Wentworth Miller Given More Praise By Stars For Coming Out Of The Closet
When Wentworth Miller outed himself as gay in response to an invite from a Russia film festival, he was inundated with messages of support for his public outing and for protesting the archaic anti-homosexuality legislation rife in the former communist country. After receiving praise from the likes Neil Patrick Harris, Ellen DeGeneres and Jesse Tyler Ferguson on Twitter, the latest star to tip their hat at Wentworth is White Collar star Matt Boomer.
Wentworth (L) has received praise from Boomer (R) for publicly outing himself in protest of Russian law
Boomer, who came out as a gay man in February 2012, was speaking to E! News when he discussed Wentworth's outing, describing it as a "bold" and "classy" move. He said, "Wow, I think its really bold and incredibly classy how he came out and did it. I am really proud of him. Its very reflective of his amazing character."
Boomer also discussed the history-making changes being made across America for the LGBT community, and although he admitted that "we still have a long way to go," Boomer seemed possitive of the way things were heading for same sex relationships. Whilst things are only getting better for gay rights in the United States, one place where things are moving backwards is in the Russian Federation, which has recently passed laws banning public discussion of gay rights as well as "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations around minors."
I'm proud of Wentworth Miller for speaking out in support of equality. Russia doesn't know what they're missing.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 22, 2013
Miller publicly outed himself as gay in protest to this ancient way of thinking, writing an open letter to the St. Petersburg International Film Festival director Maria Averbakh in which he declined an invitation to attend the festival because of his sexuality. His letter - which was posted on GLAAD's website - read, I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly."
Well done, Wentworth Miller. Bravo.
— Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) August 21, 2013
Sadly, Wentworth's protest probably won't do much to change things in Russia
So proud of #WentworthMiller. Coming out can be hard & scary but coming out to send a message of tolerance is heroic. http://t.co/h9rDwPkvNS
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) August 22, 2013