Heroes and Star Trek (2009) Actor Zachary Quinto Comes Out
In a time when bullying is in the media almost every day, where kids -kids- are taking their lives because they can no longer live with the endless harassment of peers, parents and even religion, it is always great news when someone with a voice many can hear, can finally speak out and add their name to the cause.
Such is what happened with former Heroes and Star Trek (2009) actor Zachary Quinto. In a statement posted on his official web site, Quinto tells people that the suicide of 14 year-old Jamey Rodemeyer in September convinced him that doing a It Gets Better video, while helpful, meant little if he was living “a gay life without publicly acknowledging it.”
Quinto says:
“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.”
A moving, thoughtful statement that can only help more people who face a daily battle from misguided, often hateful people. The notion that bullying is even remotely okay, that everyone can benefit from it, is such a horrible thought.
