ABC News Appots Gay Corrponnt G Benez as Co-Anchor of ‘GMA’ Weekends

Contents:

• ABC NEWS APPOTS GAY CORRPONNT G BENEZ AS CO-ANCHOR OF ‘GMA’ WEEKENDS
• HIGHLIGHT THE ONGOG RELATNSHIP BETWEEN ABC'S GAY JOURNALIST DAVID MUIR & G BENEZ
• G BENEZ, GAY REPORTER AT ABC, NAMED ‘GMA’ -ANCHOR
• SHOP SKILLETS, UTENSILS AND MORE OKWARE!OPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHLIVGABC NEWS' JAM LONGMAN ON G OUT: 'I ULD NEVER IMAGE THEN THE LIFE I HAVE NOW'7:00OCT. 11 IS NATNAL COMG OUT BYJAM LONGMANOCTOBER 11, 2022, 4:00 AM•8 M READOCT. 11 IS NATNAL COMG OUT DAY. FOR MANY LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, G OUT VOLV SHARG THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN AND/OR GENR INTY FOR THE FIRST TIME. YOUNG PEOPLE SEARCH OF SUPPORT THEIR INTI N NTACT THE TREVOR PROJECT'S TREVORLIFELE 24/7 AT 1-866-488-7386 OR BY TEXTG START TO 678678.I FIRST TOLD A IEND WHEN I WAS 16 THAT I THOUGHT I ULD BE GAY.EDOR’S PICKSSTRANGER LEAV TOUCHG NOTE ON UPLE'S DOORSTEP THANKG THEM FOR THE URAGE TO E OUTOCT 10, 2020DWYANE WA, BARBRA STREISAND, OTHER CELEBRY PARENTS WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT SUPPORT OF LGBTQ CHILDRENJUN 07, 2019LGBT AMERINS LOOK TO SUPREME COURT AFTER BEG FIRED, 'BEE OF SEX'OCT 07, 2019I REMEMBER I CRIED AND CRIED AT HER PARENT’S KCHEN TABLE -- AAID THAT THEY WOULD HEAR OM THE ROOM NEXT DOOR.I THK I CRIED OM RELIEF, BUT ALSO SADNS THAT I WASN’T LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.COMG OUT FOR ME FELT LIKE ADMTG A CRIME -- HOPG THAT MY IEND WOULDN’T JUDGE ME.IT WAS ONLY HER LOVE AND KDNS THAT MA ME REALIZE OTHERWISE.WHAT FOLLOWED WAS EIGHT YEARS OF SLOWLY TELLG MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, UNTIL I FALLY WROTE MY MOTHER AN EMAIL (I KNOW!) WHEN I WAS 24.MORE: 'TAKE OM ME': PROUD LGBTQ CELEBS SHARE THEIR MOST EMPOWERG ADVICETHAT FIRST IEND HAS REMAED ONE OF MY CLOST. I WAS SO PROUD TO GIVE THE READG AT HER WEDDG LAST YEAR.ONE OF THE FUNNIER G OUT MOMENTS WAS WHEN I TOLD A VERY GOOD GIRLIEND AT UNIVERSY ... AND SHE WAS THE ONE WHO CRIED!WE SAT ON MY BED MY LONDON FLAT, AND BETWEEN GREAT, HYSTERIL HICCUPS WH TEARS STREAMG DOWN HER FACE, SHE MANAGED TO SAY, "OH JAM, I DON’T KNOW -- ’S JT, I FEEL LIKE AN OPTN FOR ME HAS GONE OFF THE TABLE!”CHARMG.GOD, HOW WE LGHED.FOR ME, EVERY TERACTN I HAD BEFORE I ME OUT WAS SENTIALLY A LIE.THAT SOUNDS DRAMATIC, BUT I N’T SCRIBE ANY OTHER WAY.WHETHER TALKG ABOUT RELATNSHIPS, OR BUYG K, I JT DIDN’T FEEL MYSELF, AND WASN’T PRENTG MY REAL SELF TO THE WORLD. SO MA ME FEEL LIKE LS OF A PERSON.THAT’S PART OF WHY I THK I ALT WH PRSN MY EARLY TWENTI -- AND WHY I THK SO MANY YOUNG GAY MEN AND WOMEN DO TODAY. FEELG THAT YOU ARE "LS" THAN OTHER PEOPLE -- THAT YOU ARE SENTIALLY WORTHLS -- IS AN OBV ROUTE TO A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.I ULD NEVER IMAGE THEN THE LIFE I HAVE NOW."BUT JAM, ARE YOU EVER SRED GOG TO PLAC WHERE ’S NOT OK TO BE GAY?"THAT’S THE QUTN I GET MOST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ELSEWHERE.THE TTH IS: SOMETIM.BEG CHECHNYA RECENTLY, WHERE WE WERE LOOKG TO AB OF LGBTQ PEOPLE, IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF FEELG SLIGHTLY ON EDGE -- TO PUT DLY!BUT WHEN I’M ON A STORY, I’M NSC OF THREE DIENC: THE PEOPLE I’M WH THAT PLACE; THE BROAR TV DIENCE AT HOME; AND THE YOUNG GAY MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAY SEE MY WORK.THE FIRST GROUP N BE CHALLENGG.I’M KEEN TO BE MYSELF, BUT ALSO SENSIVE TO DIFFERENT ATTUS PLAC WHERE GAY RIGHTS HAVE A WAYS TO GO.WHILST NOT LEGIMIZG HOMOPHOBIC VIEWS, YOU JT HAVE TO BE PRACTIL HOW YOU AL WH CERTA SUATNS.IF ANYONE I MEET SOME FAR-OFF PLACE CID TO GOOGLE ME, THEY’D SEE I’M GAY (SHOUTOUT TO MY PRETTY CREDIBLE -- AND VERY PATIENT -- BOYIEND ALEX!).SO THE VERY ACT OF BEG THERE AND TERACTG WH THEM BE POWERFUL AND OF SELF.PERHAPS ON SOME LEVEL I HOPE THAT BY MEETG ME, AND SEEG THAT I TAKE AN TERT THEIR LIV, THEY MAY BE LS JUDGMENTAL OF ME.THE DIENCE AT HOME IS THE SEND GROUP -- AND I’M AWARE THERE ARE ALSO ANTI-GAY VIEWS THERE. IF DOG MY JOB I BREAK SOME NEGATIVE STEREOTYP, AND THEY TOO N CHANGE THEIR PERCEPTNS, THEN THAT IS A HAPPY OUTE.I’M POWERFULLY AWARE THOUGH OF THE THIRD DIENCE: YOUNG GAY MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAY BE STGGLG WH THEIR INTY.WHEN I WAS GROWG UP, I HAD VIRTUALLY NO ONE TO LOOK TO THE PUBLIC EYE, WHERE I ULD SAY TO MYSELF, "WOW, HE MANAGED , I MIGHT NOT HAVE TO BE THE DARK FOREVER."SO IF YOU’RE READG THIS, WHEREVER YOU ARE, KNOW THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE, AS UNIQUE AS MAY FEEL NOW, HAS BEEN SHARED BY LNS THROUGH TIME.SOME HAVE HAD WORSE, OTHERS HAVE HAD EASIER.BUT THERE IS A MUNY WAG FOR YOU, WH LOVE AND UNRSTANDG.YOU’LL FEEL AS THOUGH YOUR LIFE HAS ONLY JT BEGUN.EACH OF YOU WHO MAK THAT BRAVE STEP MAK POSSIBLE THAT THE FUTURE, THE NEXT 16-YEAR-OLD BOY WH REALLY BAD SK, WHO WORE FLEECE WAY TOO MUCH, WOULD BE PROUD OF HIMSELF, RATHER THAN ASHAMED.NO MORE CRYG THE KCHEN, ’S TIME TO GO OUT TO THE SUNSHE.JAM LONGMAN IS A FOREIGN RRPONNT FOR ABC NEWS BASED THE LONDON BURE.EDOR'S NOTE: THIS WAS ORIGALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 11, 2019.RELATED TOPICSLGBTQEDOR’S PICKSSTRANGER LEAV TOUCHG NOTE ON UPLE'S DOORSTEP THANKG THEM FOR THE URAGE TO E OUTOCT 10, 2020DWYANE WA, BARBRA STREISAND, OTHER CELEBRY PARENTS WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT SUPPORT OF LGBTQ CHILDRENJUN 07, 2019LGBT AMERINS LOOK TO SUPREME COURT AFTER BEG FIRED, 'BEE OF SEX'OCT 07, 2019UP NEXT LIVG—PILOT THANKS FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOM SURPRISE SPEECH ON THEIR 1ST FLIGHT TOGETHERAUGT 24, 2023HOW TO GET $4 MOVIE TICKETS FOR NATNAL CEMA DAYAUGT 24, 2023GROOM GETS NEW PASSPORT TIME FOR WEDDG AFTER DOG ATE AUGT 24, 2023ZOO ASKS PUBLIC TO NAME RARE GIRAFFE BORN WHOUT SPOTSAUGT 22, 2023UP NEXT LIVG—PILOT THANKS FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOM SURPRISE SPEECH ON THEIR 1ST FLIGHT TOGETHERAUGT 24, 2023HOW TO GET $4 MOVIE TICKETS FOR NATNAL CEMA DAYAUGT 24, 2023GROOM GETS NEW PASSPORT TIME FOR WEDDG AFTER DOG ATE AUGT 24, 2023ZOO ASKS PUBLIC TO NAME RARE GIRAFFE BORN WHOUT SPOTSAUGT 22, 2023
• SHOP SKILLETS, UTENSILS AND MORE OKWARE!OPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHLIVGABC NEWS' ALEX PEREZ ON G OUT: IT 'ALLOWED ME TO FD AND MARRY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE'8:43THE STORY OF THE PRI BYALEX PEREZVIO BYCHRIS CIRILLO AND TONY MORRISONOCTOBER 07, 2020, 4:09 AM•8 M READOCT. 11 IS NATNAL COMG OUT DAY. FOR MANY LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, G OUT VOLV SHARG THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN AND/OR GENR INTY FOR THE FIRST TIME. YOUNG PEOPLE SEARCH OF SUPPORT THEIR INTI N NTACT THE TREVOR PROJECT'S TREVORLIFELE 24/7 AT 1-866-488-7386 OR BY TEXTG START TO 678678.MY MEMORY OF THE DAY IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.I WAS FIFTH GRA, ENJOYG MY FAVORE PART OF THE SCHOOL DAY -- RECS! MONKEY BARS, EEZE TAG, DODGE BALL -- BASILLY ANYTHG THAT WOULD DISTRACT ME OM WHAT I THOUGHT AT THE TIME WAS BORG: STG AT MY SK.BUT THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR I N REMEMBER FEELG A LTLE DIFFERENT.MY IENDS, WHO I'D KNOWN SCE KRGARTEN, AND I PRETTY MUCH AGREED ON EVERYTHG.WE ALL GOT NTENDO AT THE SAME TIME, DRSED SIARLY AND FOUND THE SAME THGS UNTERTG; WAS THE GLUE THAT HELD TOGETHER.THAT DAY, SEEMED LIKE I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTED TO GET THIS GAME OF DODGEBALL STARTED.THE GUYS -- MY IENDS AND FELLOW FIFTH GRARS -- WERE ALL HUDDLED UP.SO I JOED THE CIRCLE, TRYG TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EVERYONE WAS WHISPERG ABOUT.TURNS OUT, THEY WERE ALL ENAMORED WH A NEW FEMALE CLASSMATE WHO HAD TRANSFERRED TO OUR CLASS. HEARG THE OTHER BOYS, I KNEW IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS SOME SORT OF DISNNECT THAT I HAD NEVER TECTED BEFORE.THE ATTRACTN AND FEELGS THEY WERE SCRIBG WERE FOREIGN TO ME.BUT I KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT, MOSTLY FOR FEAR I'D OPEN MYSELF UP TO RIDICULE.EDOR’S PICKSABC NEWS’ G BENEZ WR LETTER TO HIS YOUNGER SELF FOR NATNAL COMG OUT DAY: 'IT WILL ALL BE OK'OCT 11, 2022ABC NEWS' BECKY WORLEY TO PARENTS ON NATNAL COMG OUT DAY: 'THIS DAY IS FOR YOU TOO'OCT 11, 2022ABC NEWS' JAM LONGMAN ON G OUT: 'I ULD NEVER IMAGE THEN THE LIFE I HAVE NOW'OCT 11, 2022I HAD BEEN LLED SISSY EARLIER THAT YEAR -- AND STUNG.BADLY.NOT BEG MYSELF THAT ONE RANDOM DAY FIFTH GRA WOULD BEE THE SHAKY FOUNDATN I WOULD LIVE NEARLY TWO S OF MY LIFE -- PRETENDG TO BE SOMETHG I WASN'T.I FEARED BEG THE BUTT OF JOK.I FEARED MY TRADNALLY CUBAN, MACHISTA FAY WOULD ABANDON ME.I FEARED REJECTN.THE WERE TOUGH THGS TO UNRSTAND AS A YOUNG ADULT, SO I DIDN'T EVEN TRY!I SIMPLY BSHED THAT TERNAL "WHO AM I?" NVERSATN UNR THE RPET FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.ALONG THE WAY, AS I TRIED TO MAKE SENSE OF MY EMOTNS, I DATED AND GOT TO LOVE SOME TLY AMAZG WOMEN THAT TGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT CHARACTER AND BEG TE TO ONELF.BY THE TIME I TURNED 24, THE TOLL OF PRETENDG TO BE SOMETHG I WASN'T HAD TURNED TO PURE AGONY.I ULD BARELY MTER THE FORCED S OR FAKE, CHEERY NVERSATNS.WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SOMETHG I ULD IGNORE FOR THE RT OF MY LIFE, LED ME TO A EP PRSN. I EVEN NSIRED THE UNTHKABLE.WHY WOULD I WANT TO GO ON LIVG A LIFE WHERE I ULD NEVER BE MYSELF?THE QUTN, FOR ONE VERY DARK PERD OF MY LIFE, WAS STUCK ON REPEAT MY MD.BUT THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO HARNS THOSE DARK THOUGHTS.INSTEAD OF BEATG MYSELF UP, I MA THE NSC CISN TO TAKE STOCK OF ALL THE MANY THGS I HAD ACPLISHED.I HAD FIED THE ODDS GROWG UP A BLACK KID A RELATIVELY POOR, VLENT NEIGHBORHOOD, BEG THE FIRST ONE MY FAY TO ATTEND LLEGE AND PURSUE A REER -- NOT JT A JOB.IF I ULD CELEBRATE THE BS AND PIEC OF ME, WHY ULDN'T I CELEBRATE ALL OF ME?THAT WAS THE QUTN THAT WAS NOW STUCK ON REPEAT.SO, I WENT OUT ON A LIMB AND TOLD MY MOM FIRST."THOSE PEOPLE YOU SOMETIM TALK ABOUT MOM, WELL I'M ONE OF THEM," I SAID.BAFFLED, SCE I PROVID ZERO NTEXT, SHE REPLIED, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WHAT ARE YOU TALKG ABOUT? ARE YOU TROUBLE?"I PSED.SUDNLY THERE WAS A LUMP MY THROAT AND SEEMED MY VOICE HAD VANISHED.AFTER ABOUT 30 SENDS, AND MENTALLY JUMPG OFF OF MOUNT EVERT, I SQUEALED AS IF SOMEONE HAD H THE FAST-FORWARD BUTTON ON MY VOICE."I'M GAY, ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. I'M A GAY MAN AND I N'T HOLD ANY MORE. I HAVE TO TELL YOU, MOM."SHE PSED AND STARTED TO TAKE EP BREATHS FOR ABOUT 10 SENDS -- WHICH FELT LIKE 10 YEARS -- AND THEN SHE SAID, "THAT DON'T CHANGE ANYTHG! YOU'RE MY SON.""I LOVE YOU AND WILL NEVER STOP LOVG YOU AND I'M HERE NO MATTER WHAT."SUDNLY EVERY SGLE SECURE, HORRIFYG, UNFORTABLE MOMENT I HAD UNTIL THAT POT FLASHED BEFORE ME. BUT THOSE MOMENTS SOMEHOW, STANTLY, DIDN'T MATTER ANYMORE.TEARS STREAMED DOWN MY FACE.MY SHOULRS SUDNLY FELT LIGHT.MY SPE SEEMED TO LENGTHEN.AND I SOMEHOW KNEW THAT MOMENT THAT EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE WERE EVER TO ACCEPT ME FOR WHO I AM, I HAD THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PERSON THAT MATTERED MOST MY LIFE.AS I STARTED TO PEEL AWAY THE THICK ON I HAD BUILT AROUND MY LIFE, MY MDSET CHANGED.WHAT I ONCE THOUGHT WAS MY "PROBLEM" I NOW REALIZED WASN'T A PROBLEM AT ALL.'EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE WERE EVER TO ACCEPT ME FOR WHO I AM, I HAD THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PERSON THAT MATTERED MOST MY LIFE.'WOULD I STILL BE REJECTED? Y.WOULD THERE STILL BE PEOPLE WHO WOULDN'T ACCEPT THE TE ME? Y.BUT MY LIVELIHOOD AND SELF-RPECT WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO WHAT THOSE PEOPLE BELIEVED OR DIDN'T BELIEVE ABOUT ME.MAKG THE CISN TO E OUT PROFOUNDLY CHANGED MY LIFE.IT EPENED MY RELATNSHIPS WH THE PEOPLE THAT MATTERED.IT REMOVED A BLDFOLD ALLOWG ME TO SEE THOSE MY LIFE WHO DIDN'T MATTER.COMG OUT ALLOWED ME TO FD AND MARRY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.IT GAVE ME THE URAGE I NEED TO PURSUE A PETIVE REER AFTER SO MANY TOLD ME I WOULD FAIL.COMG OUT STRENGTHENED MY BOND WH MY MOTHER.AND G OUT ALSO HELPED ME NNECT WH WHAT I NOW LL MY "CHOSEN FAY" OF IENDS AND LOVED ON WHO HELP ME LIVE LIFE AND SE WAYS I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD BE POSSIBLE.COMG OUT IS A PROCS THAT HAPPENS ON YOUR TIMETABLE, NOT ANYONE ELSE'S.AND WHILE SOMETIM 'S EASY TO FOC ON THE DARK DAYS, YOU N'T STOP BELIEVG THAT THERE ARE BETTER DAYS AHEAD -- TST ME, THERE WILL BE BETTER DAYS.FOR A LONG TIME, I KICKED MYSELF FOR NOT BEG BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE TE TO ME WHEN I WAS WH THAT GROUP OF IENDS DURG RECS BACK FIFTH GRA.I FELT ALONE, LIKE AN ALIEN.NOW, I HOLD ON TO HOPE THAT AS MORE OF SHARE OUR STORI, A DAY WILL E WHEN NO ONE WILL EVER HAVE TO FEEL THAT WAY AGA.EDOR’S PICKSABC NEWS’ G BENEZ WR LETTER TO HIS YOUNGER SELF FOR NATNAL COMG OUT DAY: 'IT WILL ALL BE OK'OCT 11, 2022ABC NEWS' BECKY WORLEY TO PARENTS ON NATNAL COMG OUT DAY: 'THIS DAY IS FOR YOU TOO'OCT 11, 2022ABC NEWS' JAM LONGMAN ON G OUT: 'I ULD NEVER IMAGE THEN THE LIFE I HAVE NOW'OCT 11, 2022UP NEXT LIVG—PILOT THANKS FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOM SURPRISE SPEECH ON THEIR 1ST FLIGHT TOGETHERAUGT 24, 2023HOW TO GET $4 MOVIE TICKETS FOR NATNAL CEMA DAYAUGT 24, 2023GROOM GETS NEW PASSPORT TIME FOR WEDDG AFTER DOG ATE AUGT 24, 2023ZOO ASKS PUBLIC TO NAME RARE GIRAFFE BORN WHOUT SPOTSAUGT 22, 2023UP NEXT LIVG—PILOT THANKS FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOM SURPRISE SPEECH ON THEIR 1ST FLIGHT TOGETHERAUGT 24, 2023HOW TO GET $4 MOVIE TICKETS FOR NATNAL CEMA DAYAUGT 24, 2023GROOM GETS NEW PASSPORT TIME FOR WEDDG AFTER DOG ATE AUGT 24, 2023ZOO ASKS PUBLIC TO NAME RARE GIRAFFE BORN WHOUT SPOTSAUGT 22, 2023
• GAY ABC NEWS ANCHOR OUT WHILE TALKG ABOUT ‘STAR TREK’ ACTOR ZACH QUTO ON THE AIR
• THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

ABC NEWS APPOTS GAY CORRPONNT G BENEZ AS CO-ANCHOR OF ‘GMA’ WEEKENDS

Pri Month 2021 Special: Benez's 'It will all be OK' Letter to His Younger SelfTransportatn Corrponnt for ABC NewsIn 2019’s Natnal Comg Out Day—which is celebrated worldwi on 11 October remembrance of the 1987 Natnal March on Washgton that was held support of lbian and gay rights—Benez dited a letter to his past self. “Qutns that may flip your whole world upsi-down, ” he openly gay Lato journalist, G Benez is the transportatn rrponnt for ABC News.

HIGHLIGHT THE ONGOG RELATNSHIP BETWEEN ABC'S GAY JOURNALIST DAVID MUIR & G BENEZ

Is G Benez Gay?

G Benez’s Comg Out LetterOn 2019’s Natnal Comg Out Day—which is celebrated worldwi on 11 October remembrance of the 1987 Natnal March on Washgton that was held support of lbian and gay rights—Benez dited a letter to his past self.

G BENEZ, GAY REPORTER AT ABC, NAMED ‘GMA’ -ANCHOR

"The letter further elaborat on younger Benez’s stggle to f societal norms, his enunter wh homophobia his muny and school, and how he ternalized till adulthood.

The kids at school e the word ‘gay’ as if ’s synonymo wh ‘eww.

SHOP SKILLETS, UTENSILS AND MORE OKWARE!OPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHLIVGABC NEWS' JAM LONGMAN ON G OUT: 'I ULD NEVER IMAGE THEN THE LIFE I HAVE NOW'7:00OCT. 11 IS NATNAL COMG OUT BYJAM LONGMANOCTOBER 11, 2022, 4:00 AM•8 M READOCT. 11 IS NATNAL COMG OUT DAY. FOR MANY LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, G OUT VOLV SHARG THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN AND/OR GENR INTY FOR THE FIRST TIME. YOUNG PEOPLE SEARCH OF SUPPORT THEIR INTI N NTACT THE TREVOR PROJECT'S TREVORLIFELE 24/7 AT 1-866-488-7386 OR BY TEXTG START TO 678678.I FIRST TOLD A IEND WHEN I WAS 16 THAT I THOUGHT I ULD BE GAY.EDOR’S PICKSSTRANGER LEAV TOUCHG NOTE ON UPLE'S DOORSTEP THANKG THEM FOR THE URAGE TO E OUTOCT 10, 2020DWYANE WA, BARBRA STREISAND, OTHER CELEBRY PARENTS WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT SUPPORT OF LGBTQ CHILDRENJUN 07, 2019LGBT AMERINS LOOK TO SUPREME COURT AFTER BEG FIRED, 'BEE OF SEX'OCT 07, 2019I REMEMBER I CRIED AND CRIED AT HER PARENT’S KCHEN TABLE -- AAID THAT THEY WOULD HEAR OM THE ROOM NEXT DOOR.I THK I CRIED OM RELIEF, BUT ALSO SADNS THAT I WASN’T LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.COMG OUT FOR ME FELT LIKE ADMTG A CRIME -- HOPG THAT MY IEND WOULDN’T JUDGE ME.IT WAS ONLY HER LOVE AND KDNS THAT MA ME REALIZE OTHERWISE.WHAT FOLLOWED WAS EIGHT YEARS OF SLOWLY TELLG MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, UNTIL I FALLY WROTE MY MOTHER AN EMAIL (I KNOW!) WHEN I WAS 24.MORE: 'TAKE OM ME': PROUD LGBTQ CELEBS SHARE THEIR MOST EMPOWERG ADVICETHAT FIRST IEND HAS REMAED ONE OF MY CLOST. I WAS SO PROUD TO GIVE THE READG AT HER WEDDG LAST YEAR.ONE OF THE FUNNIER G OUT MOMENTS WAS WHEN I TOLD A VERY GOOD GIRLIEND AT UNIVERSY ... AND SHE WAS THE ONE WHO CRIED!WE SAT ON MY BED MY LONDON FLAT, AND BETWEEN GREAT, HYSTERIL HICCUPS WH TEARS STREAMG DOWN HER FACE, SHE MANAGED TO SAY, "OH JAM, I DON’T KNOW -- ’S JT, I FEEL LIKE AN OPTN FOR ME HAS GONE OFF THE TABLE!”CHARMG.GOD, HOW WE LGHED.FOR ME, EVERY TERACTN I HAD BEFORE I ME OUT WAS SENTIALLY A LIE.THAT SOUNDS DRAMATIC, BUT I N’T SCRIBE ANY OTHER WAY.WHETHER TALKG ABOUT RELATNSHIPS, OR BUYG K, I JT DIDN’T FEEL MYSELF, AND WASN’T PRENTG MY REAL SELF TO THE WORLD. SO MA ME FEEL LIKE LS OF A PERSON.THAT’S PART OF WHY I THK I ALT WH PRSN MY EARLY TWENTI -- AND WHY I THK SO MANY YOUNG GAY MEN AND WOMEN DO TODAY. FEELG THAT YOU ARE "LS" THAN OTHER PEOPLE -- THAT YOU ARE SENTIALLY WORTHLS -- IS AN OBV ROUTE TO A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.I ULD NEVER IMAGE THEN THE LIFE I HAVE NOW."BUT JAM, ARE YOU EVER SRED GOG TO PLAC WHERE ’S NOT OK TO BE GAY?"THAT’S THE QUTN I GET MOST ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ELSEWHERE.THE TTH IS: SOMETIM.BEG CHECHNYA RECENTLY, WHERE WE WERE LOOKG TO AB OF LGBTQ PEOPLE, IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF FEELG SLIGHTLY ON EDGE -- TO PUT DLY!BUT WHEN I’M ON A STORY, I’M NSC OF THREE DIENC: THE PEOPLE I’M WH THAT PLACE; THE BROAR TV DIENCE AT HOME; AND THE YOUNG GAY MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAY SEE MY WORK.THE FIRST GROUP N BE CHALLENGG.I’M KEEN TO BE MYSELF, BUT ALSO SENSIVE TO DIFFERENT ATTUS PLAC WHERE GAY RIGHTS HAVE A WAYS TO GO.WHILST NOT LEGIMIZG HOMOPHOBIC VIEWS, YOU JT HAVE TO BE PRACTIL HOW YOU AL WH CERTA SUATNS.IF ANYONE I MEET SOME FAR-OFF PLACE CID TO GOOGLE ME, THEY’D SEE I’M GAY (SHOUTOUT TO MY PRETTY CREDIBLE -- AND VERY PATIENT -- BOYIEND ALEX!).SO THE VERY ACT OF BEG THERE AND TERACTG WH THEM BE POWERFUL AND OF SELF.PERHAPS ON SOME LEVEL I HOPE THAT BY MEETG ME, AND SEEG THAT I TAKE AN TERT THEIR LIV, THEY MAY BE LS JUDGMENTAL OF ME.THE DIENCE AT HOME IS THE SEND GROUP -- AND I’M AWARE THERE ARE ALSO ANTI-GAY VIEWS THERE. IF DOG MY JOB I BREAK SOME NEGATIVE STEREOTYP, AND THEY TOO N CHANGE THEIR PERCEPTNS, THEN THAT IS A HAPPY OUTE.I’M POWERFULLY AWARE THOUGH OF THE THIRD DIENCE: YOUNG GAY MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAY BE STGGLG WH THEIR INTY.WHEN I WAS GROWG UP, I HAD VIRTUALLY NO ONE TO LOOK TO THE PUBLIC EYE, WHERE I ULD SAY TO MYSELF, "WOW, HE MANAGED , I MIGHT NOT HAVE TO BE THE DARK FOREVER."SO IF YOU’RE READG THIS, WHEREVER YOU ARE, KNOW THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE, AS UNIQUE AS MAY FEEL NOW, HAS BEEN SHARED BY LNS THROUGH TIME.SOME HAVE HAD WORSE, OTHERS HAVE HAD EASIER.BUT THERE IS A MUNY WAG FOR YOU, WH LOVE AND UNRSTANDG.YOU’LL FEEL AS THOUGH YOUR LIFE HAS ONLY JT BEGUN.EACH OF YOU WHO MAK THAT BRAVE STEP MAK POSSIBLE THAT THE FUTURE, THE NEXT 16-YEAR-OLD BOY WH REALLY BAD SK, WHO WORE FLEECE WAY TOO MUCH, WOULD BE PROUD OF HIMSELF, RATHER THAN ASHAMED.NO MORE CRYG THE KCHEN, ’S TIME TO GO OUT TO THE SUNSHE.JAM LONGMAN IS A FOREIGN RRPONNT FOR ABC NEWS BASED THE LONDON BURE.EDOR'S NOTE: THIS WAS ORIGALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 11, 2019.RELATED TOPICSLGBTQEDOR’S PICKSSTRANGER LEAV TOUCHG NOTE ON UPLE'S DOORSTEP THANKG THEM FOR THE URAGE TO E OUTOCT 10, 2020DWYANE WA, BARBRA STREISAND, OTHER CELEBRY PARENTS WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT SUPPORT OF LGBTQ CHILDRENJUN 07, 2019LGBT AMERINS LOOK TO SUPREME COURT AFTER BEG FIRED, 'BEE OF SEX'OCT 07, 2019UP NEXT LIVG—PILOT THANKS FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOM SURPRISE SPEECH ON THEIR 1ST FLIGHT TOGETHERAUGT 24, 2023HOW TO GET $4 MOVIE TICKETS FOR NATNAL CEMA DAYAUGT 24, 2023GROOM GETS NEW PASSPORT TIME FOR WEDDG AFTER DOG ATE AUGT 24, 2023ZOO ASKS PUBLIC TO NAME RARE GIRAFFE BORN WHOUT SPOTSAUGT 22, 2023UP NEXT LIVG—PILOT THANKS FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOM SURPRISE SPEECH ON THEIR 1ST FLIGHT TOGETHERAUGT 24, 2023HOW TO GET $4 MOVIE TICKETS FOR NATNAL CEMA DAYAUGT 24, 2023GROOM GETS NEW PASSPORT TIME FOR WEDDG AFTER DOG ATE AUGT 24, 2023ZOO ASKS PUBLIC TO NAME RARE GIRAFFE BORN WHOUT SPOTSAUGT 22, 2023

But that word, ‘gay, ; sticks the longt. Though one iend warns, ‘you n’t be gay and succsful the media, ’ your lleagu will celebrate you. The event brought together leadg lumari om the entertament and sports dtri on 19 May panel discsed the vast range of acplishments, issu, and experienc of LGBTQ+ stars and muny, cludg the creator Ilene Chaiken’s cisn to e out by -creatg LGBTIQ+ seri The L Word for Showtime, actrs Laverne Cox’s reactn to beg the first trans performer of lor to be nomated for an Emmy, the issue of why more sportspersons haven’t e out sce Jason Colls’ breakthrough actns 2013, and how beg told to be ls feme vigorated artist Adam Rippon to bee the first openly gay Amerin to w a 2018 medal at the Wter Olympic Gam among many more.

On the other hand, David Muir is not gay. Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr and Queer televisn newssters have a proment profile many untri around the world. Amerin Charl Perez of ABC News is one to particularly note - he published his book 'Confsns of a Gay News Anchorman' (2011) after his oral of beg fired om a posn Florida when he was intified as beg gay.

For example, France, there is L'associatn s journalist LGBT, and Ameri there is the Natnal Lbian & Gay Journalists Associatn. ABC News has promoted gay rrponnt G Benez by namg him one of the work’s flagship weekend programs’ -anchors. David Muir is beg mored as gay the days.

SHOP SKILLETS, UTENSILS AND MORE OKWARE!OPEN MENUVIOSHOPCULTUREFAYWELLNSFOODLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICYYOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTSCHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICYINTERT-BASED ADSTERMS OF USEDO NOT SELL MY INFOCONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCHLIVGABC NEWS' ALEX PEREZ ON G OUT: IT 'ALLOWED ME TO FD AND MARRY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE'8:43THE STORY OF THE PRI BYALEX PEREZVIO BYCHRIS CIRILLO AND TONY MORRISONOCTOBER 07, 2020, 4:09 AM•8 M READOCT. 11 IS NATNAL COMG OUT DAY. FOR MANY LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, G OUT VOLV SHARG THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN AND/OR GENR INTY FOR THE FIRST TIME. YOUNG PEOPLE SEARCH OF SUPPORT THEIR INTI N NTACT THE TREVOR PROJECT'S TREVORLIFELE 24/7 AT 1-866-488-7386 OR BY TEXTG START TO 678678.MY MEMORY OF THE DAY IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.I WAS FIFTH GRA, ENJOYG MY FAVORE PART OF THE SCHOOL DAY -- RECS! MONKEY BARS, EEZE TAG, DODGE BALL -- BASILLY ANYTHG THAT WOULD DISTRACT ME OM WHAT I THOUGHT AT THE TIME WAS BORG: STG AT MY SK.BUT THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR I N REMEMBER FEELG A LTLE DIFFERENT.MY IENDS, WHO I'D KNOWN SCE KRGARTEN, AND I PRETTY MUCH AGREED ON EVERYTHG.WE ALL GOT NTENDO AT THE SAME TIME, DRSED SIARLY AND FOUND THE SAME THGS UNTERTG; WAS THE GLUE THAT HELD TOGETHER.THAT DAY, SEEMED LIKE I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTED TO GET THIS GAME OF DODGEBALL STARTED.THE GUYS -- MY IENDS AND FELLOW FIFTH GRARS -- WERE ALL HUDDLED UP.SO I JOED THE CIRCLE, TRYG TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EVERYONE WAS WHISPERG ABOUT.TURNS OUT, THEY WERE ALL ENAMORED WH A NEW FEMALE CLASSMATE WHO HAD TRANSFERRED TO OUR CLASS. HEARG THE OTHER BOYS, I KNEW IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS SOME SORT OF DISNNECT THAT I HAD NEVER TECTED BEFORE.THE ATTRACTN AND FEELGS THEY WERE SCRIBG WERE FOREIGN TO ME.BUT I KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT, MOSTLY FOR FEAR I'D OPEN MYSELF UP TO RIDICULE.EDOR’S PICKSABC NEWS’ G BENEZ WR LETTER TO HIS YOUNGER SELF FOR NATNAL COMG OUT DAY: 'IT WILL ALL BE OK'OCT 11, 2022ABC NEWS' BECKY WORLEY TO PARENTS ON NATNAL COMG OUT DAY: 'THIS DAY IS FOR YOU TOO'OCT 11, 2022ABC NEWS' JAM LONGMAN ON G OUT: 'I ULD NEVER IMAGE THEN THE LIFE I HAVE NOW'OCT 11, 2022I HAD BEEN LLED SISSY EARLIER THAT YEAR -- AND STUNG.BADLY.NOT BEG MYSELF THAT ONE RANDOM DAY FIFTH GRA WOULD BEE THE SHAKY FOUNDATN I WOULD LIVE NEARLY TWO S OF MY LIFE -- PRETENDG TO BE SOMETHG I WASN'T.I FEARED BEG THE BUTT OF JOK.I FEARED MY TRADNALLY CUBAN, MACHISTA FAY WOULD ABANDON ME.I FEARED REJECTN.THE WERE TOUGH THGS TO UNRSTAND AS A YOUNG ADULT, SO I DIDN'T EVEN TRY!I SIMPLY BSHED THAT TERNAL "WHO AM I?" NVERSATN UNR THE RPET FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.ALONG THE WAY, AS I TRIED TO MAKE SENSE OF MY EMOTNS, I DATED AND GOT TO LOVE SOME TLY AMAZG WOMEN THAT TGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT CHARACTER AND BEG TE TO ONELF.BY THE TIME I TURNED 24, THE TOLL OF PRETENDG TO BE SOMETHG I WASN'T HAD TURNED TO PURE AGONY.I ULD BARELY MTER THE FORCED S OR FAKE, CHEERY NVERSATNS.WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SOMETHG I ULD IGNORE FOR THE RT OF MY LIFE, LED ME TO A EP PRSN. I EVEN NSIRED THE UNTHKABLE.WHY WOULD I WANT TO GO ON LIVG A LIFE WHERE I ULD NEVER BE MYSELF?THE QUTN, FOR ONE VERY DARK PERD OF MY LIFE, WAS STUCK ON REPEAT MY MD.BUT THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO HARNS THOSE DARK THOUGHTS.INSTEAD OF BEATG MYSELF UP, I MA THE NSC CISN TO TAKE STOCK OF ALL THE MANY THGS I HAD ACPLISHED.I HAD FIED THE ODDS GROWG UP A BLACK KID A RELATIVELY POOR, VLENT NEIGHBORHOOD, BEG THE FIRST ONE MY FAY TO ATTEND LLEGE AND PURSUE A REER -- NOT JT A JOB.IF I ULD CELEBRATE THE BS AND PIEC OF ME, WHY ULDN'T I CELEBRATE ALL OF ME?THAT WAS THE QUTN THAT WAS NOW STUCK ON REPEAT.SO, I WENT OUT ON A LIMB AND TOLD MY MOM FIRST."THOSE PEOPLE YOU SOMETIM TALK ABOUT MOM, WELL I'M ONE OF THEM," I SAID.BAFFLED, SCE I PROVID ZERO NTEXT, SHE REPLIED, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WHAT ARE YOU TALKG ABOUT? ARE YOU TROUBLE?"I PSED.SUDNLY THERE WAS A LUMP MY THROAT AND SEEMED MY VOICE HAD VANISHED.AFTER ABOUT 30 SENDS, AND MENTALLY JUMPG OFF OF MOUNT EVERT, I SQUEALED AS IF SOMEONE HAD H THE FAST-FORWARD BUTTON ON MY VOICE."I'M GAY, ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. I'M A GAY MAN AND I N'T HOLD ANY MORE. I HAVE TO TELL YOU, MOM."SHE PSED AND STARTED TO TAKE EP BREATHS FOR ABOUT 10 SENDS -- WHICH FELT LIKE 10 YEARS -- AND THEN SHE SAID, "THAT DON'T CHANGE ANYTHG! YOU'RE MY SON.""I LOVE YOU AND WILL NEVER STOP LOVG YOU AND I'M HERE NO MATTER WHAT."SUDNLY EVERY SGLE SECURE, HORRIFYG, UNFORTABLE MOMENT I HAD UNTIL THAT POT FLASHED BEFORE ME. BUT THOSE MOMENTS SOMEHOW, STANTLY, DIDN'T MATTER ANYMORE.TEARS STREAMED DOWN MY FACE.MY SHOULRS SUDNLY FELT LIGHT.MY SPE SEEMED TO LENGTHEN.AND I SOMEHOW KNEW THAT MOMENT THAT EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE WERE EVER TO ACCEPT ME FOR WHO I AM, I HAD THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PERSON THAT MATTERED MOST MY LIFE.AS I STARTED TO PEEL AWAY THE THICK ON I HAD BUILT AROUND MY LIFE, MY MDSET CHANGED.WHAT I ONCE THOUGHT WAS MY "PROBLEM" I NOW REALIZED WASN'T A PROBLEM AT ALL.'EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE WERE EVER TO ACCEPT ME FOR WHO I AM, I HAD THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PERSON THAT MATTERED MOST MY LIFE.'WOULD I STILL BE REJECTED? Y.WOULD THERE STILL BE PEOPLE WHO WOULDN'T ACCEPT THE TE ME? Y.BUT MY LIVELIHOOD AND SELF-RPECT WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO WHAT THOSE PEOPLE BELIEVED OR DIDN'T BELIEVE ABOUT ME.MAKG THE CISN TO E OUT PROFOUNDLY CHANGED MY LIFE.IT EPENED MY RELATNSHIPS WH THE PEOPLE THAT MATTERED.IT REMOVED A BLDFOLD ALLOWG ME TO SEE THOSE MY LIFE WHO DIDN'T MATTER.COMG OUT ALLOWED ME TO FD AND MARRY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE.IT GAVE ME THE URAGE I NEED TO PURSUE A PETIVE REER AFTER SO MANY TOLD ME I WOULD FAIL.COMG OUT STRENGTHENED MY BOND WH MY MOTHER.AND G OUT ALSO HELPED ME NNECT WH WHAT I NOW LL MY "CHOSEN FAY" OF IENDS AND LOVED ON WHO HELP ME LIVE LIFE AND SE WAYS I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD BE POSSIBLE.COMG OUT IS A PROCS THAT HAPPENS ON YOUR TIMETABLE, NOT ANYONE ELSE'S.AND WHILE SOMETIM 'S EASY TO FOC ON THE DARK DAYS, YOU N'T STOP BELIEVG THAT THERE ARE BETTER DAYS AHEAD -- TST ME, THERE WILL BE BETTER DAYS.FOR A LONG TIME, I KICKED MYSELF FOR NOT BEG BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE TE TO ME WHEN I WAS WH THAT GROUP OF IENDS DURG RECS BACK FIFTH GRA.I FELT ALONE, LIKE AN ALIEN.NOW, I HOLD ON TO HOPE THAT AS MORE OF SHARE OUR STORI, A DAY WILL E WHEN NO ONE WILL EVER HAVE TO FEEL THAT WAY AGA.EDOR’S PICKSABC NEWS’ G BENEZ WR LETTER TO HIS YOUNGER SELF FOR NATNAL COMG OUT DAY: 'IT WILL ALL BE OK'OCT 11, 2022ABC NEWS' BECKY WORLEY TO PARENTS ON NATNAL COMG OUT DAY: 'THIS DAY IS FOR YOU TOO'OCT 11, 2022ABC NEWS' JAM LONGMAN ON G OUT: 'I ULD NEVER IMAGE THEN THE LIFE I HAVE NOW'OCT 11, 2022UP NEXT LIVG—PILOT THANKS FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOM SURPRISE SPEECH ON THEIR 1ST FLIGHT TOGETHERAUGT 24, 2023HOW TO GET $4 MOVIE TICKETS FOR NATNAL CEMA DAYAUGT 24, 2023GROOM GETS NEW PASSPORT TIME FOR WEDDG AFTER DOG ATE AUGT 24, 2023ZOO ASKS PUBLIC TO NAME RARE GIRAFFE BORN WHOUT SPOTSAUGT 22, 2023UP NEXT LIVG—PILOT THANKS FLIGHT ATTENDANT MOM SURPRISE SPEECH ON THEIR 1ST FLIGHT TOGETHERAUGT 24, 2023HOW TO GET $4 MOVIE TICKETS FOR NATNAL CEMA DAYAUGT 24, 2023GROOM GETS NEW PASSPORT TIME FOR WEDDG AFTER DOG ATE AUGT 24, 2023ZOO ASKS PUBLIC TO NAME RARE GIRAFFE BORN WHOUT SPOTSAUGT 22, 2023

It is not yet revealed, nor there is any evince to prove he is gay. David was said to be datg G and was seen visg gay bars together wh him.

ABC News rrponnt G Benez, who intifi as gay, has been promoted to a permanent -anchor on the weekend edn of “Good Morng Ameri.

GAY ABC NEWS ANCHOR OUT WHILE TALKG ABOUT ‘STAR TREK’ ACTOR ZACH QUTO ON THE AIR

He won two awards and received a nomatn for his reportg on the lol LGBTQ muny, cludg a two-part vtigatn that exposed anti-gay bullyg of lol high school stunts and the school districts' failure to implement state mandated protectns for LGBTQ stunts. Frank BniColumnist, The New York Tim@FrankBniFormerly the chief rtrant cric for The New York Tim, Bni ma history 2011 by beg the Grey Lady's first out gay lumnist.

The Emerson College assistant profsor is also a producer of the upg film Michael, based on his Tim Magaze piece about his "ex-gay" iend. Kate FaganWrer, ESPN@KateFagan3ESPN ntributor and lumnist Kate Fagan wr about basketball (and genr and sexism and homophobia) om a place of knowledge and ep, personal appreciatn.

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

31, 2013When Rob Roberts, an anchor of “Good Morng Ameri, ” disclosed this week that she was gay and a long-term relatnship wh another woman, she did so not a news release or on the ver of a magaze, but durg a seemgly sual asi a year-end Facebook a post on Sunday that looked back on her yearlong revery om a bone-marrow transplant 2012 to treat a rare blood disorr lled myelodysplastic syndrome, Ms. Roberts announced that he was gay at the annual meetg of the Natnal Lbian and Gay Journalists Associatn, sayg that he had cid was time to go public wh news that he had already shared wh many of his -workers. Champn, the longtime weather anchor for “Good Morng Ameri” and now anchor and managg edor at the Weather Channel, never hid his homosexualy (and fact, me out a sual ment to a reporter the Vows lumn about the weddg of Mr.