was one of the most miserable times of my life,” he admits. “It was what I thought you did since I didn’t know any successful LGBTQ musicians.”
One of the breaking points came when he discovered the word “fa**ot” had been keyed into the side of his car. In a moment of clarity, absent any anger, he said to himself, “Ok, that’s true. That’s who I am – I’m ashamed of who I am. I can’t hide it anymore.” Between his personal struggle with his sexuality, believing he had to suppress who he was in order to live his passion, and the public ridicule of his decisions, Greenwell canceled all further Road Map promotion, set the guitar down, and turned to his next love, fitness. After moving to New York City, he became one of the most prominent fitness instructors in the city at the popular Barry’s Bootcamp. But his love for music and songwriting never faded, so he’s stepped back into his art as he gears up to release his first full-length album, City Games. Today, Greenwell says he hopes maybe he can be ‘that artist’ that didn’t seem to exist for him as a young LGBTQ musician, and perhaps inspire them to shift their perspective. Greenwell releases his newest single, “Cowboy,” Friday, June 28. You can check out the country/pop/hip-hop track here. You can listen to my full interview with Josey Greenwell below.
Kenneth Felts just before his 90th birthday (image via Facebook) As the saying goes, “It’s never too late.” Just ask 90-year-old Kenneth Felts who just recently came out as gay to his friends and family. Felts, who lives in Arvada, Colorado, told The Denver Post he never planned on coming out. But after deciding to write his autobiography during the COVID-19 health threat, his trip down memory lane led him to a time when he fell in love with a man named Phillip in the 1950s. Today, Felts says he realized Phillip was his one true love in life. But he made the choice to live as a heterosexual man because “coming out in the ‘50s, /60s and ‘70s was horrendous.” “There was no gay community, there really weren’t gay organizations or anything,” recalls Felts. “People who came out came out on their own, without support. And I guess I didn’t have the courage to face society at that time, so I just went ahead and buried it.” Even though he realized he was gay at the age of 12, Felts says he was always naturally introverted. That, coupled with always being a new kid at school due to his father’s career working for railroads, resulted in being targeted by school bullies. So he spent his life denying who he truly was. “I’ve been in the closet all my life — deep in the closet, behind rows and rows of clothing. I’m way back there,” he told the Post. “Opening that door at the front, I had great trepidation as to what people would say. I was very concerned because I needed people and I couldn’t stand the thought of losing them just because I decided to finally be who I really was.” Along the way, he married a woman and had a daughter named Rebecca. But, ultimately, his marriage ended in divorce. In a recent conversation with his daughter, who’s openly lesbian, he shared the memory of Phillip and the regret he felt for nearly 60 years. Even though Rebecca came out to him 20 years ago, it wasn’t until recently that he was able to overcome his own struggles with being gay. But once he experienced acceptance and support from his daughter and her wife, he went all in and sent messages and emails to friends sharing the news. Just days before his 90th birthday, Felts changed his Facebook profile photo to a new pic wearing a rainbow hoodie and received overwhelming support. “Don’t underestimate your friends and family,” he said. “You might be surprised at how they react if you were to decide to come out. Enjoy what you’ve got while you’ve got it, because you’ve only got it once.” Enthusiastically embracing his true identity, he recently announced he was taking part in a virtual 5K this past weekend to raise funds for Denver Pride. And he now participates in a virtual LGBTQ senior coffee group complete with a rainbow flag hanging on his wall in the background. “He just really seemed to take it and run with it,” says his daughter-in-law Tracie Mayes. “He seems to be making up for lost time and really is owning it, which is fantastic.” “He’s just so brave and he doesn’t even realize that he is, but it’s extraordinary,” adds Rebecca. Looking back, Felts says he has no regrets about being married to a woman because the union brought him his daughter. He has tried to track down long-lost love Phillip, but to no avail. Today, he spends his time with Rebecca, Tracie and his two grandchildren as well as gardening and continuing his writing. Hoping his story might inspire others to embrace their own authentic selves, he told the Post, “It’s never, ever too late to be yourself.”
In advance of Pride month, Pixar Studios has released an adorable animated short film that tells the tale of a young man coming out to his parents. The nine-minute short, titled Out, is the story of Greg who is getting ready to move in with his boyfriend Manuel. The film’s conflict? Greg hasn’t come out to his family. While packing to move, his parents unexpectedly show up to help. Aided by his trusty fairy god-pets, Greg has to figure out how to handle THE moment. The short is written and directed by Steven Clay Hunter, a longtime animator for Pixar whose past credits include A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo, Toy Story 2, and The Incredibles. While there have been queer characters in supporting roles in past Disney projects, this is apparently the first time a gay character has taken the lead in a Mouse House release. Longtime readers know that, due to my short attention span, I’m a fan of short-form content 🙂 You can check out the super-cute teaser below. The full nine-minute short is currently streaming on Disney+.
Aaron Schock (image via Instagram) Disgraced former Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock has finally told the world the worst kept secret in the world. In a lengthy personal essay posted on his Instagram account as well as his personal website, the Republicans – who famously voted against LGBTQ interests while in the House of Representatives – tells the world, “I am gay.” After “working through a list of people” who he wanted to tell first hand over the past year including family members, he says >he’s ready to make a public statement. “The fact that I am gay is just one of those things in my life in need of explicit affirmation, to remove any doubt and to finally validate who I am as a person,” writes Schock. “In many ways, I regret the time wasted in not having done so sooner.”
In his essay, he reveals how denial and mistakes led to even deeper denial and greater mistakes. He goes on to share “his story” which began in the rural Midwest and a family “centered in faith and its particular traditions.” It was in church life – “Memorizing Bible verses, going to church camp, attending services at least twice a week” – that Schock says he “thrived.” He chronicles his path through high school where he realized his “goal-focused personality” helped him to “force [his] thoughts in other directions” when he felt “drawn in the direction of [his] natural orientation.” After holding several local public offices, he says his arrival in Washington in 2009 as the youngest member of Congress was a heady experience as he received “a lot of attention,” which he admits he enjoyed. But soon he was aware of “speculation” he feels occurred because he was single, how he dressed, and his “preoccupation with physical fitness.” Soon after, he says “Untruthful stories were written” by the news media. Referencing the scandal that revolved around his office in Washington being redecorated in the style of a hit television show, Shock shares he wondered why “the news media would run with an utterly false story about me and a show I’dnever even heard of, and still haven’t seen, Downton Abbey.” Along the way, he takes swipes at the “woke” media calling reports about him “another way, albeit sophisticated, to be teased about being gay.” He explains his work in Congress included being responsive to the interests of his Illinois constituents. “Perhaps correctly, perhaps not, I assumed that revealing myself as their gay congressman would not go over well. I put my ambition over the truth, which not only hurt me but others as well.” He adds, “I also, in retrospect, realize that I was just looking for more excuses to buy time and avoid being the person I’ve always been.” Schock details the investigation that led to his resignation from Congress, during which he planned to come out to his family, but felt it would be best to wait until the legal wrangling was done. Once the charges of improper use of campaign funds were dropped in exchange for repaying $68,000 to his congressional campaign fund and $42,000 to the IRS, he again planned to come out to family. But first, he attended the Coachella Festival last year and photos of him with assorted men reached his mother before he did. When he spoke to her, she (and the rest of his family) reportedly did not take the news of his sexuality well. “Pictures online made clear what I was en route to tell my mother in person.She told me to turn around and go back to LA. I wasn’t welcome at home for Easter.” Like many LGBTQ people who go through a similar reaction from family members, Schock holds out hope his family will eventually come around. He goes on to justify his anti-LGBTQ positions and votes (he opposed same-sex marriage, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) by pointing to political leaders at the time. “In 2008, as a Republican running in a conservative district, I took the same position on gay marriage held by my party’s nominee, John McCain,” writes the 38-year-old. “That position against marriage equality, though, was also then held by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as well.” While he’s correct about that timeline, what Schock misses there is McCain, Obama and Clinton weren’t secretly gay voting against their own interests. And, by the way, what about the 12 years since then? Also, Obama and Clinton never proposed or voted for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. And in 2010, as Obama was working to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, Schock voted against the repeal. In fact, Schock’s record on LGBTQ issues was so anti-LGBTQ the Human Rights Campaign gave him a rating of zero. The former congressman says if he were still in office he would support LGBTQ issues “in every way” he could. He also hopes that sharing his story will “help shine a light for young people, raised the way I was, looking for a path out of darkness and shame.”
In closing his essay, he says family members still suggest so-called “conversion therapy” to him. But at a recent wedding, his mother did inquire as to whether he was seeing someone and if so, she is interested in meeting him. LGBTQ media has covered Schock’s story for quite some time over the past few years mainly because he is ‘one of us’ but wielded his position in a manner that didn’t help but hurt the LGBTQ community. In his post, he never apologizes for those political calculations. His lack of remorse is rather stunning. Imagine the mental Jui-Jitsu that compels you to run for Congress and advocate for conservative anti-LGBTQ legislation while having sex on the DL and then expecting sympathy and understanding. I wish he hadn’t been raised by narrow-minded people who taught him to hate or doubt himself. It’s worth noting that he finally comes out as a 38-year-old rich white guy living in Los Angeles. How brave. That said, I celebrate that Schock has come to a place in his life that he can live his truth out loud. I realize everyone comes to this in their own time. I do wish his essay wasn’t so layered with self-pity. But, in the end, we can all only be who we are. LGBTQ folks on social media responded:
Gay Twitter on Aaron Schock coming out in a nine screen essay on Instagram and STILL not apologizing for voting against LGBT rights: pic.twitter.com/Qn7ZIUrvVK
Aaron Schock wrote a long post about him coming out as gay and how worried he was telling his family and friends and whatever, but failed to even apologize to the LGBTQ community for the hatred he displayed towards us for MANY years. So he can fuck all the way off 🤷🏻♂️
I feel zero pity for a man who had no issue going to music festival and hooking up with guys in public. Then waits a year to come out and ask for pity.
Reminder that if prosecutors hadn’t completely botched the case, Aaron Schock would likely be in prison for using your taxpayer money to pay for massages and Katy Perry tickets. https://t.co/h7vs0fiZPF
— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) March 5, 2020
Disgraced, anti-LGBTQ former congressman Aaron Schock finally admits what everyone already knew: He is gay.
Frankly, his lack of remorse for the harmful hypocrisy of consistently voting against other gay men when he was a Republican in Congress is giving me #ToxicSchockSyndrome. pic.twitter.com/ySmUwy3ZqE
Everyone deserves to come out as their authentic self on their own terms. However, Aaron Schock's statement fails to acknowledge the years of hurt that his votes against hate crimes protections, the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and more caused LGBTQ Americans.
Fmr GOP Rep. Aaron Schock wrote a Harry Potter length post coming out as gay and still did not apologize for his awful anti-LGBTQ record pic.twitter.com/Uf8U8zTaDG
Benson Churgai (screen capture) As the latest class of police recruits gathered at the Police Academy in Philadelphia to pose for their class photo last week, newly-minted police officer Benson Churgai shared a personal secret with his fellow graduates. Addressing his classmates from a prepared speech, Churgai began, “I want to be honest with everyone here. In April 2016, I made a decision that was best for me. I came out as a transgender male.” “I struggled for a long time with who I was,” he continued. “I knew that if I continued to live my life as [a] female, it was not going to work out.” Over the next few minutes, the 24-year-old explained he’d “rather have a discussion with everybody” in an effort to “help prevent feelings of betrayal.” The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Churgai’s class responded with a rousing standing ovation. In coming out to his fellow graduates, he becomes the first transgender recruit to graduate from the Philadelphia Police Academy. Churgai notably graduated as the salutatorian of his class. Before Churgai’s announcement, only a few commanders involved in recruitment and training were aware he was transgender. “I wanted to go through the academy like every other recruit,” Churgai told local ABC News affiliate WPVI. “I didn’t want people to know I was transgender because I didn’t want to be treated differently. I wanted to be held to the same standards as everybody else.” “Sometimes it seems that your hopes and dreams are not possible when you come out as transgender, but it is possible,” added Churgai. “It is possible to be who you want to be and do the career you want to have, it’s possible. Just because your trans it doesn’t mean you can’t.” Philadelphia Police Inspector Verdell Johnson, who supervises the recruits, told the Inquirer Churgai was selected solely “on his ability to pass a rigorous background test and physical training.” Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw told the Inquirer among his department’s top priorities is to “ensure that our ranks are diverse, inclusive, and reflective of the communities we serve.” “I was proud of him,” said fellow classmate Jarrett Ross. “We need more of this in our department. We need people from all different walks of life, people who can relate to different things.” Churgai says it has been his dream to be a police officer his whole life because “you get to people on the best and what could be one of the worst days of their lives.”
Zach Sullivan (center) with Manchester Storm teammates (image via Twitter) Professional ice hockey player Zach Sullivan of the Manchester Storm came out as bisexual this weekend. As the Elite Ice Hockey League held its first official Pride weekend promoting diversity and inclusivity in the sport, Sullivan took to his social media to share his message.
“I have battled with mental health problems over this issue and with the support, understanding and acceptance from my family, friends and teammates, I finally feel ready to say: I’m bisexual,” wrote the 25-year-old athlete. He added he has “never been more proud to wear a jersey before, especially one that celebrates all gender identities and sexualities.” The responses on social media were overwhelmingly positive. Not only from his fans, but his team, the Elite Ice Hockey League, and more. Ryan Finnerty, head coach for the Manchester Storm, tweeted his support writing, “His strength and courage will inspire the youth of tomorrow.”
We are all extremely proud of you, Zach! You're a role model for so many people, young and old, in the sporting world. Someone knowing they can be themselves is a true testament to everything our club and sport stand for.#WeAreStorm | #Manchester | #Pridehttps://t.co/x4UuWXzo7M
Sullivan told the BBC’s Radio Manchester that while his sport is hyper-masculine he realized he had “quite the opportunity with it being the first-ever EIHL Pride weekend.” He also shared his hope that if he can come out “maybe it will help someone who is going through the same problem, going through the same situation.” Congrats, Zach, on living out loud!
'It's taken me a long time, but I'm now at a position in my life where I am comfortable with who I am.'@Mcr_Storm's @ZachSully11 talks he decision to come out as bisexual and why he hopes he can be an inspiration to others.
Brian J. Smith as ‘Will Gorski’ in SENSE8 (image via Netflix) Actor Brian J. Smith, who most of us discovered in the Netflix series Sense8, comes out in the new issue of Attitude Magazine and shares that he found refuge in acting during a rough childhood in Texas. In a candid and revealing interview, Smith says that he felt – like many young LGBTQ kids – that he “could never be who I was.” “I was constantly having to check myself and make sure I wasn’t looking at someone too long or making someone feel uncomfortable,” says the 38-year-old actor. “I had to be very, very careful about telling the people the truth about myself.” Back in 1980s rural Texas, Smith didn’t feel there were any support systems for him as a young gay.
“Forget about any LGBTQ union or groups – there was absolutely nothing,” said Smith, adding that he “heard all the names: p*ssy, f*ggot.” But once he discovered acting, the stage became a refuge where he could “disappear” and become someone else. Smith explains that most of his classmates in school “probably thought I was an absolute idiot, a nerd,” but when he was on stage “they paid attention to me, and they saw that I had something.” “And that’s when I didn’t feel alone.” Acting would take center stage in Smith’s life leading him to make his Broadway debut in 2008 in Come Back, Little Sheba. He scored Tony and Drama Desk nominations for his performance as ‘The Gentleman Caller’ in the acclaimed 2013 revival of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie starring out actors Zachary Quinto and Cherry Jones.
But it was his role as Chicago police officer ‘Will Gorski’ in the LGBTQ-inclusive Netflix series Sense8 that really put Smith in the global spotlight. Even though the show only lasted two seasons, it developed a loyal following that embraced all of the series’ stars including Smith.
The show also became his introduction to leading-man action roles. He recently premiered in the new USA Network series, Treadstone, an action-packed spin-off of the Jason Bourne franchise. And is also currently featured in the BBC One series World On Fire in the UK.
He didn’t come out to his parents until he was 30, but describes their reaction as “wonderful.” It turned out that, like many kids coming out to their parents, mom and dad knew already and “were just waiting for me to say something.” On reflection, Smith admits, “They were a lot more advanced than I gave them credit for.” “I think that’s when I became OK with it, too,” says Smith. “Just in terms of being, ‘Oh that’s the world, it’s not as dangerous as I thought it was.’”
In hindsight, thinking back to his early years in small-town Texas, Smith realizes he was fine all the time. He just needed to hear it. “There weren’t enough people there to say to me: ‘You don’t need to be someone different, you don’t need to change who you are,’” he tells Attitude. “What that kid needed was somebody to pick him up and say, ‘You’re perfect as you are, it’s OK.’” Check out more of Smith’s interview plus his ‘revealing’ photoshoot with Attitude here. Smith shared the news of his Attitude cover story via Instagram writing, “Good morning, world. The folks at @attitudemag reached out and I knew it was time. Hoping there’s other people out there like me (and not like me!) who can relate. Nothin but love! Now let’s go party.”
Host Ryan Bridge was a bit flustered after being outed on the air (screen capture)
Radio host Ryan Bridge was filling in on New Zealand’s The AM Show when a casual remark abruptly outed him to the show’s listeners.
The moment occurred on Thursday’s broadcast, as the morning crew was discussing collector’s items. Bridge was asked if he collected anything, to which co-host Mark Richardson laughingly suggested, “Ex-boyfriends?”
Cue the awkward laughing. Richardson and co-host Amanda Gillies continued giggling for a few seconds until they realized what had happened.
“Yes, it’s true, I’m gay,” said Bridge after a few seconds of uncomfortable stammering. “There we go, it’s out there.”
We can’t embed the video here due to geo-blocking, but you can watch the clip here. Apparently, while Bridge isn’t closeted to his family or friends (like Richardson), he hadn’t come out to his audience yet. After composing himself, Bridge addressed the elephant in the room about half an hour later. “If you caught what was said before, it’s not something I’ve tried to hide, it’s something all my friends and family have known about for a very long time,” he told the audience. “The reason I haven’t chosen to share it with you at home, with listeners on my radio show is just that, I don’t know, it’s not that interesting really, is it?” “It’s just my private business and my life and not something I have necessarily tried to hide but it’s just not something that I’ve bothered or cared to share with the world, with you at home, but it’s out there, so that is that,” added Bridge. “Thank you very much to the people who have been getting in touch in the last few minutes. It’s quite heartening.” He also displayed tremendous grace in addressing his colleague’s faux pas. “I wanted to say that Mark didn’t do this on purpose,” Bridge told the viewers. “It wasn’t like he was being mean, or he was trying to get me to say something I didn’t want to say. it was an innocent, honest mistake.” Mark Richardson apologies to his colleague as co-host Amanda Gillies looks on A clearly chagrined Richardson was effusive in his apology. “In three years of doing this job, this is as bad as I’ve ever felt,” said Richardson. “I say a lot of stuff on this show, and I mean it, and some of it walks the line. I just want to say I’m sorry. It’s because obviously I love you so much as a person.” He added, “Just me being a smartass and trying to poke fun at you for a comedic moment on the show has led to this, and I’m dreadfully sorry.” Gillies chimed in telling Bridge, “You know we love you to bits, completely.” “The way you’ve handled this with immense class – just beautifully,” she added. “Makes us love you even more.”
In one of those Nashville label meetings, a few well-known executives advised him to rebrand his image and leave “all questions of sexuality up to the listener.” He was told a good way to be asked fewer questions about his then-referred to “current issue” was to appear “more masculine.” Greenwell shares that he was advised not to do interviews because his “gender expression would be too ‘gay.’” Taking their unfortunate advice to heart, Greenwell moved back to Nashville in the fall of 2013 to begin production on what would become his country-pop EP titled Road Map, released under the stage name “Nate Green.” The blend of country influences coupled with dance-pop production proved popular with a new audience. But it wasnʼt long before the media realized ‘Nate Green’ appeared to be a non-gay version of ‘openly gay, Gay Pride performing Josey Greenwell.’ The result was a frenzy of public backlash, especially from the LGBTQ community, who regarded his seeming retreat back into the closet as a sort of ‘betrayal of gay pride.’ During the period of backlash, Greenwell recalls a writer coming up to him in a club and saying, “Hey, I wrote that awful thing about you.” The artist remembers, at the time, it seemed like the writer almost wanted to be thanked. “This was the journey, and looking back, it was one of the most miserable times of my life,” he admits. “It was what I thought you did since I didn’t know any successful LGBTQ musicians.” 
“I wanted to go through the academy like every other recruit,” Churgai told l
