McKellen: ‘My advice to anyone in the closet is: come out’

Ian McKellen has shared his views on coming out, saying he has “never met a gay person who came out and regretted it”.

The actor revealed his sexuality to the public in 1988, spurred on by the fact that Section 28, which proposed to prohibit local authorities from “promoting homosexuality”, was under consideration in the British Parliament.

“Anyone in public life who comes out, comes out primarily for themselves, and their life is immediately improved. That’s what happened to me,” he recalled in a BuzzFeed Brews interview in New York yesterday (February 21). “The world [became] a slightly better place.”

Later in the interview, McKellen offered some advice to those struggling with the decision to come out, saying: “I feel sorry for anyone who feels the need to lie about themselves. That’s not good for you. It doesn’t lead to a happy life. And I’ve never met a gay person who came out and who regretted it. Never.

“So, my advice to anyone in the closet — it doesn’t matter whether they’re a teacher, or a politician, or a priest, or an actor — come out. Join the human race.”

McKellen went on say he has been “gladdened” by the positive response Ellen Page, his co-star in the new X-Men film, has received since she revealed her sexuality last Friday (February 14).

“All this has come to a happy conclusion, hasn’t it?” he said. “With Ellen Page — Kitty Pryde — coming out. That gladdened my heart so much. For people who are lonely… reading that about someone whose career they follow is a little bit of a help and encouragement to them to think it does get better.”

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