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Zachary Quinto Comes Out as a Gay Man; Reflects on Jamey Rodemeyer

Posted by on Oct 17, 2011 in Inspirgaytion | 12 comments

Zachary Quinto gives good (gay) face.

Jamey Rodemeyer‘s suicide earlier this year had a profound impact on us all, not the least of whom is Zachary Quinto. Spock himself came out to New York Magazine this week, and further posited about his decision to do so on his personal blog.

when i found out that jamey rodemeyer killed himself – i felt deeply troubled.  but when i found out that jamey rodemeyer had made an it gets better video only months before taking his own life – i felt indescribable despair.  i also made an it gets better video last year – in the wake of the senseless and tragic gay teen suicides that were sweeping the nation at the time.  but in light of jamey’s death – it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it – is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality.

our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered citizen of this country.  gay kids need to stop killing themselves because they are made to feel worthless by cruel and relentless bullying.  parents need to teach their children principles of respect and acceptance.  we are witnessing an enormous shift of collective consciousness throughout the world.  we are at the precipice of great transformation within our culture and government.

i believe in the power of intention to change the landscape of our society – and it is my intention to live an authentic life of compassion and integrity and action.  jamey rodemeyer’s life changed mine.  and while his death only makes me wish that i had done this sooner – i am eternally grateful to him for being the catalyst for change within me.  now i can only hope to serve as the same catalyst for even one other person in this world.  that – i believe – is all that we can ask of ourselves and of each other.

zq. 

The emphasis on that particular line is mine and not Quinto’s, but I think that sums up the precipice our society is hanging on quite nicely. We’re well past the days of closeted actors trying to make it big while keeping their private lives to themselves. No, now we find ourselves in a country where our elected leaders add constitutional amendments banning even the recognition that our unions and families exist in perpetuity at the same time that study after study shows without a doubt that the difference between supporting and opposing LGBT rights is simply knowing a gay person.

Every LGBT American has a responsibility to live their life honestly and without shame, with the consideration of course that it does not put their safety at risk. It only gets better if we all say so in unison.

Welcome to the team, Zach. Happy to have you onboard.