Wentworth Miller Turns 42 - The Backlot

[Source]

Birthday Gallery: Wentworth Miller Turns 42

by snicks | June 2, 2014

Wentworth Miller first entered our radar with guest shots on Popular and Buffy, and moved on to the mini-series Dinotopia, but it was his breakout role as the tattooed Michael Scofield in Fox’s hit Prison Break that really began our obsession.

We were delighted when he publicly came out last summer, and his speech at the HRC was stunning and powerful.



Today is his 42nd birthday, and we look forward to what he has to offer next (in addition to acting, he’s also an accomplished screenwriter). Enjoy this gallery of some of the highlights of his career.

Happy Birthday, Wentworth!

Actor Wentworth Miller says he's gay, turns down Russian festival invite

[Source]

Actor Wentworth Miller says he's gay, turns down Russian festival invite

Actor Wentworth Miller attends the 2007 Producers Guild Awards held at the Hyatt
Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles,
California, January 20, 2007.

LOS ANGELES | Thu Aug 22, 2013 3:43am BST

(Reuters) - Actor and screenwriter Wentworth Miller, best known for his leading role in Fox television drama "Prison Break," came out as a gay man on Wednesday in a letter declining an invitation to attend a Russian film festival in light of Moscow's recently adopted anti-gay laws.

Miller, 41, turned down an offer to attend the St. Petersburg International Film Festival as a "guest of honour" in a letter posted on the website of advocacy group GLAAD, which monitors media representation of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people and issues.

"Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes. However, as a gay man, I must decline," Miller wrote to festival director Maria Averbakh.

Miller wrote that he was "deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government," and did not want attend a festival in a country where "people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly."

Russia's parliament banned the spread of gay "propaganda" among minors in a law passed in June, which includes imposing fines on those holding gay pride rallies, has attracted international condemnation.

Miller, who played incarcerated structural engineer Michael Scofield in Fox's "Prison Break" from 2005 to 2009, has recently turned his hand at screenwriting, penning the script for this year's dark thriller "Stoker," starring Nicole Kidman.

Miller's letter comes after Bravo channel host and executive producer Andy Cohen told E! News last week that he would not be co-hosting Donald Trump's Miss Universe pageant this year in Moscow because he "didn't feel right as a gay man stepping foot into Russia."

(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Eric Walsh)

Wentworth Miller Comes Out: 'Prison Break' Star Reveals He's Gay

[Source]

Wentworth Miller Comes Out: 'Prison Break' Star Reveals He's Gay

Posted: 08/21/2013 6:33 pm EDT  |  Updated: 08/22/2013 1:33 am EDT


Wentworth Miller is the latest celebrity to reveal he's gay.

After being invited to attend the St. Petersburg International Film Festival in Russia, the "Prison Break" star decided it was time to go public with his sexual orientation.

"Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes," the 41-year-old wrote in a letter to the festival's director, which was posted on GLAAD's website. "However, as a gay man, I must decline."

The actor went on to explain:

I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.

Miller is of course referring to Russia's new anti-gay laws, which are a ban on "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" as part of an effort to promote traditional Russian values over Western liberalism, and prohibit the adoption of Russian-born children to national and international same-sex couples.

The actor concluded his letter by stating, "Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I'll be free to make a different choice."

In a statement, GLAAD spokesman Wilson Cruz praised Miller's decision to come out, noting that the actor's "bold show of support sends a powerful message to LGBT Russians," telling them they are not alone.

"As people from across the globe continue to speak out against this horrific law, more celebrities and corporations should follow his courageous lead in openly condemning Russia's anti-LGBT law," he said.

Wentworth Miller reveals that he's gay

[Source]

Wentworth Miller reveals that he's gay

---

Trey Barrineau, USA TODAY 1:12 a.m. EDT August 22, 2013

---

He made the revelation in a letter declining an invitation to a film festival in Russia.

Actor Wentworth Miller comes out
as gay in an open letter to the
St. Petersburg Film Festival.
(Photo: Jon Kopaloff, FilmMagic)

Prison Break star Wentworth Miller has declined an invitation to the St. Petersburg International Film Festival saying that as a gay man he disapproves of the Russian government's crackdown on homosexuals.

Miller had been invited to appear as a guest of honor at the festival. "As a gay man, I must decline, he said.

The actor, 41, whose sexual orientation has been the subject of speculation in the past, came out in a letter he sent on Wednesday to festival organizers.

Wentworth's letter, which is posted on GLAAD's website, thanks festival organizers for an invitation but states "I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government."

"Wentworth's bold show of support sends a powerful message to LGBT Russians, who are facing extreme violence and persecution: you are not alone," said a statement from GLAAD representative Wilson Cruz, who is also an actor (My So-Called Life).

Miller's announcement comes amid international condemnation of Russia's recent crackdown on homosexuals. Stringent new laws prescribe fines for people accused of spreading "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" to minors. Gay pride rallies are banned, as is the adoption of Russian-born children by same-sex couples. And foreign visitors suspected of being gay can now be detained for up to 15 days, which has raised concerns worldwide as Russia prepares to host the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Wentworth Miller Comes Out as Gay

[Source]

Wentworth Miller Comes Out as Gay

By Dahvi Shira
08/21/2013 at 06:50 PM EDT

Wentworth Miller

Shizuo Kambayashi/AP

Wentworth Miller has come out.

The former Prison Break star, 41, went public with the news in a letter to Petersburg International Film Festival director Maria Averbakh, who had invited him to attend.

According to the message, which was posted on GLAAD's website Wednesday, Miller thanked Averbakh for the "kind invitation" but turned it down because, "As a gay man … I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government."

Added the actor: "The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly. … If circumstances improve, I'll be free to make a different choice."

Miller's words refer to recent anti-LGBT legislation passed by the country. Signed by President Vladimir Putin in June, the law bans the "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" and imposes hefty fines for providing information about the gay community to minors or holding gay pride rallies, the Associated Press reports.

There also is concern about a long-running problem of violence against gays in Russia, as well as a new law restricting adoptions of Russian children by people in countries allowing same-sex marriage.

E! News was first to report the posting of Miller's letter.

Wentworth Miller Comes Out as Gay in Response to Russian Film Fest Invitation

[Source]

Wentworth Miller Comes Out as Gay in Response to Russian Film Fest Invitation

Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images

August 21, 2013 | 03:52PM PT 

GLAAD touts actor/scribe for publicly condemning anti-LGBT law

Allegra Tepper
@allegraceline

“Prison Break” star and “Stoker” scribe Wentworth Miller came out as gay in a letter sent Wednesday to the St. Petersburg International Film Fest, declining to participate because of Russia’s anti-LGBT laws.

“I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government,” Miller wrote. “The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.”

GLAAD spokesman Wilson Cruz released a statement: “Wentworth’s bold show of support sends a powerful message to LGBT Russians, who are facing extreme violence and persecution: you are not alone. As people from across the globe continue to speak out against Russia’s horrific law, more celebrities and corporations should follow his courageous lead in openly condemning Russia’s anti-LGBT law.”

Russia’s anti-LGBT legislation have attracted international censure since the nation’s parliament passed a law in June, which bans “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” and imposes fines on those holding gay pride rallies.

Read Miller’s full letter here.

Wentworth Miller rejects Russian film festival invitation; 'As a gay man, I must decline'

[Source]

Wentworth Miller rejects Russian film festival invitation; 'As a gay man, I must decline'

Wednesday, August 21, 2013 - 5:56pm by Seth Adam, GLAAD's Senior Manager of Communications

Actor and screenwriter Wentworth Miller today rejected an invitation to attend the St. Petersburg International Film Festival, citing Russia's anti-LGBT laws. In a letter to the Festival's Director, the 'Prison Break' star stated that "as a gay man, I must decline." Miller goes on to say that he is "deeply troubled" by Russia's lawful brutality toward the LGBT community. "I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly," Miller concludes.

Read Miller's full letter to the St. Petersburg International Film Festival below.

August 21, 2013

Re: St. Petersburg International Film Festival / "Guest of Honor" Invitation

Dear Ms. Averbakh:

Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes.

However, as a gay man, I must decline.

I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.

Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I'll be free to make a different choice.

Until then.

Wentworth Miller

Member, HRC
Member, GLAAD
Member, The ManKind Project

"Wentworth's bold show of support sends a powerful message to LGBT Russians, who are facing extreme violence and persecution: you are not alone," said GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz. " As people from across the globe continue to speak out against Russia's horrific law, more celebrities and corporations should follow his courageous lead in openly condemning Russia's anti-LGBT law."

Earlier this year, Russian president Vladimir Putin passed a law that prohibits the adoption of Russian-born children to national and international same-sex couples, as well as any couples living in a country that has any LGBT acceptance policies. President Putin has also signed a law which bans the public, including tourists, from presenting pro-LGBT "propaganda." Such propaganda can include something simple as hand holding, t-shirts, or pro-gay statements. "Criminals" who break these laws are at risk of being fined, arrested, or deported. Following the passage of these laws has been a surge in anti-LGBT violence in the country.

GLAAD and Rusa LGBT, an organization that works to support LGBT Russians, are collaborating with multiple organizations to address the ongoing persecution of LGBT Russians, who are facing extreme violence and oppression due to the recent passage of the country's draconian 'anti-gay propaganda' law.

Wentworth Miller Comes Out as Gay, Refuses Invitation to Russian Film Festival

[Source]

Wentworth Miller Comes Out as Gay, Refuses Invitation to Russian Film Festival

Celebrity News August 21, 2013 AT 6:30PM By Allison Takeda

Wentworth Miller came out as gay in a letter to a Russian film festival on Aug. 21
Credit: MUNAWAR HOSAIN/FOTOS INTERNATIONAL/GETTY

Wentworth Miller took a stand -- and a big step -- on Wednesday, Aug. 21, when he came out as gay in a letter to the organizers of the St. Petersburg International Film Festival in Russia. Citing the country's headline-making anti-LGBT legislation, the 41-year-old Prison Break star said he could not "in good conscience" attend an event in a place that would promote such discrimination.

PHOTOS: Out and proud stars

"Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes," he wrote in the letter, posted to GLAAD's website. "However, as a gay man, I must decline."

Wentworth went on to note that he took issue with Russia's anti-gay laws, which include a ban on the adoption of Russian-born children to national and international same-sex couples.

PHOTOS: LGBT allies

"I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government," he continued. "The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly."

"Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve," he added, "I'll be free to make a different choice. Until then."

PHOTOS: Gay power couples

"Wentworth's bold show of support sends a powerful message to LGBT Russians, who are facing extreme violence and persecution: you are not alone," GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz said in a statement after the letter was posted. "As people from across the globe continue to speak out against Russia's horrific law, more celebrities and corporations should follow his courageous lead in openly condemning Russia's anti-LGBT law."