Jim Parsons has officially come out

[Source]

'The Big Bang Theory' star Jim Parsons has officially comes out as gay

Published: Thursday, May 24, 2012, 10:06 AM     Updated: Thursday, May 24, 2012, 10:06 AM
By Geoff Herbert, syracuse.com

The Associated Press

Jim Parsons has won two Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor in a
Comedy Series for his role as Sheldon on "The Big Bang Theory."

"The Big Bang Theory" star Jim Parsons has officially confirmed he's gay.

Unlike previous actors who have appeared on the covers of magazines to announce their sexual orientation, Parsons only addressed his in passing during a New York Times interview about a new role in a Broadway play. In fact, the tidbit appears quietly on the third page of the article:

"The Normal Heart" resonated with him on a few levels: Mr. Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship, and working with an ensemble again onstage was like nourishment, he said.

The understated "coming out" may be because many "TBBT" fans have long suspected Parsons to be homosexual. Parsons didn't tell The New York Times who his partner was, but he's been rumored to be dating Todd Spiewak for years.

As Perez Hilton notes, the 39-year-old actor has been spotted out in public numerous times with Spiewak and even thanked him during a Golden Globes acceptance speech once. Tabloids even speculated the couple was engaged last year, but Parsons never officially addressed his sexuality before.

Danny Moloshok / AP Photo

Actor Jim Parsons, left, and Todd Spiewak, pose as they sit courtside
at the NBA basketball game between the Portland Trail Blazers
and Los Angeles Lakers Friday, March 23, 2012, in Los Angeles.

"For years, Parsons has lived as a gay man in his private life, but in his professional public life he skirted the issue," Out.com writes. The Advocate-affiliated site described him as previously living in a "Glass Closet" along with other stars who have been rumored to be gay, including Anderson Cooper, Queen Latifah and Ellen Page.

Parsons, who won two Emmy Awards for his role as Sheldon Cooper on the CBS sitcom, has also appeared in movies like "Garden State" and "School for Scoundrels." Most recently, he made a cameo in "The Muppets" last year as the human version of Walter to sing the Oscar-winning song "Man or Muppet" with Jason Segel.

"The Normal Heart," referred to in the newspaper's interview, is a Broadway play about AIDS that Parsons starred in last year to rave reviews. According to Us Weekly, the actor is next playing Elwood in "Harvey" on Broadway, the same role made famous by Jimmy Stewart in the 1944 film. "Harvey" opens June 14.

Parsons will return as Sheldon on "The Big Bang Theory" for the show's sixth season premiere this fall.

Related topics: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory, Todd Spiewak