Chris Colfer revealed he was suggested to not come out as homosexual whereas filming the primary season of Glee as a result of it might doubtlessly “damage” his performing profession.
The Emmy-nominated actor opened up on Tuesday’s episode of The View concerning the second he realized he was taking part in an brazenly homosexual highschool character on the Fox sequence, in addition to the struggles of navigating his personal sexuality.
“I grew up in a really conservative city the place being brazenly homosexual was harmful,” he defined. “I keep in mind after I acquired on [Glee] the function was written for me, and I didn’t know what the function was gonna be, and so I opened the script and after I learn the script for the primary time was after I noticed that it was an brazenly homosexual character and I used to be terrified.”
Whereas his character Kurt grappled together with his sexuality and popping out to shut family and friends all through the primary season of Glee, Colfer was additionally going through his personal inside battle.
“Once I began filming the present I had lots of people inform me, ‘Don’t come out no matter you do as a result of it would damage your profession.’ So I hid for slightly bit,” he mentioned. “However I additionally advised them, ‘I can’t conceal it with my voice… I’m extra effeminate than most individuals. I can’t conceal it.’ They usually mentioned, ‘Don’t fear. So long as you by no means handle it, you’ll be rewarded for it ultimately.’”
Because the Struck by Lightning actor wrestled with what to do, it was an encounter with a younger fan at a Glee occasion that pushed him to return out.
“We went on this huge poster signing tour proper earlier than the present got here out, and this little boy secretly slid me an envelope when his dad and mom weren’t trying and I opened it up and it was slightly observe that mentioned, ‘Thanks,’” Colfer recalled of the interplay. “And there was slightly paperclip chain that was the colours of the rainbow, and in that second I knew, I’ve to return out.”
Colfer, who publicly got here out as homosexual throughout an look on Chelsea Recently in 2009, defined on The View that he finally realized the significance of being open about his sexuality and the affect it might have on others.
“On the time, I used to be considering, ‘Okay, yeah, if I’m an brazenly homosexual actor, yeah, I could by no means win a significant award. I could by no means get to play a superhero,’” the actor added. “However I feel being a beacon of positivity and offering that consolation for folks is far more necessary than consideration.”