Hell yes, this is some good and lovely news.
New star of ‘The Walking Dead‘ Daniel Newman came out as gay on Twitter on Thursday night, and has followed up his announcement with a stirring video that asks his LGBTQ fans and followers to demonstrate visibility in the face of injustice.
“I was helping out volunteering at some homeless youth shelters and this girl came up to me and she was like thank you so much for helping out with the LGBT and she said it like she didn’t deserve it. And I said, ‘Why?’ And she said, ‘Because you’re straight.’ And I was like, ‘Well, I’m not straight.’ And she was like, ‘Why have you never said that publicly before? You could help change our lives.’“It hit me like a gut punch. I realised how important it is in this day and age to be visible.”
In the six-minute video, Newman tells his viewers that LGBTQ people who accomplish extraordinary things but hide their sexuality are hurting millions of people.
“By us staying quiet, we’re partially to blame for kids getting beat up, stereotypes, stigmas. If you don’t like them, you need to be visible to change them.“I don’t wanna get to get political, but you see at this moment how rights are getting stripped from people so quickly. Who are the easiest people to strip rights from? People who are invisible. People who are silent.”
Newman stressed the importance of demonstrating diversity in the LGBTQ community, explaining that if he’d had role models who were like him growing up, he would have identified with his sexuality sooner.
He’s asking people to use the hashtag #OUTandPROUD on social media to show the full scope of the LGBTQ community. Newman is also using his platform to raise money for GLAAD, My Friend’s Place and Covenant House.
You bloody legend, Daniel.
Watch the whole video here:
Source: Toofab.com.
Image: Instagram / Daniel Newman.
