Daniel Franzese, the actor best known for playing gay teen Damian in 'Mean Girls', has come out as gay in an open letter to... his 'Mean Girls' character.
Indiewire published the letter, which sees the 35-year-old Franzese explaining his anxiety about Hollywood's "gay ceiling" to the fictional Damian. Franzese says he was refused auditions for roles after 'Mean Girls' because casting directors didn't think he could play "masculine roles".
"So, there it was," Franzese writes. "Damian, you had ruined my life and I was really pissed at you. I became celibate for a year and a half. I didn't go to any gay bars, have any flings and I lied to anyone who asked if I was gay. I even brought a girl to the 'Mean Girls' premiere and kissed her on the red carpet, making her my unwitting beard.
"It wasn't until years later that grown men started to coming up to me on the street - some of them in tears - and thanking me for being a role model to them. Telling me I gave them comfort not only being young and gay but also being a big dude. It was then that I realized how much of an impact YOU had made on them.
"Meanwhile, I was still in the closet. Deleting tweets that asked if I was gay, scrubbing IMDB Message Boards for any indication, etc. (It’s important to note that I was actually DISCOVERED singing in a Florida gay bar by casting director, Carmen Cuba, for my first role in Larry Clark’s 'Bully'.)
I had the perfect opportunity in 2004 to let people know the REAL Daniel Franzese. Now in 2014 - ten years later - looking back, it took YOU to teach me how to be proud of myself again. It’s okay if no one wants to sit at the table with the “art freaks.” Being a queer artist is one of my favorite things about myself. I have always been different and that's rad. People have always asked if I was really gay? While my reps usually lied to protect me.
"My friends and family all knew the truth but now it's time everyone does. Perhaps this will help someone else. I had to remind myself that my parents named me Daniel because it means "God is my judge" So, I’m not afraid anymore. Of Hollywood, the closet or mean girls. Thank you for that, Damian. (And Tina.)"
Oh, and by the way — Daniel hates it when people say they're "too gay to function", even if it is a 'Mean Girls' quote. "They should refrain from using that phrase," he writes. "It really is ONLY okay when Janis [Ian] says it."
Read the full letter at Indiewire.
