This Walking Dead Actor Came Out As Gay In An Emotional Reveal

Daniel Newman came out as gay on Twitter on Thursday night. After the news, The Walking Dead actor published a video on YouTube explaining why he was coming out just now and delivering a powerful message.

Newman’s news were received with incredible support from his fans and all the community. So powerful and touching.

via GIPHY

We need everyone just the way you are

Thursday night was a special night for Daniel Newman who turned to Twitter to open up and make a public announcement about himself. The 35-year-old shared an inspiring message on the social media coming out as a proud gay man, and we applaud it!

In the 140 characters message, Newman doesn’t elaborate much but firmly says he’s a proud gay man, this being the very first time he opened up about his sexuality. The actor also announced that he would elaborate later on.

I'm #OUTandPROUD #LGBT Love you guys. Be proud to be yourself. We need everyone just the way you are! I'll chat with you guys tonight

— Daniel Newmaη (@DanielNewman) March 30, 2017

Overwhelming video and powerful message

Later that night, Newman published a nearly seven minute Youtube video in which he went emotional about his journey and about what made him come out just now.

Daniel explained that in a recent trip to a homeless youth shelter a girl thanked him for helping out LGBTQ kids even when he was a straight person and this shocked him. He informed the girl he wasn’t straight and then the girl pointed out how coming out could help change people’s life.

He said, “hit me like a gut punch. I realized how important it is, in this day and age, to be visible, have people know who you are.” He continued, “You see at this moment how rights are getting stripped from people so quickly. Who are the easiest people to take rights from? People that are invisible, people that are staying silent.”

Standing with the community.

Daniel also pointed out how he was advised to keep his sexuality in private not to jeopardize his career and this subject is treated in the industry.

He said, “The whole world, the industry, is like, “Here’s your big break, you’re on ‘The Walking Dead,’ you can’t come out, you can’t be in the press because everything you work so hard for is going to be gone. There’s no gay or bi leading men, no action heroes, your career’s going to be over.”

But knowing what’s right, he decided to come out and stand with the community.

Out and proud.

In the video, the actor then continues saying, “When you are accomplishing incredible things and you’re hiding who you are, you’re hurting hundreds of millions of people.”

He pointed out how staying quiet is contributing to raising stigmas and stereotypes. He also praised people who had to face with the bullying and called them amazing and really strong.

On a Friday interview with People, Daniel talked about how his southern upbringing was part of the reason why he kept quiet all this time. He said, “I didn’t really think about it really as hiding. I never thought of myself as being in a closet or hidden.”

So good to see him living authentically!