Colton Unrwood, former 'Bachelor' star, says he's gay | CNN

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• OPEN MENUVIOSHOPWELLNSFOODCULTUREFAYLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICY — YOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTS — CHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICY — INTERT-BASED ADS — TERMS OF USE — DO NOT SELL MY INFO — CONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCH'GMA3' DEALS & STEALS TO TREAT YOURSELFCULTUREJUNE 23, 2021WHO IS MAKG LGBTQ+ HISTORY RIGHT NOW: GMA INSPIRATN LIST 2021OUT LOUDWHAT 'S REALLY LIKE AS A TRANSGENR PERSON TO GET MEDIL REJUNE 28, 2021PRI STYLE THROUGH THE YEARS: FTIVE FASHN, BETY AND MOREJUNE 27, 2022‘RUPL’S DRAG RACE ALL STARS’ DISCS UP-AND-G DRAG ARTISTS WHO SPIRE THEM JUNE 28, 2021LGBTQ+ ISSU AT THE FOREONTLGBTQ+ ISSU AT THE FOREONTETHAN MILLER/GETTY IMAG, FILENFL PLAYER CARL NASSIB OUT AS GAY
• WILL “GOOD MORNG AMERI” GET A GAY HOST?
• FORMER ‘BACHELOR’ STAR COLTON UNRWOOD: ‘I’M GAY’
• THE BT PRODUCTS TO HELP YOUR FAY TRAVEL SMOOTHLYOPEN 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—ZOO ASKS PUBLIC TO NAME RARE GIRAFFE BORN WHOUT SPOTSAUGT 22, 2023DOG EATS GROOM-TO-BE'S PASSPORT WEEKS BEFORE TERNATNAL WEDDGAUGT 21, 2023'10 MILLN NAM': LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE OF AIN SCENT, EEDOM LONIAUGT 18, 2023CHARY THAT DONAT WEDDG DRS TO ARY, 1ST RPONRS LOS DRS MAJOR FLOODAUGT 18, 2023UP NEXT LIVG—ZOO ASKS PUBLIC TO NAME RARE GIRAFFE BORN WHOUT SPOTSAUGT 22, 2023DOG EATS GROOM-TO-BE'S PASSPORT WEEKS BEFORE TERNATNAL WEDDGAUGT 21, 2023'10 MILLN NAM': LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE OF AIN SCENT, EEDOM LONIAUGT 18, 2023CHARY THAT DONAT WEDDG DRS TO ARY, 1ST RPONRS LOS DRS MAJOR FLOODAUGT 18, 2023
• SAVE OR SPEND: WARDROBE PICKS FOR YOUR BUDGETOPEN 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.SEARCHCULTUREFORMER 'BACHELOR' STAR COLTON UNRWOOD OUT AS GAY13:36FORMER 'BACHELOR' COLTON UNRWOOD SPEAKS HIS TTH AND OUT AS BYCARSON BLACKWELR VIO BYJA ANRSON AND DANIELLE GEAPRIL 14, 2021, 7:33 AM•8 M READCOLTON UNRWOOD IS READY TO LIVE HIS TTH.THE FORMER "BACHELOR" STAR ME OUT AS GAY AN EXCLIVE TERVIEW WH ROB ROBERTS ON "GOOD MORNG AMERI" ON WEDNDAY."I'VE RAN OM MYSELF FOR A LONG TIME. I'VE HATED MYSELF FOR A LONG TIME," UNRWOOD TOLD ROBERTS A PRE-TAPED CHAT. "AND I'M GAY. AND I ME TO TERMS WH THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR AND HAVE BEEN PROCSG . AND THE NEXT STEP ALL OF THIS WAS SORT OF LETTG PEOPLE KNOW."MORE: COLTON UNRWOOD SETS 'EPLY PERSONAL' TERVIEW ON 'GMA' WH ROB ROBERTS"I'M STILL NERVO, BUT YEAH," HE NTUED. "IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY FOR SURE."ABC'S ROB ROBERTS WH COLTON UNRWOOD, THE LEAD OF THE 23RD SEASON OF "THE BACHELOR," DURG AN TERVIEW APRIL 2021.ABCUNRWOOD SAID HE FALLY GOT TO A PLACE WHERE HE ULD BE HONT WH HIMSELF AFTER 2020, THE YEAR THAT TURNED EVERYONE'S LIV UPSI DOWN, AND MA PEOPLE "LOOK AT THEMSELV THE MIRROR AND FIGURE OUT WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN NNG OM OR WHAT THEY'VE BEEN PUTTG OFF THEIR LIV."WHEN ROBERTS, WHO IS ALSO OPENLY GAY, SAID SHE ULD "SEE THE JOY" AND "SEE THE RELIEF" UNRWOOD, HE SAID HE WAS "EMOTNAL , LIKE SUCH A GOOD, HAPPY, POSIVE WAY," AND IS "THE HAPPIT AND HEALTHIT" HE'S EVER BEEN.UNRWOOD SAID HE WENT THROUGH A "DARK AND BAD" TIME BEFORE FEELG LIKE HE ULD REVEAL THIS ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS "WAKE UP LL" WAS FEELG LIKE HE "WOULD'VE RATHER DIED" THAN SAY HE'S GAY."THERE WAS A MOMENT L.A. THAT I WOKE UP AND I DIDN'T THK I WAS GONNA WAKE UP. I DIDN'T HAVE THE TENTNS OF WAKG UP. AND I DID," HE RELLED, NOTG THIS MOMENT -- AND OTHER "SUICIDAL THOUGHTS" -- LED HIM TO "TAKE BACK NTROL" OF HIS LIFE.WHEN ROBERTS ASKED ABOUT THE WOMEN OM HIS "BACHELOR" SEASON AND HOW THEY -- AMONG OTHERS -- MAY FEEL MISLED, UNRWOOD SAID HE "WOULD UNRSTAND WHY THEY THK THAT WAY.""I'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT THIS TOO, OF, 'DO I REGRET BEG THE BACHELOR AND DO I REGRET HANDLG THE WAY THAT I DID?' I DO," HE SAID. "I DO THK I ULD'VE HANDLED BETTER, I'LL SAY THAT."UNRWOOD SAID HE "GENUELY" WISH HE HADN'T DRAGGED PEOPLE TO "MY OWN MS OF FIGURG OUT WHO I WAS." IN ADDN TO SAYG SORRY TO THOSE WOMEN, HE WOULD SAID THANK YOU BEE, ULTIMATELY, THEY AND THE ANCHISE HELPED HIM GET TO THIS PLACE.MORE: MATT JAM REFLECTS ON 'BACHELOR' SEASON, RACHAEL KIRKNNELL NTROVERSYWHEN HE WAS NAMED THE BACHELOR, UNRWOOD SAID HE REMEMBERED "PRAYG TO GOD" THE MORNG HE FOUND OUT AND "THANKG HIM FOR MAKG ME STRAIGHT,' THKG THIS WOULD LEAD TO HIM FALLY GETTG THE WIFE AND THEM HAVG KIDS.COLTON UNRWOOD AS "THE BACHELOR," FOR SEASON 23, 2019.CRAIG SJOD/ABCBUT UNRWOOD SAID HE HAD KNOWN THE TTH OF HIS SEXUALY SCE A YOUNG AGE, KNOWG HE "JT FELT DIFFERENT" OM THE AGE OF 6, WHEN HE ULDN'T PROCS . HE KNEW HE WAS "MORE EMOTNAL" THAN THE OTHER BOYS HIS CLASS. IT TOOK UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL FOR HIM TO REALIZE HE "WAS MORE ATTRACTED TO THE BOYS AND THE MEN" THAN HE WAS THE OPPOSE SEX.HAVG GROWN UP THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, HE REMEMBERED HE "LEARNED THE BIBLE THAT GAY IS A S" CATHOLIC GRA SCHOOL. AND DURG HIS TIME SPORTS, HE REMEMBERED PEOPLE G THE WORD "GAY" AS A TERM THAT HELD "A NNOTATN OF NEGATIVY.""I THK THERE'S A LOT OF THGS, WHEN I LOOK BACK, I'M LIKE, 'NO WONR I HELD ,'" HE SAID.UNRWOOD SAID HE HAS GROWN "CLOSER TO GOD" THIS REVELATN AND SAID HE KNOWS SOME PEOPLE WILL QUTN HOW THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE FOR A GAY MAN TO SAY."I ED TO WAKE UP THE MORNG AND PRAY FOR HIM TO TAKE THE GAY AWAY. I ED TO PRAY FOR HIM TO CHANGE ME," HE SAID, ADDG THAT HIS RELATNSHIP WH GOD NOW ISN'T "NDNAL."UNRWOOD SAID HE'S HAD "A RANGE OF RPONS" TO HIS G OUT AND THE "UNRLYG, MOST MON ONE" HAS BEEN THEY WISH HE'D TOLD THEM SOONER, CLUDG HIS DAD."AND WHEN I HEAR THAT, I WISH I WOULD HAVE HAD FAH MY IENDS AND MY FAY A LTLE B MORE," HE SAID. "THE ONLY REASON I'M STG DOWN WH YOU TODAY IS BEE I HAVE THE LOVE AND THE SUPPORT OF MY IENDS AND MY FAY."MORE: KATIE THURSTON AND MICHELLE YOUNG EACH GIVEN THEIR OWN SEASONS OF 'THE BACHELORETTE'UNRWOOD SAID HE STILL HASN'T HAD AN "EMOTNAL NNECTN" WH SOMEONE OF THE SAME SEX, BUT HE IS LOOKG FORWARD TO FDG A PARTNER."I'VE NEVER ALLOWED MYSELF TO," HE NTUED. "AND IT'S NEVER BEEN SORT OF MY RDS TO LET MYSELF GET THERE, AND I WANT TO MORE THAN ANYTHG. I'M LOOKG FOR SOMEONE WHO N PH ME AND CHALLENGE ME ALL THE GREAT WAYS."WHEN ROBERTS ASKED IF HE HAD ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STGGLG TO E OUT, UNRWOOD SAID HE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO AND IS STILL LEARNG."BUT IF I HAD TO GO BACK AND GIVE ANYBODY ADVICE, I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA GET THROUGH IS WHAT I WOULD TELL MYSELF. KEEP FIGHTG FOR YOU. KEEP CHOOSG YOU EVERY MORNG. AND WHEN THE TIME'S READY OR WHEN THE TIME'S RIGHT AND YOU'RE READY, DO ON YOUR OWN TIME."ABC'S ROB ROBERTS WH COLTON UNRWOOD, THE LEAD OF THE 23RD SEASON OF "THE BACHELOR," DURG AN TERVIEW APRIL 2021.ABC13:36UNRWOOD, WHO GAVE HIS FAL ROSE TO CASSIE RANDOLPH 2019, SAYS HE “ME TO TERMS” WH HIS SEXUALY EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND IS THE “HAPPIT AND HEALTHIT” HE’S EVER BEEN.BACHELOR NATN WAS FIRST TRODUCED TO UNRWOOD WHEN HE WAS A NTTANT ON BEC KU'S SEASON OF "THE BACHELORETTE," THE 14TH SEASON, 2018. HE MA TO KU'S FAL FOUR.THE FORMER FOOTBALL STAR FOLLOWED THIS UP WH A BRIEF STT ON SEASON 4 OF "BACHELOR PARADISE," ON WHICH HE HAD A FLG WH TIA BOOTH.UNRWOOD WAS THEN THE LEAD OF SEASON 23 OF "THE BACHELOR" 2019, WH HIS VIRGY BEG A EQUENT TOPIC OF NVERSATN AND HIS FAMO FENCE-JUMPG MOMENT BEG ONE OF THE ANCHISE'S MOST DRAMATIC MOMENTS. HE GAVE HIS FAL ROSE TO NTTANT CASSIE RANDOLPH BUT ULTIMATELY CHOSE TO NOT PROPOSE TO HER, THOUGH THEY LATER TOLD "GMA" THEY HAD DISCSED AN ENGAGEMENT.MORE: CHRIS HARRISON WON'T HOST NEXT SEASON OF 'THE BACHELORETTE'THE TWO DATED AFTER THE SHOW WRAPPED UNTIL ANNOUNCG THEIR BREAKUP EARLY 2020. THEY LATER MA HEADL WHEN RANDOLPH WAS GRANTED A RTRAG ORR AGAST UNRWOOD, ACCG HIM OF STALKG AND HARASSG HER. IN A POLICE REPORT, SHE ACCED HIM OF PUTTG A TRACKG VICE ON HER R. UNRWOOD LATER RELEASED A STATEMENT EXPLAG THAT HE AND RANDOLPH HAD ROLVED THEIR ISSU PRIVATE. SHE LATER DISMISSED THE RTRAG ORR AND REQUTED THE POLICE VTIGATN BE DROPPED.IN HIS TERVIEW WH ROBERTS, UNRWOOD APOLOGIZED SPECIFILLY TO RANDOLPH FOR "ANY PA AND EMOTNAL STRS" HE ED HER AND SAID HE WISH HADN'T HAPPENED THE WAY DID."I WISH THAT I WOULD'VE BEEN URAGEO ENOUGH TO FIX MYSELF BEFORE I BROKE ANYBODY ELSE," HE SAID.HE SAID HE "LOVED EVERYTHG" ABOUT RANDOLPH, WHICH "ONLY MA HARR AND MORE NFG" FOR HIM AS HE WAS EXPERIENCG HIS OWN "TERNAL FIGHT."PRR TO HIS TIME ON REALY TV, UNRWOOD FAMOLY DATED OLYMPIC GYMNAST ALY RAISMAN. HE WROTE ABOUT THEIR RELATNSHIP -- AND MUCH MORE -- HIS 2020 BOOK, "THE FIRST TIME: FDG MYSELF AND LOOKG FOR LOVE ON REALY TV."THE DAYS, UNRWOOD IS JT "PROUD" OF HOW FAR HE HAS E."I'M STILL THE SAME COLTON EVERYBODY MET ON TV. I'M STILL THE SAME COLTON TO MY IENDS AND MY FAY, I JT HAPPEN TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WH PEOPLE NOW ALL OF ME," HE SAID. "AND I AM PROUD OF THAT, YOU KNOW? I AM PROUD TO BE GAY."IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP OR SUPPORT, NTACT THE TREVOR PROJECT'S TREVORLIFELE 24/7 AT 1-866-488-7386. COUNSELG IS ALSO AVAILABLE 24/7 VIA CHAT AT , OR BY TEXTG 678-678.RELATED TOPICSTHE BACHELORUP NEXT CULTURE—DREW CAREY, ADAM SANDLER AND MORE CELEBRI PAY TRIBUTE TO BOB BARKERAUGT 26, 2023ALS ASSOCIATN GETS DONATN BOOST FOLLOWG ATH OF SANDRA BULLOCK'S PARTNER BRYAN RANDALL AUGT 26, 2023THOMAS RHETT AKS SHAR SUMMER ALBUM WH SWEET FAY PHOTOSAUGT 25, 2023SEE ARIANA GRAN PERFORM 'HONEYMOON AVENUE' TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF 'YOURS TLY,' HER BUT ALBUMAUGT 25, 2023UP NEXT CULTURE—DREW CAREY, ADAM SANDLER AND MORE CELEBRI PAY TRIBUTE TO BOB BARKERAUGT 26, 2023ALS ASSOCIATN GETS DONATN BOOST FOLLOWG ATH OF SANDRA BULLOCK'S PARTNER BRYAN RANDALL AUGT 26, 2023THOMAS RHETT AKS SHAR SUMMER ALBUM WH SWEET FAY PHOTOSAUGT 25, 2023SEE ARIANA GRAN PERFORM 'HONEYMOON AVENUE' TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF 'YOURS TLY,' HER BUT ALBUMAUGT 25, 2023

OPEN MENUVIOSHOPWELLNSFOODCULTUREFAYLIVGSTYLETRAVELNEWSBOOK CLUBGMA3: WYNTKNEWSLETTERPRIVACY POLICY — YOUR US STATE PRIVACY RIGHTS — CHILDREN'S ONLE PRIVACY POLICY — INTERT-BASED ADS — TERMS OF USE — DO NOT SELL MY INFO — CONTACT USCOPYRIGHT © 2023 ABC NEWS INTER VENTUR. ALL RIGHTS RERVED.SEARCH'GMA3' DEALS & STEALS TO TREAT YOURSELFCULTUREJUNE 23, 2021WHO IS MAKG LGBTQ+ HISTORY RIGHT NOW: GMA INSPIRATN LIST 2021OUT LOUDWHAT 'S REALLY LIKE AS A TRANSGENR PERSON TO GET MEDIL REJUNE 28, 2021PRI STYLE THROUGH THE YEARS: FTIVE FASHN, BETY AND MOREJUNE 27, 2022‘RUPL’S DRAG RACE ALL STARS’ DISCS UP-AND-G DRAG ARTISTS WHO SPIRE THEM JUNE 28, 2021LGBTQ+ ISSU AT THE FOREONTLGBTQ+ ISSU AT THE FOREONTETHAN MILLER/GETTY IMAG, FILENFL PLAYER CARL NASSIB OUT AS GAY

Now, he’s officially land an anchor posn on the veted morng news TV show, which means even more gay reprentatn on a platform that has already featured Rob Roberts for many years. Good Morng Ameri may be gettg a new pair of hosts for s third hour, cludg openly gay journalist G Benez.

On the bright si of this news, there’s a chance that GMA3 will have a permanent out gay anchor. In 2019, Benez penned a letter to his younger self honor of Natnal Comg Out Day, wrg, “Though one iend warns, ‘You n’t be gay and succsful the media, ’ your lleagu will celebrate you.

WILL “GOOD MORNG AMERI” GET A GAY HOST?

While she and Roberts have been together sce 2005, Roberts didn't e out as a gay woman until December 2013, when she shared an end-of-year Facebook post. "When you grow up and you know that you’re gay — pecially olr — you thk that's never gog to happen. Former 'Bachelor' star says he is gay.

Colton Unrwood told Rob Roberts on “Good Morng Ameri” that he is gay an terview that aired Wednday morng. I’m gay. Roberts waed years to e out as gay.

FORMER ‘BACHELOR’ STAR COLTON UNRWOOD: ‘I’M GAY’

At the end of 2013, Rob Roberts officially me out as gay by thankg her girliend of ten years, Amber Laign, a Facebook post that tailed Roberts' long and paful battle wh MDS, or myelodysplastic syndrome. In April 2016, gay and lbian magaze The Advote cricized Roberts for appearg on the ver of Mississippi's official tourism gui bee the state had passed what the magaze lled "a pro-discrimatn law, allowg bs, dividuals and broadly fed 'religly affiliated anizatns' to refe service to LGBT people, sgle mothers, and others who somehow offend an dividual's 'scerely held relig belief or moral nvictn' regardg marriage and sexualy. So ma me feel like ls of a ’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.

"But Jam, are you ever sred gog to plac where ’s not OK to be gay?

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 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 not legimizg homophobic views, you jt have to be practil how you al wh certa 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! 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 dience at home is the send group -- and I’m aware there are also anti-gay views there.

THE BT PRODUCTS TO HELP YOUR FAY TRAVEL SMOOTHLYOPEN 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—ZOO ASKS PUBLIC TO NAME RARE GIRAFFE BORN WHOUT SPOTSAUGT 22, 2023DOG EATS GROOM-TO-BE'S PASSPORT WEEKS BEFORE TERNATNAL WEDDGAUGT 21, 2023'10 MILLN NAM': LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE OF AIN SCENT, EEDOM LONIAUGT 18, 2023CHARY THAT DONAT WEDDG DRS TO ARY, 1ST RPONRS LOS DRS MAJOR FLOODAUGT 18, 2023UP NEXT LIVG—ZOO ASKS PUBLIC TO NAME RARE GIRAFFE BORN WHOUT SPOTSAUGT 22, 2023DOG EATS GROOM-TO-BE'S PASSPORT WEEKS BEFORE TERNATNAL WEDDGAUGT 21, 2023'10 MILLN NAM': LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE OF AIN SCENT, EEDOM LONIAUGT 18, 2023CHARY THAT DONAT WEDDG DRS TO ARY, 1ST RPONRS LOS DRS MAJOR FLOODAUGT 18, 2023

I’m powerfully aware though of the third dience: young gay men and women who may be stgglg wh their 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. Colton Unrwood is ready to live his former "Bachelor" star me out as gay an exclive terview wh Rob Roberts on "Good Morng Ameri" on Wednday. "And I'm gay.

"When Roberts, who is also openly gay, said she uld "see the joy" and "see the relief" Unrwood, he said he was "emotnal , like such a good, happy, posive way, " and is "the happit and healthit" he's ever been. Unrwood said he went through a "dark and bad" time before feelg like he uld reveal this about himself and his "wake up ll" was feelg like he "would've rather died" than say he's gay. It took until high school for him to realize he "was more attracted to the boys and the men" than he was the oppose grown up the Catholic church, he remembered he "learned the Bible that gay is a s" Catholic gra school.

SAVE OR SPEND: WARDROBE PICKS FOR YOUR BUDGETOPEN 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.SEARCHCULTUREFORMER 'BACHELOR' STAR COLTON UNRWOOD OUT AS GAY13:36FORMER 'BACHELOR' COLTON UNRWOOD SPEAKS HIS TTH AND OUT AS BYCARSON BLACKWELR VIO BYJA ANRSON AND DANIELLE GEAPRIL 14, 2021, 7:33 AM•8 M READCOLTON UNRWOOD IS READY TO LIVE HIS TTH.THE FORMER "BACHELOR" STAR ME OUT AS GAY AN EXCLIVE TERVIEW WH ROB ROBERTS ON "GOOD MORNG AMERI" ON WEDNDAY."I'VE RAN OM MYSELF FOR A LONG TIME. I'VE HATED MYSELF FOR A LONG TIME," UNRWOOD TOLD ROBERTS A PRE-TAPED CHAT. "AND I'M GAY. AND I ME TO TERMS WH THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR AND HAVE BEEN PROCSG . AND THE NEXT STEP ALL OF THIS WAS SORT OF LETTG PEOPLE KNOW."MORE: COLTON UNRWOOD SETS 'EPLY PERSONAL' TERVIEW ON 'GMA' WH ROB ROBERTS"I'M STILL NERVO, BUT YEAH," HE NTUED. "IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY FOR SURE."ABC'S ROB ROBERTS WH COLTON UNRWOOD, THE LEAD OF THE 23RD SEASON OF "THE BACHELOR," DURG AN TERVIEW APRIL 2021.ABCUNRWOOD SAID HE FALLY GOT TO A PLACE WHERE HE ULD BE HONT WH HIMSELF AFTER 2020, THE YEAR THAT TURNED EVERYONE'S LIV UPSI DOWN, AND MA PEOPLE "LOOK AT THEMSELV THE MIRROR AND FIGURE OUT WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN NNG OM OR WHAT THEY'VE BEEN PUTTG OFF THEIR LIV."WHEN ROBERTS, WHO IS ALSO OPENLY GAY, SAID SHE ULD "SEE THE JOY" AND "SEE THE RELIEF" UNRWOOD, HE SAID HE WAS "EMOTNAL , LIKE SUCH A GOOD, HAPPY, POSIVE WAY," AND IS "THE HAPPIT AND HEALTHIT" HE'S EVER BEEN.UNRWOOD SAID HE WENT THROUGH A "DARK AND BAD" TIME BEFORE FEELG LIKE HE ULD REVEAL THIS ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS "WAKE UP LL" WAS FEELG LIKE HE "WOULD'VE RATHER DIED" THAN SAY HE'S GAY."THERE WAS A MOMENT L.A. THAT I WOKE UP AND I DIDN'T THK I WAS GONNA WAKE UP. I DIDN'T HAVE THE TENTNS OF WAKG UP. AND I DID," HE RELLED, NOTG THIS MOMENT -- AND OTHER "SUICIDAL THOUGHTS" -- LED HIM TO "TAKE BACK NTROL" OF HIS LIFE.WHEN ROBERTS ASKED ABOUT THE WOMEN OM HIS "BACHELOR" SEASON AND HOW THEY -- AMONG OTHERS -- MAY FEEL MISLED, UNRWOOD SAID HE "WOULD UNRSTAND WHY THEY THK THAT WAY.""I'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT THIS TOO, OF, 'DO I REGRET BEG THE BACHELOR AND DO I REGRET HANDLG THE WAY THAT I DID?' I DO," HE SAID. "I DO THK I ULD'VE HANDLED BETTER, I'LL SAY THAT."UNRWOOD SAID HE "GENUELY" WISH HE HADN'T DRAGGED PEOPLE TO "MY OWN MS OF FIGURG OUT WHO I WAS." IN ADDN TO SAYG SORRY TO THOSE WOMEN, HE WOULD SAID THANK YOU BEE, ULTIMATELY, THEY AND THE ANCHISE HELPED HIM GET TO THIS PLACE.MORE: MATT JAM REFLECTS ON 'BACHELOR' SEASON, RACHAEL KIRKNNELL NTROVERSYWHEN HE WAS NAMED THE BACHELOR, UNRWOOD SAID HE REMEMBERED "PRAYG TO GOD" THE MORNG HE FOUND OUT AND "THANKG HIM FOR MAKG ME STRAIGHT,' THKG THIS WOULD LEAD TO HIM FALLY GETTG THE WIFE AND THEM HAVG KIDS.COLTON UNRWOOD AS "THE BACHELOR," FOR SEASON 23, 2019.CRAIG SJOD/ABCBUT UNRWOOD SAID HE HAD KNOWN THE TTH OF HIS SEXUALY SCE A YOUNG AGE, KNOWG HE "JT FELT DIFFERENT" OM THE AGE OF 6, WHEN HE ULDN'T PROCS . HE KNEW HE WAS "MORE EMOTNAL" THAN THE OTHER BOYS HIS CLASS. IT TOOK UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL FOR HIM TO REALIZE HE "WAS MORE ATTRACTED TO THE BOYS AND THE MEN" THAN HE WAS THE OPPOSE SEX.HAVG GROWN UP THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, HE REMEMBERED HE "LEARNED THE BIBLE THAT GAY IS A S" CATHOLIC GRA SCHOOL. AND DURG HIS TIME SPORTS, HE REMEMBERED PEOPLE G THE WORD "GAY" AS A TERM THAT HELD "A NNOTATN OF NEGATIVY.""I THK THERE'S A LOT OF THGS, WHEN I LOOK BACK, I'M LIKE, 'NO WONR I HELD ,'" HE SAID.UNRWOOD SAID HE HAS GROWN "CLOSER TO GOD" THIS REVELATN AND SAID HE KNOWS SOME PEOPLE WILL QUTN HOW THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE FOR A GAY MAN TO SAY."I ED TO WAKE UP THE MORNG AND PRAY FOR HIM TO TAKE THE GAY AWAY. I ED TO PRAY FOR HIM TO CHANGE ME," HE SAID, ADDG THAT HIS RELATNSHIP WH GOD NOW ISN'T "NDNAL."UNRWOOD SAID HE'S HAD "A RANGE OF RPONS" TO HIS G OUT AND THE "UNRLYG, MOST MON ONE" HAS BEEN THEY WISH HE'D TOLD THEM SOONER, CLUDG HIS DAD."AND WHEN I HEAR THAT, I WISH I WOULD HAVE HAD FAH MY IENDS AND MY FAY A LTLE B MORE," HE SAID. "THE ONLY REASON I'M STG DOWN WH YOU TODAY IS BEE I HAVE THE LOVE AND THE SUPPORT OF MY IENDS AND MY FAY."MORE: KATIE THURSTON AND MICHELLE YOUNG EACH GIVEN THEIR OWN SEASONS OF 'THE BACHELORETTE'UNRWOOD SAID HE STILL HASN'T HAD AN "EMOTNAL NNECTN" WH SOMEONE OF THE SAME SEX, BUT HE IS LOOKG FORWARD TO FDG A PARTNER."I'VE NEVER ALLOWED MYSELF TO," HE NTUED. "AND IT'S NEVER BEEN SORT OF MY RDS TO LET MYSELF GET THERE, AND I WANT TO MORE THAN ANYTHG. I'M LOOKG FOR SOMEONE WHO N PH ME AND CHALLENGE ME ALL THE GREAT WAYS."WHEN ROBERTS ASKED IF HE HAD ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STGGLG TO E OUT, UNRWOOD SAID HE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO AND IS STILL LEARNG."BUT IF I HAD TO GO BACK AND GIVE ANYBODY ADVICE, I MEAN, YOU'RE GONNA GET THROUGH IS WHAT I WOULD TELL MYSELF. KEEP FIGHTG FOR YOU. KEEP CHOOSG YOU EVERY MORNG. AND WHEN THE TIME'S READY OR WHEN THE TIME'S RIGHT AND YOU'RE READY, DO ON YOUR OWN TIME."ABC'S ROB ROBERTS WH COLTON UNRWOOD, THE LEAD OF THE 23RD SEASON OF "THE BACHELOR," DURG AN TERVIEW APRIL 2021.ABC13:36UNRWOOD, WHO GAVE HIS FAL ROSE TO CASSIE RANDOLPH 2019, SAYS HE “ME TO TERMS” WH HIS SEXUALY EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND IS THE “HAPPIT AND HEALTHIT” HE’S EVER BEEN.BACHELOR NATN WAS FIRST TRODUCED TO UNRWOOD WHEN HE WAS A NTTANT ON BEC KU'S SEASON OF "THE BACHELORETTE," THE 14TH SEASON, 2018. HE MA TO KU'S FAL FOUR.THE FORMER FOOTBALL STAR FOLLOWED THIS UP WH A BRIEF STT ON SEASON 4 OF "BACHELOR PARADISE," ON WHICH HE HAD A FLG WH TIA BOOTH.UNRWOOD WAS THEN THE LEAD OF SEASON 23 OF "THE BACHELOR" 2019, WH HIS VIRGY BEG A EQUENT TOPIC OF NVERSATN AND HIS FAMO FENCE-JUMPG MOMENT BEG ONE OF THE ANCHISE'S MOST DRAMATIC MOMENTS. HE GAVE HIS FAL ROSE TO NTTANT CASSIE RANDOLPH BUT ULTIMATELY CHOSE TO NOT PROPOSE TO HER, THOUGH THEY LATER TOLD "GMA" THEY HAD DISCSED AN ENGAGEMENT.MORE: CHRIS HARRISON WON'T HOST NEXT SEASON OF 'THE BACHELORETTE'THE TWO DATED AFTER THE SHOW WRAPPED UNTIL ANNOUNCG THEIR BREAKUP EARLY 2020. THEY LATER MA HEADL WHEN RANDOLPH WAS GRANTED A RTRAG ORR AGAST UNRWOOD, ACCG HIM OF STALKG AND HARASSG HER. IN A POLICE REPORT, SHE ACCED HIM OF PUTTG A TRACKG VICE ON HER R. UNRWOOD LATER RELEASED A STATEMENT EXPLAG THAT HE AND RANDOLPH HAD ROLVED THEIR ISSU PRIVATE. SHE LATER DISMISSED THE RTRAG ORR AND REQUTED THE POLICE VTIGATN BE DROPPED.IN HIS TERVIEW WH ROBERTS, UNRWOOD APOLOGIZED SPECIFILLY TO RANDOLPH FOR "ANY PA AND EMOTNAL STRS" HE ED HER AND SAID HE WISH HADN'T HAPPENED THE WAY DID."I WISH THAT I WOULD'VE BEEN URAGEO ENOUGH TO FIX MYSELF BEFORE I BROKE ANYBODY ELSE," HE SAID.HE SAID HE "LOVED EVERYTHG" ABOUT RANDOLPH, WHICH "ONLY MA HARR AND MORE NFG" FOR HIM AS HE WAS EXPERIENCG HIS OWN "TERNAL FIGHT."PRR TO HIS TIME ON REALY TV, UNRWOOD FAMOLY DATED OLYMPIC GYMNAST ALY RAISMAN. HE WROTE ABOUT THEIR RELATNSHIP -- AND MUCH MORE -- HIS 2020 BOOK, "THE FIRST TIME: FDG MYSELF AND LOOKG FOR LOVE ON REALY TV."THE DAYS, UNRWOOD IS JT "PROUD" OF HOW FAR HE HAS E."I'M STILL THE SAME COLTON EVERYBODY MET ON TV. I'M STILL THE SAME COLTON TO MY IENDS AND MY FAY, I JT HAPPEN TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WH PEOPLE NOW ALL OF ME," HE SAID. "AND I AM PROUD OF THAT, YOU KNOW? I AM PROUD TO BE GAY."IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP OR SUPPORT, NTACT THE TREVOR PROJECT'S TREVORLIFELE 24/7 AT 1-866-488-7386. COUNSELG IS ALSO AVAILABLE 24/7 VIA CHAT AT , OR BY TEXTG 678-678.RELATED TOPICSTHE BACHELORUP NEXT CULTURE—DREW CAREY, ADAM SANDLER AND MORE CELEBRI PAY TRIBUTE TO BOB BARKERAUGT 26, 2023ALS ASSOCIATN GETS DONATN BOOST FOLLOWG ATH OF SANDRA BULLOCK'S PARTNER BRYAN RANDALL AUGT 26, 2023THOMAS RHETT AKS SHAR SUMMER ALBUM WH SWEET FAY PHOTOSAUGT 25, 2023SEE ARIANA GRAN PERFORM 'HONEYMOON AVENUE' TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF 'YOURS TLY,' HER BUT ALBUMAUGT 25, 2023UP NEXT CULTURE—DREW CAREY, ADAM SANDLER AND MORE CELEBRI PAY TRIBUTE TO BOB BARKERAUGT 26, 2023ALS ASSOCIATN GETS DONATN BOOST FOLLOWG ATH OF SANDRA BULLOCK'S PARTNER BRYAN RANDALL AUGT 26, 2023THOMAS RHETT AKS SHAR SUMMER ALBUM WH SWEET FAY PHOTOSAUGT 25, 2023SEE ARIANA GRAN PERFORM 'HONEYMOON AVENUE' TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF 'YOURS TLY,' HER BUT ALBUMAUGT 25, 2023

And durg his time sports, he remembered people g the word "gay" as a term that held "a nnotatn of negativy. Unrwood said he has grown "closer to God" this revelatn and said he knows some people will qutn how that's even possible for a gay man to say. "I ed to wake up the morng and pray for him to take the gay away.

I am proud to be gay.