Zachary Quinto

Zachary Quinto, the actor best known for playing Sylar on NBC’s "Heroes" and Spock in the J.J. Abrams reboot of “Star Trek”, has publicly acknowledged that he is gay. Quinto, 34, mentioned his sexual orientation in a New York Magazine article that did not make a fuss out of the reveal. There is added bravery to the timing of his declaration, given that a film in which he plays a major starring role will open nationwide on Friday of this week (October 21).

During a conversation about this film, “Margin Call” (co-starring Kevin Spacey, hmmmm....), and his recent role in a New York production of “Angels in America,” he told the magazine, “Doing that play made me realize how fortunate I am to have been born when I was born and to not have to witness the decimation of an entire generation of amazingly talented and otherwise vital men. And at the same time, as a gay man, it made me feel there’s still so much work to be done.”

His comments was quickly picked up by other media outlets. Quinto followed up on the coverage by tweeting his own statement on the subject, which was posted on his blog (see below). In it, he noted that he was motivated to come out by the death of Jamey Rodemeyer, the 14-year-old Buffalo teen who took his own life last month after being bullied because of his sexual orientation.

“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,” he wrote. “Our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered citizen of this country.”
                                                                                                                          
Here is the complete blog post:

nyc...
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.

Note to self: I wonder if Quinto's action might influence his co-star Spacey to own up to Hollywood's worst kept secret?