Miles Heizer on overcoming ‘conservative’ family members’ response to him coming out
"Everyone knew, regardless of if they claimed they didn’t – it couldn’t have been more obvious," says the Boots star in an interview with Attitude
Miles Heizer has shared his coming out story, admitting it was “tough” sharing the news with certain “conservative” family members.
The 13 Reasons Why star is back on Netflix in new TV show Boots, about a bullied, closeted gay teenager who joins military bootcamp in order to find inner-strength.
The star’s coming out story is one of two parts: after moving from Kentucky to Los Angeles to acting when he was 10, he had two groups of people to tell.
“I was homeschooled and surrounded by very accepting, progressive people” – Miles Heizer
“I’m in such a bubble in LA,” he told us. “I was in a show called Parenthood; it started when I was, like, 14, up until 20. I didn’t go to public high school. I was homeschooled and surrounded by very accepting, progressive people. So, I never felt fear that the people around me would judge me for who I was.
“I definitely had a conservative family, and a lot of my fear around that was much more centralised there than in the real world. It was tough: I had a classic coming out where things didn’t go so well at the beginning with family.
“That being said, everyone else around me was so accepting. Once I was comfortable facing that, it was easy to do it to the rest to the world. No one else cares! Also, everyone knew, regardless of if they claimed they didn’t. It couldn’t have been more obvious.”
When, in the interview, Attitude calls his story a bit of a Hannah Montana situation’, Miles replies: “Yes, exactly!”
Boots hits Netflix on 9 October.
To read Miles’s Attitude cover interview in full, check out issue 366 of Attitude magazine, available to order here, and alongside 15 years of back issues on the free Attitude app.
Boots: the official longline
“The series follows directionless, closeted Cameron Cope and his best friend Ray McAffey, the son of a decorated Marine, as they join a diverse group of recruits. Together, this ensemble navigates the literal and metaphorical landmines of boot camp, forging unlikely bonds and discovering their true selves in an environment designed to push them to their limits.
“With sharp wit and plenty of heart, Boots is about friendship, resilience, and finding your place in the world — even when that world seems determined to keep you in line or leave you behind.”
