Entertainment
Wentworth Miller Gay, Prison Break Star Comes Out
Wentworth Miller Gay, Prison Break Star Comes Out
Wentworth Miller started in the popular FOX Network series “Prison Break” where he played the character “Michael Scofield” who infiltrates prison for the purpose of helping his brother escape. The latter is wrongly convicted of murder and is on death row. However, little did anyone know the 41-year-old actor from Chipping Norton, England was in his own prison. However, he has decided to make a prison break and come out as being homosexual.
What prompted the actor to openly come out now is his opposition to Russia’s latest anti-gay laws. The Russian government under Vladmir Putin has taken a hostile stand against homosexuals blaming them for the decline of moral standards and the population in general. President Putin recently signed into a law a ban against speaking of “alternative lifestyles” (IE homosexuality) in the presence of minors making it a criminal offense to do so punishable by fine and jail time.
Miller is part Russian on his mother’s side and feels an affinity towards the Russian people. However, he believes that people around the world need to take a strong stand against the anti-homosexual climate being fomented in the Russian Republic.
Miller turned down an offer to attend the St. Petersburg International Film Festival as a “guest of honor” in a letter posted on the website of advocacy group GLAAD, which monitors media representation of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people and issues.
“Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes. However, as a gay man, I must decline,” Miller wrote to festival director Maria Averbakh.
Miller added that he was “deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government,” and did not want attend a festival in a country where “people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.”
Miller has received praise for his bold stand and admission to being gay.
Miller joins TV host Andy Cohen in turning down a recent invitation to visit Russia: Cohen, who is gay, declined the opportunity to host this year’s Miss Universe pageant, also due to Russia’s anti-gay policies.
On The Web:
Wentworth Miller Gay, Prison Break Star Comes Out
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/21/wentworth-miller-comes-out-gay_n_3792389.html
Actor Wentworth Miller confirms he’s gay in open letter declining invitation to Russian filmfest
http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/08/22/actor-wentworth-miller-confirms-hes-gay-in-open-letter-declining-invitation-to-russian-filmfest-due-to-countrys-anti-lgbt-policies/