Joel Grey comes out: Why it's important that the 82-year-old has publicly admitted he's gay
The Oscar-winning actor said if he was forced to 'label' himself, he would say he's a gay man
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Joel Grey, the actor who won an Oscar for his stunning performance alongside Liza Minelli in Cabaret, has just come out as gay. Here's why his admission is so inspiring.
Not pigeon-holed
"I don't like labels," Grey told People magazine, "but if you have to put a label on it, I'm a gay man."
His sexuality was not a secret to his friends or family, but this is the first time the stage and theatre actor has been prepared to discuss it publicly.
"All the people close to me have known for years who I am," Grey added. "It took time to embrace that other part of who I always was."
Intolerant generation
Grey's coming out is made all the more significant by the fact that his upbringing was so marked by homophobia. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, to parents who openly derided gay people.
Grey recalls "hearing the grown-ups talk in the next room, my mother included, talking derisively about 'fairies' and men being dragged off to jail and even worse for being who they were."
He eventually left Ohio to attend college in Los Angeles.
Fluid sexuality
Like many people, Grey has been attracted to both men and women. He said: "I came to realise, along with being attracted to girls, I had similar feelings for boys."
He was married to actress Jo Wilder, with whom he has two children. Talking about his 24-year marriage, he described it as the "happiest [time] of my life".
Support of his family
His daughter, Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, told People: "I feel very happy for my dad that he has come to a point in his life where he feels safe and comfortable enough to declare himself in a public way as a gay man."
She added: "Mostly because the more people are free to own their true nature and can hopefully come closer to love and accept themselves as they really are, no matter what age, no matter how long it takes, to finally be free of the lies or half truths, it is freedom."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments