Drop Dead Diva - Producer: Josh Berman

[advocate.com]

Josh Berman: Death Becomes Him

With Drop Dead Diva, his hit series about a reincarnated model, Josh Berman is not only changing perceptions about beauty and intellect, he’s also fighting social injustice.
By Jeremy Kinser

Josh Berman is full of surprises. The affable, fresh-faced 41-year-old creator of Drop Dead Diva could easily pass as a typical, unassuming boy next door — literally, he’s so youthful-looking in person that he gets carded when ordering cocktails while flying in business class and he’s been mistaken for the office gofer during casting sessions. Yet when Berman speaks about his hit Lifetime series and the effect it’s had on viewers, there’s a straightforwardness in his speaking manner and a directness in his gaze that can only come with maturity.

While Diva at first seems just an update on the durable body-swapping concept that has provided fodder for comedies ranging from Freaky Friday to this summer’s The Change-Up, Berman is after something deeper, richer, and more than just sight gags. The show’s heroine, Deb, a vapid model wannabe reincarnated in the zaftig body of Jane (Brooke Elliott), a go-getter attorney, not only finds validation each week but takes viewers on an educational journey.

“I work out a lot of my issues on the show,” Berman says, with a smile as he sips a late-afternoon tea at a quiet restaurant on a bustling street in West Hollywood. “Whether it’s dating or there’s an inequity or injustice, I can actually do something about it and make sure millions of people around the world see it, whether they like it or not.”

Since it premiered in 2009, millions of people have fallen for the series, which stars queer actress Margaret Cho and has a crew that features out producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron as well as lesbian director Jamie Babbit. Diva has been a breakout hit for the network synonymous with women’s dilemma-of-the-week movies. It’s not only attracted high-caliber guest stars such as Liza Minnelli and Rosie O’Donnell, it’s provided the perfect vehicle for Berman to draw from newspaper headlines for story ideas.

“There’s nothing like realism to make fiction better,” Berman says with a chuckle. The show received a GLAAD Award nomination for a transgender-themed episode, and Constance McMillen, who was prevented from attending her high school prom with a female date, inspired another. Berman’s social awareness has also resulted in the show’s recent nomination for a prestigious Humanitas Prize. Still, the light tone of the series marks a change of pace for Berman, who, after writing an attention-grabbing spec script for Seinfeld, honed his talents on intense crime dramas including Bones and CSI, where he had a six-year stint, starting as a staff writer and leaving as an executive.

Such evolution isn’t uncharted territory for Berman, who grew up in a close-knit family in the affluent enclave of Encino, Calif. After earning law and business graduate degrees at Stanford, he departed for Australia on a Fulbright scholarship. It was while Down Under that Berman realized he was gay and had harbored a long-dormant attraction to his best male friend. Following a nervous phone call to break the news to his family, Berman found they were incredibly supportive from the beginning.

"If I’d let my mom, she’d go around the country and march in parades,” he says. “It was my grandfather who was most supportive. He was the one I was most concerned about because he was ex-military and in his 70s. He just said, ‘Oh, well, some people have blue eyes and some people have brown eyes.’ ”

Yet the most impactful member of the Berman clan is undoubtedly Deb, his late grandmother, who provided an unlikely inspiration for his TV heroine. “I was known as this dark procedural, testosterone-y writer and I wanted to write something about a great character with a heart,” he recalls. Berman thought about his grandmother, who instilled confidence and pride in him and gave the character her name.

“Even though she was a 4-foot-11, chubby Holocaust survivor, she carried herself like a supermodel,” he says. “But no one wanted to buy a show about an old Jewish grandmother.” Berman was determined to inject her spirit into a character who would live and breathe and be dynamic on television.

“I created a package that wasn’t a supermodel and infused her with a supermodel’s spirit and point of view,” he says.

Also unusual is Diva’s broad demographic appeal, which is particularly gratifying to Berman. The show’s message rings true with viewers of all ages — a chubby fourth-grader in his teacher friend’s classroom is one devoted fan — and he hears from straight male enthusiasts. “They say their wives or girlfriends are watching it and then they’ve gotten hooked,” Berman says.

But he insists there’s no need to insert recurring LGBT characters into a series that already constantly touts self-acceptance. “I feel more of a responsibility to have a life-affirming show that says you should feel good about yourself no matter who you are,” Berman says. “I think regardless of whether it’s gender or race or religion, I want people to feel good about themselves and not to be their own worst critics.”

Secret Codes And Battleships - Darren Hayes

Finally a copy of CD has arrived. Since I got an email from Amazon a week ago, I was waiting and waiting and waiting for this moment.

I haven't listened to all songs yet, but I love Black Out The Sun at the moment.

Disc: 1
1. Taken By The Sea
2. Don't Give Up
3. Nearly Love
4. Black Out The Sun (Album Version)
5. Talk Talk Talk
6. Bloodstained Heart
7. God Walking Into The Room
8. Hurt
9. Roses
10. Stupid Mistake
11. Cruel Cruel World
12. The Siren's Call
Disc: 2
1. Explode
2. Perfect
3. Tiny Little Flashlights
4. Nothing
5. Glorious
6. Talk Talk Talk (Live in the Attic)
7. Black Out The Sun (Live in the Attic)

An article from PinkPaper.com

[Source]
Darren Hayes: I don’t want to be a poster child for gay rights

by Jessica Geen
28 October 2011, 3:23pm

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Darren Hayes says he wants to be known
for his music

Former Savage Garden singer Darren Hayes says he does not want to be pigeon-holed as a gay artist.

The 39-year-old musician, who came out five years ago, told News.com.au: “I don’t want to be a gay or a straight artist. I don’t make gay records – I make records.

“I don’t want to feel like I have to be a poster child for anything other than being a great artist. I don’t take that on board as being my responsibility as a gay man, because I think it’s really limiting.”

Hayes, who had a civil partnership in 2006, said he was inspired by Michael Jackson as a child.

He explained: “For me as a kid growing up, I was gay and I didn’t even realise it, let alone accept it. I was told I was gay before I could even imagine it. I was incredibly bullied – ferociously bullied – as a child.

“I looked to this man that the whole world thought was a freak and I thought, ‘That’s normal’, and he was this hero to me. He taught me to sing.”

Simon Amstell talks about coming out

[Source]

Coming Out Simon Amstell's view Why do it? Are you ready? Who first? Do's and don'ts Family Friends Relationships Meeting People Sex Bullying Information for parents Youth Groups Links

'I sat down and told my parents, they both said they already knew. My mum found out the number of a local youth group and I have been going every week since' Simon Amstell on coming out Award-winning comedian Simon Amstell - who presented TV series Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Popworld and co-wrote and starred in sitcom Grandma's House - talked to YGM about how he dealt with coming out, sexual health and sex. YGM: When did you first realise you were gay? Simon Amstell (SA): It was around puberty that I realised but I only came out when I was 20. YGM: Who was the first person you told? SA: I had just got back from Miami where I had a 'finding myself'-type holiday and then I told my brother and my mother. She was quite shocked funnily enough. She's cool now but it took her a really long time to come to terms with it. My brothers and sister didn't really care but my father still has issues which we are working on. YGM: How did your friends react? SA: My friends were alright, in fact I didn't bother coming out to them, I just brought my first boyfriend along to a night out. There was no issue which was nice because I didn't want to make a big statement and I didn't want it to be the only thing people focussed on. YGM: What were your experiences at school like? SA: It was alright, I can't remember ever being bullied, I was still very much in denial – thinking that I could just throw away Attitude magazine and I wouldn't be gay anymore. I never for one minute thought that I would come out at school, even if I had been completely sure that I was gay I wouldn't have. I guess the problem with schools used to be Section 28 which stopped anyone mentioning sexuality. I was aware of gay teachers in my school – I don't know how - I guess the gossip just got passed down from year to year. The only time there was any mention of sexuality at school was when a theatre group came in and did a play about various youth issues and there was one gay character. YGM: What were your first impressions of the gay scene? SA: Well because it had been so long, [London gay club] Heaven was indeed heaven! I thought the scene was brilliant. I could be myself and you see all sorts of different people like drag queens wandering around. Now I find it quite nice to go to mixed places, I think 'gay' should be related to 'cool'. YGM: When was your first gay experience? SA: About a year before I went to Miami I got the Eurostar to Paris. I thought I could find a gay club there. So I snogged a guy in a club hoping that would end my confusion. Was I just sexually attracted to men, or was it more about the scariness of being attracted to men that made it more intense than being attracted to women? I could look at girls and think they were pretty but that was it. After Paris I didn't do anything about it for about a year. I was working at Nickelodeon at the time and just thought it was a cliché to be another gay kids TV presenter. I went to Miami when I was working at Popworld. I met a guy at a gay club and ended up going back to his place and that was it. He became my first boyfriend - I was with him for a year and he taught me everything about being gay. I think once I felt really confident and happy I didn't really need him anymore but he was great and I was very lucky to have him as my first boyfriend. YGM: What was your understanding around sexual health back then? SA: Well he was really good about that and let me know about condoms, otherwise at that point I could probably have been talked into anything. But now sexual health is so important, I went for my first sexual health check-up after I broke up with him. Even though I had no reason to worry about anything it was still a relief, at least I got it out of the way. YGM: So you have had positive experiences of being in a relationship. What are the positives of being in a relationship and of being single? SA: After I broke up with my first boyfriend I thought: ‘Hey I am single now,’ and so I went a bit crazy for about a year. After a while I thought: ‘Actually I want a boyfriend,' then had a few relationships that didn't last very long. Now I'm really not interested in one-night stands at all - dates for me are just better. It's nice to know someone before the morning after, there is nothing worse than waking up with someone and realising you don't like them! YGM: The entertainment industry has a reputation for being quite popular with gay men as a career choice. Do you find that? SA: The truth is when I worked at Nickelodean I was the only person in that studio at that point who was out, although a few people came out after I left. I thought that once I left school and got into the media, everyone would be gay and it would be fine but that wasn’t the case, which was really quite odd. I thought it would be a complete contrast to school. When I started Popworld I hadn't really accepted my sexuality myself. It was always awkward to come out even though it was at the time when the whole world was turning gay. Graham Norton was the most powerful comedian on TV, Brian Dowling had won Big Brother – it seemed silly for me to be panicking about it – the whole world loved the homos! YGM: It's so different now with people like Will Young and Brian Dowling who have become so popular, the nation voted for them to win huge competitions because they liked them. SA: That was a very symbolic thing. YGM: Do you ever see yourself settling down and doing the whole civil partnership/gay wedding thing? SA: Even before I came out, I had never been into the idea of marriage, never seen it as a thing to aspire to really. It's a good excuse for a party though! YGM: Last question. Why do you think there aren't more gay men out in the public eye? SA: I guess because the people in charge of their careers are just too worried about the reaction. I hate the fact that people in the public eye are out in their private lives but restrain themselves when talking publicly. Once you have come to terms with it yourself there should be no reason why you can't be open about it in everyday life. If only everyone knew how many male celebrities were pretending to like ladies! This article was last reviewed on: 27/10/11 Date due for next review: 27/10/13

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An article from PinkPaper.com

Bristol rugby player Jed Hooper is latest sportsman to reveal he's gay

The captain of Bristol rugby team Old Redcliffians has become the latest athlete to publicly revealed his sexuality.

Peter Lloyd at 12.34 GMT

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26 October 2011

The captain of Bristol rugby team Old Redcliffians has become the latest athlete to publicly revealed his sexuality.
Jed Hooper, 22,  came out to family and friends at the start of 2011, but only disclosed it to the media with an interview with the Bristol Evening Post, this week.
The rising sports star, who has been playing rugby since the age of six, now joins the likes of Nigel Owens and Gareth Thomas, both of whom have helped evolve the culture of gay people in sport. 

"I met someone earlier this year who said he could not be with someone who was in the closet. That, basically, was the catalyst that I needed," he said.

"I was never going to do it bit by bit, that would have been too drawn out, so I decided to text everyone and also put it on Facebook. I was horribly nervous. I wrote and rewrote the text four or five times, and I had my finger on the 'send' button for ages before I finally pushed it.
"The text basically said something along the lines that 'I've been hiding it and fighting it for too long, and I can't hide any more. If you can accept me this way then great ... and if you can't then I don't need you and you can get lost!'
"I then cried my eyes out as I was thinking to myself 'what have you done?, but very quickly I must have had 40 replies and all of them were positive."
Ironically, the announcement of Hooper's sexuality coincided with the announcement of Gareth Thomas' retirement, yesterday.
The back row forward says he first thought he might be gay at fourteen, but tried to deny it. He later admitted to self-harming with a knife ""because I thought I might be able to cut this out of me."
 Now, however, he says the ability to be open also changed him as a person.
"A massive weight came off my shoulders. If I couldn't accept myself the way I am, how could I expect my friends to?
"I'm a very aggressive competitor, someone who hates losing and has a win at all costs mentality, but I'm a much nicer bloke in the bar after. If anyone is reading this and they're in the same situation as me, all I want to say is don't bottle things up because, trust me, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"The world's not against you. If my story can help one person then this has been worth it."

Reviews of Seacret Codes & Battleships

[Source]

Album review: Secret Codes and Battleships by Darren Hayes
Cameron Adams | National Features | October 27, 2011 12:00AM

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Singer Darren Hayes has released a new album, Secret Codes and Battleships. Picture: UMA /

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IF you're going to bankroll your own vanity record label, you may as well use it to unleash the experimental double album about time travel you just had to get out of your system.

Now Darren Hayes is back on someone else's record label, but embracing his past.
Secret Codes and Battleships could easily be the third album Hayes' previous band, Savage Garden, never got around to making.

Creating mature pop walks a delicate line between Annie Lennox making nanna-friendly albums and Madonna running around in a leotard at 50 gyrating with Justin Timberlake.

Here Hayes makes not only an age-appropriate record (he's 40 next May), but his most mainstream-friendly release in years without losing what makes him special.

Don't Give Up was written with Steve Robson, whose CV includes everything from Take That to Rascal Flatts they make a triumphant, but still melancholic electro pop moment.

Nearly Love packs a big, lush chorus that disguises lyrics such as "my heart is a lonesome ghost, I'd never feel you anyway".

Hurt is even sadder ("I'm the kind of person who can barely be loved"), but armed with a tune that positively smiles out of your speakers.

There's an emotional mini-tidal wave contained in Black Out the Sun and Talk Talk Talk is just a great pop song, simple as that.

Every Darren Hayes album has a sucker-punch: previous ones include Truly Madly Deeply, Two Beds and a Coffee Machine, Void, Like it Or Not and How to Build a Time Machine.

In 2011 Hayes targets your musical sweet spot with Bloodstained Heart. It starts as a gorgeous, minimal ballad starring that voice. Soon it morphs into a euphoric Coldplay-style anthem that lifts your mood in under four minutes.

Darren Hayes making the ruthless world of pop music a more interesting, honest place since 1996.

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[Source]

BBC Review

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Marvellously manages the balance between sharp observations and effortless melodies.

Natalie Shaw 2011-10-24

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Secret Codes and Battleships sees Darren Hayes return from a four-year break with his signature glossiness, passion for melody and aura of hushed drama. It’s a record dark and naive in equal part, and full of necessary indulgence; in expelling his demons, every sentiment and situation has the contrast turned up.

This is an album designed for Hayes’ howling melisma and strained falsetto. So far, so un-fun – but for all of the singer’s desperation, the songs are thankfully not without moments of euphoria. Some 14 years after Savage Garden’s arrival, Hayes’ path has left the glorious soft-rock schmaltz behind for a discography of edgier, sequenced sounds and personal revelation. Here, he sets off on a well-trodden track – finding triumph in desperation and catharsis in songwriting, to impressive avail.

Disconnect is the theme of Secret Codes and Battleships, an album contrastingly set in the context of a happy five-year-long marriage. While some of the analogies – such as Taken by the Sea’s "I am an island, you are the ocean" – induce a lasting grimace, there’s a touching humility running through proceedings. While not an entirely new consideration for Hayes (listen back to Strange Relationship, from his debut solo album Spin), it’s a relieving realisation, despite its indulgence.

Producers Walter Afanasieff and Carl Falk have been brought on board to throw Hayes straight back into the pop world he sprang from, and as such the gloss and sharpness of this record is remarkable; the instrumentation is rich, and the choruses consistently bright and colossal. The main misfires are the over-earnest God Walking Into the Room and Hurt, which aims for Coldplay’s syncopated grandiosity but instead simpers away into the tracklisting.

Talk Talk Talk’s compressed synths and kaleidoscopic middle-eight strive studiously towards the frantic laments of Confessions on a Dancefloor-era Madonna. Black Out the Sun, meanwhile, continues where Talk Talk Talk departs – it’s bruised and delicate but never final, the sad continuation of a communication gap set against an exultant backing.

Hayes mostly knows what suits him, which is fortunate for all involved; feelings are exaggerated throughout, rewarding long-term fans’ patience with an album so very human and imperfect, an unshielded account of both personal and universal emotions. But the mastery comprises something bigger and harder to come by – Darren Hayes’ songs quite marvellously manage a balance between sharp observations and out-and-out effortless melodies.

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[Source]
Album Review: Darren Hayes - Secret Codes And Battleships
21 October 2011

Out now

Darren Hayes has returned with his first record in four years, and it's an album that will add further longevity to an already impressive career.

Raising to prominance with Savage Garden, Hayes described Secret Codes And Battleships as a pop album, comparing it to the duo's debut record.

In our interview, he spoke of his ambition to create an album as a piece of art, a cohesive body of work.

It's an aim he's undoubtedly achieved across a well-crafted, consistent addition to his brilliant back catalogue.

At its heart, Secret Codes And Battleships is a wonderful celebration of pop music, proving that the genre isn't just plagued by the likes of The Wanted or Cher Lloyd.

The album isn't without it's weaker moments - the lyrics on 'Nearly Love' will make you cringe, although it's catchy in spite of this.

Instrumentally, Hayes has created a highly sophisticated record, carried by pop sensibilities but strengthened by an added depth missing from a lot of the genres more mainstream acts.

The strings on tracks like new single 'Black Out The Sun' are arranged well and add to the track, rather than feeling forced and detracted from the quality.

Secret Codes And Battleships is a record that excells in the instrumentation and melody rather than a deep lyrical content suggested by titles like 'God Walking Into The Room'.

The latter is a beautiful love song, although it continues an unfortunate trend of less-than-steller lyrics.

However, what can't be denied is that it's certainly a breath of fresh air compared to the dirge of boy-bands and X Factor pop acts breaking through - indeed, 'Hurt' is a wonderfully deep, honest insight into Hayes' mind.

This is a veteran continuing an admirable career with another fantastic record.

Whether it will be knocking on the door of any end of year lists remains to be seen, as it often feels less diverse than it perhaps should.

Regardless, any criticisms aimed at the album would be minor in comparison to the quality on display here, as Darren Hayes puts out yet another great full-lenghth.

Female First - Alistair McGeorge

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[Source]

Darren Hayes Returns with Talk of Secret Codes and Battleships

Darren Hayes Returns with Talk of Secret Codes and Battleships

Download Darren's new single Talk Talk Talk now on iTunes



Darren Hayes has emerged from the studio having spent 4 years crafting a collection of songs that are reminiscent of the kind that firmly established him as the voice of a generation. Secret Codes and Battleships (out October) is an album that is undeniably pop but beautifully bruised and wonderfully dented with a maturity, delicate reflection, and an emotional substance that could only come from a true career artist.

The infectious first single 'Talk Talk Talk' was written and produced with Swedish producer/co-writer Carl Falk and featuring string arrangements by Swede Mattias Bylund, whose family worked on all the string arrangements for Abba – there's a sense of past pop perfection infused with today’s sounds. Hayes has struck that perfect balance between his own recent foray into electronic music and the chart-topping pop energy that is sweeping the globe. It boasts all the instant melodies that Hayes is renowned for, balanced out with an emotional lyric, which highlights his song writing ability.

The music video for 'Talk Talk Talk' is a moving piece of art based on the work of album cover designer John Gilsenan. Written and directed by Richard Cullen in collaboration with animator and film makers Andrew Philip and Gavin Elder it is a moving representation of the world of the new album. Watch the clip on darrenhayes.com

Darren's history began as one part of the global chart-smashing duo Savage Garden who had a string of unforgettable hit singles and two albums that soundtracked the 90’s pop generation. After disbanding in 2001, Darren Hayes went on to release three solo albums – Spin (2002), The Tension And The Spark (2004), and the independently released This Delicate Thing We’ve Made (2007). With the release of each album Hayes has explored his creative musical desires, earning the praise of fans and critics alike and tallying over 26 million albums sales over his musical career to date. Darren had spent the last decade stretching his wings creatively with experiments in sound and achievements in live shows. His collaborations with U2’s stage director Willie Williams resulted in sold out performances at London’s Royal Albert Hall and Australia’s Sydney Opera House. But amidst the creative flurry – Hayes felt a beckoning to reconnect with a wider audience again.

Writing the new album has been a voyage of discovery, and in the end, he's come home; the prodigal pop-son has returned.

New single - TALK TALK TALK - out now!
New album – SECRET CODES AND BATTLESHIPS - out October 2011

For more info go to:
darrenhayes.com
youtube.com/darrenhayes
twitter.com/darrenhayes
facebook.com/DarrenHayesOfficial

An article from PinkPaper.com

[Source]

SNP want Scotland to treat gay and straight blood donors equally

The Scottish National Party has said they want their nation to become the first in the UK to repeal the gay blood ban and treat all donors equally.

Peter Lloyd

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Monday, 24 October 2011

The Scottish National Party has said they want their nation to become the first in the UK to repeal the gay blood ban and treat all donors equally.

The move came at the SNP conference in Inverness, where delegates backed a motion criticising the UK Health Department's Scientific Advisory Committee's updated policy as "wholly inadequate".

Recently, it replaced a lifetime ban on all gay men donating blood to those who have not been sexually active in the past year.

According to the Press Association, Glasgow Cathcart delegate Stewart McDonald said: "It is a discriminatory policy based not entirely on research, but instead partly on prejudice on homosexuality."

However, he said the policy would still mean that the "vast majority" of gay men who practice safe sex and test HIV negative will still be unable to give blood.

He added: "We have a situation where two men in a perfectly safe, healthy sexual relationship are prevented from doing what the Blood Transfusion Service calls `something amazing`: they will be prevented from helping to save lives.

"Most gay men do not have, and never will have HIV. Their blood is screened in the exact same way as everyone else`s, and if safe should be donated in the same way as everyone else`s. The policy we have just now, I would say, is unfit for purpose. And this is 21st Century Scotland. We can do better than this."

An article from smh.com.au

[Source]

Back on home ground
Craig Mathieson
October 22, 2011

Darren Hayes just released his cooly
eclectic new album Secret Codes and
Battleships.

IT'S morning in London and Darren Hayes is a sad geek. The former Savage Garden frontman, who as a kid in the Brisbane suburbs papier-mached his own E.T. to sit in a basket on his bike, has just added to the already bulging coffers of George Lucas by purchasing the complete Star Wars saga on Blu-ray DVD. But he couldn't fully enjoy the three movies that illuminated his childhood because of the numerous small changes Lucas had made over the years.

''It's hard because I love George but when he animates eyelids on Ewoks you just think, 'Why?''' sighs Hayes, who knows something of the same temptation. Savage Garden's phenomenal leap to international success - their self-titled 1997 debut album has sold more than 18 million copies - left more than a few dodgy outfits and simplistic songs as part of the duo's brief legacy.

''Things that you do become part of the pop culture canon and to mess with that is a disservice to your audience,'' he says firmly.

At the age of 39, Hayes is returning to the proving grounds of his youth. Released yesterday, his new solo album, Secret Codes and Battleships, is a determined effort to renew his chart-topping status.

A self-confessed ''terrible celebrity'' because of his low public profile, Hayes has been making promotional appearances again. And while he'll back his songwriting, Hayes doesn't have the usual pop star's Peter Pan complex. ''I try to remind people that I'm nearly 40, because we don't let our stars age, particularly women,'' Hayes says. ''I used to always feel older than I was, but now I look the age that I feel … I don't mind looking 39.''

Hayes is a charming conversationalist, self-aware but possessed of a tart wit. Fame has been a kind of extended therapy session for him and he can be both deeply analytical and self-deprecating.

''Secret Codes and Battleships is quite a bruised record. At its heart it's optimistic but they're songs about what it means to be loved. They're not the airbrushed, idealistic view of the world I had 20 years ago,'' he says. ''A lot of my life has been the pursuit of happiness and as I've got older I've realised it's just fleeting moments. There's a lot of murky stuff in between and that's on the record.''

The album is coolly eclectic: pop songs such as Hurt and Talk Talk Talk rub up against the forceful Stupid Mistake and the baroque tragedy of Black Out the Sun. The clipped club rhythms are contrasted with icy, sombre strings and guitar parts that echo the favourite players from Hayes's youth, Prince and Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham; the seafaring imagery a reflection of his father, a merchant sailor and former alcoholic.

Hayes spent several years on Secret Codes and Battleships, working with a variety of co-writers. The power to be always right, bestowed on him by Savage Garden's success, fell away. On one track, Don't Give Up, Hayes found himself being challenged by his co-writer, Steve Robson, to improve a substandard lyric. ''Rather than get offended I took it as tough love. It made me competitive,'' says Hayes, who has long drawn inspiration from criticism. Savage Garden's biggest hit, the gooey 1999 ballad I Knew I Loved You, was written by Hayes and co-member Daniel Jones after their American record label boss told them their second album, Affirmation, didn't have a hit. ''Here's your f---ing No.1,'' Hayes told him when the song was delivered shortly afterwards.

That's the bravado of a younger man and it's not just that Hayes has outgrown that, it's no longer his defence mechanism. For many years Hayes felt he was writing the songs but it was an alter ego that got on stage before thousands of screaming fans to perform them.

It was the same when he was growing up in a tough working-class community and he was so scared that the taunts were true that he was gay that he convinced himself he had to be a straight man, a belief that extended to marrying childhood friend Colby Taylor in 1994. The two separated in 1998 before divorcing in 2000 and Hayes came out publicly in the middle of the last decade.

The singer married his boyfriend, animator and director Richard Cullen, in 2006 in London and after years on the road has taken to home life, learning to cook (boeuf bourguignon is a specialty) and realising that he didn't need personal chaos to inspire his lyrics.

''I was resigned to not finding anyone but when you do and they're perfect - I adore Richard and I love our life together - there's also this thought of, 'What am I going to write my records about?'''

Secret Codes and Battleships answers that question. ''I don't want to be the last person to find out that no one wants to hear me any more,'' he says with a laugh. ''But a lot of this stuff is what I do best and I'm going to reclaim it.''

■Secret Codes and Battleships is out through Universal.

Matt Bomer interview "Magic Mike"

Darren Hayes 'Secret Codes And Battleships' - The Making Of

The extract of an article from AfterElton

[Source]

10 TV Actors That Deserve Big Screen Careers
Posted by Kelley Mathys
on October 17, 2011

Talk about your star potential! These 10 men are best known for their TV work, but we'd happily pay money to see them at the multiplex. Admittedly, this is a subjective list, and we may have left off many of your favorite TV actors. So if you find yourself disagreeing with our selections, we invite you to share your own list of 10 in the comments!

Kevin Alejandro

Anyone who is a fan of Kevin Alejandro knows that he certainly can play a death scene. The actor has had recurring or guest starring roles on over two dozen TV series, and a disproportionate number of those appearances have ended with the death of his character. Alejandro was Justin Suarez' protective tough guy dad Santos on Ugly Betty – Shot and killed in a random convenience store robbery. He was Det. Nate Moretta on Southland – Caught in a gang riot and beaten to death.

One thing's for sure, his untimely exits have left audiences (and obviously casting agents) wanting more.

Most recently, Alejandro played Lafayette's witch/nurse boyfriend Jesus on True Blood, where he ended up being unceremoniously stabbed to death by the possessed Lafeyette (Nelsan Ellis). Viewers should take some comfort in the fact that True Blood is a show about the supernatural, so it is possible that we have not seen the last of Jesus. Who knows, maybe he will come back as a demonic ghost or a zombie with a heart of gold.

As for moving to the big screen, he's already testing the waters in a trio of films this year. First, a part in Kevin Smith's thriller Red State. He also has a part in the western: Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracy. Plus, Alejandro has lead billing in a low budget supernatural thriller called Cassadega.

But Alejandro really needs a lead part in a big Hollywood film, preferably one where he doesn't die and doesn't play a member of law enforcement, a Latino thug, a male nurse, or a gay hustler.

Okay, we actually wouldn't complain about the gay hustler thing.

Further reading:

• Kevin Alejandro Played Gay So Many Times We Had No Choice But to Interview Him

Matt Bomer

Ever since he White Collar launched on USA and audiences fell in love with suave confidence man Neal Caffrey, there has been a LOT of speculation about beautiful Matt Bomer's personal life.

If Bomer is playing coy with the subject, perhaps it's only because his leading man part on the USA Network series holds a lot of appeal for women. Women who, let's face it, make up the lion's share of White Collar viewers. Maybe no one wants to risk interfering with the possible romantic fantasies of a legion of fans.

But here's the thing: The ladies pretty much know what's up already, and it doesn't seem to matter. Bomer and his management might have "no comment," but there are those cute old photos of Bomer embracing another gent, more recent photos of Bomer sporting a wedding ring, and on The Today Show Bomer took time to gush about his three children.

Whatever his orientation, it's clear Bomer is off the market. And even if he weren't, 99.99% of us gay or straight would have absolutely zero chance with him. That guy is so out of our league!

A mug like that deserves to be on the big screen. Can he make the transition from TV star to movie star? Well, he does have a supporting role in Channing Tatum's much anticipated male stripper movie Magic Mike, so we'll soon find out if he has the, uh, goods!

Further Reading:

• Seven Things We Learned (Or Didn't) About Matthew Bomer on "Watch What Happens Live"
• Exclusive: Is "White Collar"'s Matt Bomer an Out, Gay Man? "No Comment," Says Publicist
• Neal Caffrey's Foolproof Guide to "White Collar" Fashion

Chris Colfer

When Glee first launched back in 2009, who would have imagined that Chris Colfer, the kid playing gay kid Kurt Hummel, would wind up being the show's most critically acclaimed breakout star? Ironically, the part of Kurt Hummel didn't exist when Colfer auditioned. He went in to read for Artie, but Ryan Murphy was so impressed with the young actor that he jettisoned a planned character named Rajish to make room for Kurt, a part tailor-made for Colfer.

Some people have had issues with Kurt the character. We even wrote in the second season about our discomfort with the character's fixation on step-brother Finn. But no one has a bad word to say about Colfer. In fact, Ryan Murphy claims to have received death threats when he mentioned in interviews that Colfer would be leaving after season three.

People feel protective towards Colfer. Like he's your over-achieving child, you root for him and cheer his every success. On Glee, Colfer has proven time and time again that he has the acting chops to hold his own on the big screen. We will soon see whether that talent extends behind the camera, when Struck By Lightning the film he both wrote and stars in, hits theaters.

Further reading:

• Video: Chris Colfer Talks Glee, Bullying and Being Yourself
• Chris Colfer Wins A Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor
• Exclusive: Glee's Chris Colfer is Living the Teenage Dream
• Kurt Hummel's Perfect Storm
• The Men of Glee Dominate the AfterElton.com Hot 100

Gale Harold

There's no denying, people are still very passionate about the man who played Brian Kinney on the U.S. version of Queer as Folk. That indelible character was complicated, unapologetic and oh so sexy. In our 2010 poll of the Top 50 Gay TV characters, AE readers ranked him as #2, just behind Torchwood's Captain Jack. (It should be noted that Torchwood was very hot at the time that poll was conducted. Gale Harold's character seems to have an enduring appeal and we suspect if that poll were conducted again right now, Brian Kinney would come out on top.)

Post QAF, Harold has not had the best of luck in finding another truly great role. He had a much-publicized guest run on Desperate Housewives playing Jackson, a housepainter and love interest for Susan (Teri Hatcher). But Harold was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, and his run on that show was interrupted.

He also landed regular parts in two other shows Vanished and Hellcats, but neither made it past a single season.

Now Harold can be seen on the CW's supernatural teen drama The Secret Circle, and he has been drawing raves for his portrayal of the villainous Charles Mead.
Great as he is in this new role, the show's main focus is on its younger cast of witches. We'd like to see more of Gale Harold! Ultimately, we think the big screen would be a better medium for this actor's intense brand of charisma.

Further reading:

• TV Bad Boys We Love
• AfterElton.com’s Top 50 Gay Characters of All Time!

Matt Bomer interview

An article from MTV.com

[Source]

Oct 17 2011 10:57 AM EDT 16,856

Zachary Quinto Announces He's A 'Gay Man'

'Star Trek' actor had dodged rumors before making revelation in New York magazine.

By Gil Kaufman

Zachary Quinto

Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/ Getty Images

For years, "Star Trek" actor Zachary Quinto dodged questions about his sexuality, preferring to keeping his private life private and let his work on TV shows such as "Heroes" and movies like the recent "What's Your Number" do the talking.


Then, unexpectedly, he offhandedly outed himself in an interview with New York magazine, while discussing his starring role last year in the restaging of the early AIDS-era drama "Angels in America."

Quinto told the magazine that his eight-month role in the epic Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tony Kushner was "the most challenging thing I've ever done as an actor and the most rewarding"; he took on the grueling role of Louis Ironson, a character who walks out on his AIDS-stricken boyfriend.
"And at the same time, 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."

Quinto, who has been outspoken on gay rights issues in the past, told The New York Times last year that even though blogs were full of speculation about his orientation, he preferred "not to feed the rumor mill with either substantiation or dismissal."

But the events of the past year appear to have had an impact on him and Quinto seemed comfortable at this point announcing his orientation. Thinking about how the last few months have seen gay marriage legalized in New York while also marking the recent suicide of bullied gay teen Jamey Rodemeyer, Quinto said, "And again, as a gay man I look at that and say there's a hopelessness that surrounds it, but as a human being I look at it and say 'Why? Where's this disparity coming from, and why can't we as a culture and society dig deeper to examine that?' We're terrified of facing ourselves."

He was also glad to be in town promoting the financial crisis thriller "Margin Call" — the first feature from his production company, Before the Door Pictures — while hundreds of Occupy Wall Street protesters are camped out in New York's Zuccotti Park. "The timing couldn't be more impeccable for us to try to create a dialogue, which is exactly why we made the movie in the first place," he said.

While he's in town to promote the film, Quinto said he planned to go down and see the protesters to get a flavor of the sit-in. "As a left-leaning Democrat, I feel a sense of resonance with their position," he said. "But as a citizen of this country, I feel deeply unsettled that people are rising up in movements against each other. It feels like we're missing the mark. ... The bottom line is we're all f---ed, and we're all in this together."

An article from People.com

[Source]

Zachary Quinto: Why I Came Out
By Tim Nudd
Monday October 17, 2011 09:40 AM EDT

Zachary Quinto
PA Photos/Landov

In the wake of gay New York teenager Jamey Rodemeyer's suicide last month, Zachary Quinto had a crisis of conscience. He realized that hiding his own sexuality was doing nothing for the greater cause of hope and acceptance.

The Heroes and Star Trek actor, 34, who came out as a gay man in a New York magazine interview this week, explained that decision Sunday in a candid blog post on his website.

"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," Quinto writes.

RELATED: Zachary Quinto: I'm a Gay Man

He adds: "I believe in the power of intention to change the landscape of our society – and it is my intention to live an authentic life of compassion and integrity and action. jamey rodemeyer's life changed mine."

Rodemeyer, 14, of the Buffalo suburb of Williamsville, N.Y., killed himself on Sept. 18 after years of bullying by classmates.

Quinto says he felt "indescribable despair" when he learned that Rodemeyer had made a video just months earlier for the "It gets better" project – the nationwide initiative to give hope to gay youth.

"I am eternally grateful to him for being the catalyst for change within me," Quinto writes. "now i can only hope to serve as the same catalyst for even one other person in this world. that – i believe – is all that we can ask of ourselves and of each other."

An article from thedailybeast.com

[Source]

SPOCK ROCKS

Zachary Quinto Comes Out

Lester Cohen / Getty Images

Louis Ironson, a self-loathing gay man in Tony Kushner's watershed play Angels in America, goes on one of the most epic guilt trips in theater history after abandoning his AIDS-stricken boyfriend. But playing him in last year's restaging of the drama at New York's Signature Theater led actor Zachary Quinto to do the opposite of running away—instead he embraced himself and the challenges of being gay. In an interview with New York magazine, Quinto—better known as Spock in J. J. Abrams's reboot of Star Trek—said the play made him realize how lucky he was. But at the same time, "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."

---

Read it at New York Magazine
October 16, 2011 12:50 PM

An article from AfterElton

[Source]

Zachary Quinto is "Out and Proud"
Posted by Dennis Ayers, Editor on October 16, 2011

Mark Harris is a contributing editor for New York magazine and posted the tweet above yesterday, presumably in reference to a Zachary Quinto interview to appear in an upcoming issue. What to make of this?

It was less than a year ago that Quinto shut down a brief Q&A with New York mag for asking "too personal" questions. It's quite possible Harris' tweet is being disingenuous by referencing, say, Quinto being out and about in Manhattan and proud to be working on American Horror Story.

If so, that's really shoddy of Harris. But if this guy is really saying that Zachary Quinto will in fact be coming out as gay, then... well, that's sort of shoddy too. He's essentially stolen Quinto's thunder.

Update Sunday 9:00am:

A publicist for New York Magazine has issued the following release:

In this week’s New York magazine, on newsstands Monday October 17 and online now, actor Zachary Quinto, perhaps best known as Spock in J.J. Abrams’s Star Trek, says definitively that he’s gay. Quinto tells New York contributing editor Benjamin Wallace, of his eight-month role last year in Angels in America, “…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.”

Quinto has played a series of gay roles, including on Tori Spelling’s TV show So NoTORIous, and on the new FX series American Horror Story, and has been outspoken about gay-rights issues, but he has not previously identified himself as gay. Speaking with Wallace about the cultural bipolarity that can see gay marriage legalized in New York in the same year that yet another gay teenager was bullied and killed himself, Quinto says, “And again, as a gay man I look at that and say there’s a hopelessness that surrounds it, but as a human being I look at it and say ‘Why? Where’s this disparity coming from, and why can’t we as a culture and society dig deeper to examine that?’ We’re terrified of facing ourselves.”

Quinto, currently promoting his film Margin Call, a financial-crisis thriller in which he co-stars alongside Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci, and Jeremy Irons and the first feature for his production company, also addresses the Wall Street protesters with Wallace: “As a left-leaning Democrat, I feel a sense of resonance with their position.  But as a citizen of this country, I feel deeply unsettled that people are rising up in movements against each other. It feels like we’re missing the mark … The bottom line is we’re all fucked, and we’re all in this together.”

The extended Q&A with Quinto is online at Vulture.

Update #2 Sunday noon:

Zachary Quinto has made a statement via his website. In it he says, quite eloquently, that the tragic recent death of Jamey Rodemeyer is what prompted him to ultimately come out:

"It is my intention to live an authentic life of compassion and integrity and action.  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.  that - i believe - is all that we can ask of ourselves and of each other."

You can read Quinto's full statement here.

An article from People.com

[Source]

Zachary Quinto: I'm a Gay Man
By Dahvi Shira
Sunday October 16, 2011 09:20 AM EDT

Zachary Quinto
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Zachary Quinto's eight-month run in the recent New York stage revival of Angels in America was an eye-opening experience for him.

Since the project, the actor, 34 – who had an acclaimed role as Louis Ironson, a man who abandons his AIDS-stricken boyfriend – publicly discusses his much-questioned sexual orientation for the first time.

In a new interview in New York, Quinto calls his work in the off-Broadway play the "most challenging thing I've ever done as an actor, and the most rewarding."

"At the same time," he adds, "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."

RELATED: Zachary Quinto: Why I Came Out

Later in the interview, when the topic changes to legalizing gay marriage and the suicide of bullied gay teen Jamey Rodemeyer, the actor once again refers to himself as a "gay man." He says that when it comes to the different rights and treatment that come with being homosexual, "there's a hopelessness that surrounds it."

"Where's this disparity coming from, and why can't we as a culture and society dig deeper to examine that?" he says. "We're terrified of facing ourselves."

The star of Star Trek and TV's Heroes had long refused to comment about his sexuality, though he has been an outspoken supporter of bully victims and has played a number of gay roles, including on Tori Spelling's TV show So NoTORIous and on the new FX series American Horror Story.

From Zachary Quinto Official Website

[Source]

10.16.11. nyc...

By zachary quinto on October 16, 2011 8:26 AM 

when i found out that jamey rodemeyer killed himself - i felt deeply troubled.  but when i found out that jamey rodemeyer had made an it gets better video only months before taking his own life - i felt indescribable despair.  i also made an it gets better video last year - in the wake of the senseless and tragic gay teen suicides that were sweeping the nation at the time.  but 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.  we are witnessing an enormous shift of collective consciousness throughout the world.  we are at the precipice of great transformation within our culture and government.  i believe in the power of intention to change the landscape of our society - and it is my intention to live an authentic life of compassion and integrity and action.  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.  that - i believe - is all that we can ask of ourselves and of each other.

zq.

James Mason - Interview

[Source]

'Neighbours' actor James Mason on Chris's future: Interview

Published Sunday, Oct 16 2011, 00:01 BST | By Daniel Kilkelly

Neighbours mechanic Chris Pappas became a permanent fixture on the soap this year after previously being introduced as a guest in early 2010.

Chris has proved popular with Neighbours fans and Erinsborough residents alike since his introduction and now has a major storyline on the way as he embarks on a romance with nurse Aidan Foster (Bob Morley).

Here, actor James Mason chats to Digital Spy about playing Neighbours' first ever gay male regular and also reveals details of what the future holds for Chris.

How have you found the transition of going from guest to regular on Neighbours?
"I'm lucky because I've had time to blend into the Neighbours world, instead of being thrown into the deep end. So from that perspective, it's been a really comfortable transition. And it's great to see the character evolve more now, there's more depth to Chris. Prior to this, Chris was part of a storyline, more in the background, and now he is in the forefront which is fantastic as an actor. I'm loving it."

We recently saw an interesting storyline where Chris was faced with a homophobic customer at work. What did you make of that plot?
"The hard thing for Chris was that he just didn't know how to respond to the situation, and he has never had an adult speak to him about gay people like this guy did. It was very confronting for him. And because the guy wasn't pointing his remarks directly at Chris, Lucas didn't understand why Chris was so offended. At first, he didn't have an appreciation of how deep those comments hurt Chris."

The storyline also seemed to divide opinion quite a bit, as some viewers could understand why Lucas wouldn't want to rock the boat with a customer, while others were on Chris's side. Are you pleased it got people talking?
"I'm really pleased that there is discussion about this storyline and I can appreciate both sides. Lucas wasn't there when the customer was saying these things, so he didn't understand Chris's point of view. However, as the story went along, we saw Lucas change and his respect for Chris grew.

"They both had their own opinions, and to a certain extent, they were both valid under the circumstances. But that storyline was basically about understanding where the other person is coming from and being willing to change your ideas, as it isn't always easy to admit you are wrong."

We've seen on a number of occasions that Chris's relationship with his dad is quite strained. Will that continue or could they find some common ground?
"A bit of both. This sort of relationship isn't going to mend itself overnight - however, I can say that there are events coming up where Chris's father supports him and realises there are more important things in life than the constant bickering."

Chris's scenes with Tash often seem to show a different side to her character. Do you enjoy portraying their strong friendship?
"Yeah, I do. I think Tash brings another side out in Chris and he feels really comfortable with her. Now that Summer and Andrew are in a relationship, Tash is the one he gravitates to. Tash leans on Chris and to a certain extent, he does the same with her."

Australian soaps often seem to be a bit more hesitant when it comes to gay characters compared to the UK. Has the reaction to Chris been positive among the Australian audience?
"Personally, I've had absolutely no negative feedback from fans, which is outstanding. With most storylines you generally get those for and against, but for me, it's only been positive."

Thanks to Twitter and fanmail, do you get much chance to interact with fans in the UK too?
"Yes, most definitely. I have a pretty Twitter account which I should devote more time to, but I try to get back to most people who ask questions and give some feedback. I love the immediacy and the fact that people take the time to make contact."

As Chris is the first gay male regular on Neighbours, is there any pressure when it comes to representing what members of the audience may be going through in real life?
"Yes, absolutely. I'm very lucky because our writers and producers are incredibly committed to all the storylines we do, and there is a lot of discussion around whatever we do to ensure it's realistic to our viewers. The great thing about Chris becoming a regular is the development of the character and there is time to explore his reactions."

Is it true that you were inspired by a friend of yours when you were portraying Chris's coming out storyline?
"Yes, I do have a friend who went through a similar situation, plus some of the writers and their friends have been there as well, so it's a collaboration of real experiences which is what I enjoy about the storyline."

Chris will grow closer to Bob Morley's character Aidan in a future storyline. What can we expect from Chris and Aidan's scenes?
"Their relationship will be treated just like any other heterosexual relationship. It's a very slow build-up for these two because Chris isn't someone who shows his feelings openly, this is all new to him, so in terms of seeing them as a couple as such, that will happen early next year."

Will they have a proper relationship or just a close friendship?
"It's definitely a romance, however whether it's long term, that's up to the writers. You'll have to wait and see!"

What has Bob been like to work with on the storyline?
"Fantastic. As actors, it is very challenging and exciting at the some time, and because of this, we have developed a connection. We're rapt that the characters are going down this path and based on the feedback I've had to Chris coming out, I think viewers are going to like why the relationship unfolds. Well, I hope they do."

You mentioned on Twitter that Chris could be involved in Australia's end-of-year cliffhanger. Can you tell us anything about this?
"Let's just say that Chris is involved in a potentially life-threatening experience which will also have a major impact on some of the other characters. And through this incident, he meets Aidan."

Finally, what's it like to have Chris Milligan (Kyle) back on set following his recent absence due to injury?
"Chris is a very funny guy, so it's great to have him back in the green room. We just have to remember not to kick his foot!"

An article from AfterElton

[Source]

Sean Maher on Life Since Coming Out
Jim Halterman on October 3, 2011

Getting an interview with Sean Maher was a lesson in patience. I’d been asking to chat with the actor ever since word came down that he’d be playing a gay character on NBC’s new drama series The Playboy Club, but the publicist just kept saying she'd arrange it "soon." In TV journalism speak that often means, "It’s never going to happen."

However, when news broke last week that Maher was publicly coming out of the closet, it all made sense. Entertainment Weekly may have been the first to report the story, but I finally was able to get on the phone with the handsome actor to talk about his life now that he’s fully on the other side of the closet door.

Here Sean talks about the unexpected person in his life who inspired him to live a life of truth. He also shares details on what’s ahead for his Playboy Club character: There will be more of exploration the early 1960s Mattachine Society, but his character (also named Sean) is going to become more immersed in the infamous Playboy Club… and hunky co-star Eddie Cibrian.

AfterElton.com: So, my first question was going to be ‘What’s new…’
Sean Maher: Not much! [laughs]


AE: Since coming out, how are you feeling about everything?
SM: I'm feeling fantastic! I'm still overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support. I expected a positive response, but I did not expect such a large scale of positive responses, especially from the media and within the business, too.

The story broke on Monday morning. I was in Chicago and had just stepped out of a yoga class and my Blackberry was literally having a seizure. Going, going, going and going. The story must’ve been out and I hadn’t read it.

I was terrified! I didn’t know what was going to be written. All I knew was that I had this amazing lunch with [Entertainment Weekly's Tanner Stransky] for two hours where I was as candid as I could be. I told him everything and just passed it along to him and had faith that he would write a good story.

I was scrolling through my Blackberry, and it was going crazy and I stopped at Craig Zadan’s. Craig Zadan had sent me an email that said 'Congratulations.' He said, ‘What a classy, beautiful article. I’ve never been prouder of you. I love you so much. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you felt that you wanted to talk about how I played a role. I couldn’t be more honored to be such a strong influence in that regard.’

So then I knew it was a great story. Ultimately, it really was about my daughter and obviously my son. But he’s too young and he doesn’t understand. For her, she’s starting to become a person, and she’s starting to process things, and we’re doing our best to instill these qualities and core values. I was like, ‘How in the world would I be able to explain to her that because of my line of work I have to hide something about our family? How could you send a child that message? There’s no way that I am not going to step forward at some point in my career and share this story. ' Then, when I read Playboy Club awhile back it was like a light bulb went off. I was so drawn to the role as an actor and obviously as a gay man. So we went from there.

AE: What kind of conversations did you have with your partner since you’re not just outing yourself but also your relationship and the family?
SM: We talked about that a lot and we came to the conclusion that this was something that we both felt so strongly about. It might be hard at times, it might be scary at times, but ultimately we were hoping that putting my face out there and presenting my family in the light of just leading by example, if we could just change the way people viewed this idea of a marriage that is not normal and a family that is not normal. I think, yeah, you know, it was hard.

When we first met, I was not out and whether it was events or premieres or what have you he didn’t come with me. It was tough and it was tense and I think when Sophia was born I took two years off to be a stay at home Dad, and those were some of the most wonderful years of my life... I always say she was my greatest teacher. I think coming back to work when she was around 2 years old, I was suddenly looking for something more in the industry. I kept thinking there’s got to be something more for me. The roles I was looking at were really uninspiring. I had acted my way into this image of what I thought everybody wanted me to be and I wasn’t living my truth and I wasn’t taking risks and I wasn't tgoing out for things that I truly believed in. I was going at this pace that I thought I was supposed to do and so that was hard coming back suddenly not loving the scripts that I was reading and looking for something that more nursed my soul.

It just dawned on me that it was going to be …that if I could possibly step into the forefront and be a role model-- not just for the gay community but just for equality in general-- that I would be honored to do that, whereas five years ago I was too scared to do it.

AE: When you saw people like Neil Patrick Harris and others coming out, was that difficult for you to see?
SM: A little bit. I think when the T.R. Knight thing happened and when Neil Patrick Harris came out, I’m pretty sure I was not working at the time exactly but I remember those stories also inspiring me and planting the seeds that said ‘You know what, this is something that needs to be done in this business.' This is something more people should consider doing.

Someone asked me if I think other actors should step forward, and if it’s their duty and responsibility. I don’t. I feel like if it’s something they want to do… I didn’t feel like I should do this. I feel like I wanted to do this. I’m on a very different path than a lot of people, and I came to this place after a fourteen year journey.

AE: Let’s talk about The Playboy Club. In general, the show was getting a lot of knocks before people even saw the pilot. I'd seen it and didn’t know what was getting people so stirred up.
SM: It was so funny. That was the press we got before the show, and now the criticism is that it’s too tame! Well, it is what it is. I think just the word ‘Playboy’ carries so much with it, and people were just assuming tits and ass and it would be sex and porn, but I think what I’m finding is that people are surprised there is singing in it.

Laura Benanti (a Tony winner who plays Bunny Mother Carol Lynne) is an extraordinary performer, singer and dancer. In every single episode she has these wonderful songs of the era, and she does them just beautifully. People didn’t know that! That’s what was going on in the club, and that’s why people went. It was just this club where people could escape.

AE: How much did you know about the Mattachine Society before the show came along? Were you familiar with it?
SM: Absolutely not! I didn’t know it existed and didn’t know anything about gay rights prior to Stonewall. Stonewall was, I thought, the beginning of the gay rights movement. I didn’t know there was anything before that. The research I did on the Mattachines, I couldn’t get enough of it! It went back as far as 1949 here in Los Angeles so there was a lot to learn. Then Chad [Hodge, creator of The Playboy Club] and I went to see The Temperamentals, the play in NY that came to LA. We saw it here, also just for the historical references that are in the show…that show is ripped from the pages of history….so I didn’t know anything. I think as an actor I was drooling at the prospect of taking on this role and then, obviously, as a gay man I was drawn to it as well. I connected to it immensely.

AE: A few episodes have aired, but what's next? Is Sean going to get immersed in the Playboy Club, too?
SM: I do. I think they planted the seeds in the scene where I approach Nick Dalton (Eddie Cibrian) about running his campaign. We see more of that, and ultimately I do become his campaign manager. So I am in the club a lot more.

Again, still doing the storyline with my wife, and we see the Mattachine Society grow in size, and we’re introduced to my partner, and we see another Mattachine meeting.

I've just been so grateful for the response that we’ve been getting for our storyline. It’s been wonderful. I think the writers are really enjoying that, so I think they’ve been writing a lot of great stuff that will be coming down the pike.

AE: It’s a little early in the show, but does your secret come out eventually? Or is it too soon?
SM: I think it’s a little too soon, but I’ve heard Chad talk about that and it will happen a few episodes down the line. I can’t disclose anything, but he does talk about it.

I wondered about that, like how long can we keep this going? I think now that I am involved with Nick and running his campaign, I think to be closeted and to possibly be discovered... I think the stakes are much higher for me.

The Playboy Club airs Mondays at 10/9c on NBC.