Dan Kloeffler, the ABC News anchor, came out as gay yesterday, as he was reporting on Zachary Quinto’s interview about his sexuality.
Dan Kloeffler revealed he too is gay while he was reporting on Zachary Quinto’s candid weekend interview, and he joked about dating the actor.
Both, Dan Kloeffler and Zachary Quinto have said they decided to speak out after a spate of teenage suicides among gay youth.
During his World News Now report on Zachary Quinto, Dan Kloeffler said:
“He’s 34, I’m 35, I’m thinkin’ I could lose my distraction about dating actors for that one.”
The ABC News anchor later explained on the TV station website:
“For the same reason that Zach decided to come out, I too, no longer wanted to hide this part of my life.
“As a journalist, I don’t want to be the story, but as a gay man I don’t want to stand silent if I can offer some inspiration or encouragement to kids that might be struggling with who they are.”
Dan Kloeffler came out as gay shortly after Zachary Quinto’s announcement during an interview with New York Magazine published on Sunday.
“As a gay man, it made me feel like there’s still so much work to be done, and there’s still so many things that need to be looked at and addressed,” Zachary Quinto said.
Zachary Quinto had refused to confirm he is gay until now even in an interview with the New York Times last year.
Zachary Quinto, the Star Trek actor later opened up on his own blog, explaining in a post published on Sunday how tragic suicide of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer, who ended his life in September because he was being severely bullied for being a homosexual, made him wish he had come out sooner.
Jamey Rodemeyer’s death in September gained significant media coverage and the 14-year-old, who was a big fan of Lady Gaga sent her a message on Twitter saying “Bye mother monster, thank you for all you have done, paws up forever,” before he killed himself.
Zachary Quinto explained: “In light of Jamey’s death, it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality.”
“Our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered citizen of this country.”
“Gay kids need to stop killing themselves because they are made to feel worthless by cruel and relentless bullying. Parents need to teach their children principles of respect and acceptance.”
“Jamey Rodemeyer’s life changed mine. And while his death only makes me wish that I had done this sooner, I am eternally grateful to him for being the catalyst for change within me. Now I can only hope to serve as the same catalyst for even one other person in this world.”
Dan Kloeffler, originally from Algonac, Michigan, joined ABC last year as a television journalist after three years working as a correspondent for NBC, anchoring MSNBC Now and the network’s Early Today shows.
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