Joe Mantello Quotes

I'm not ashamed of being gay, never have been and never will be. For that I have no apologies.

I started being really proud of the fact that I was gay even though I wasn't.

I didn't want to wave the flag and be like, 'Look! I'm gay! Da da da.' I just wanted to say, 'This is my lifestyle.'

I am lucky to say now that it is not frightening for me, living in L.A., to be gay. Even when I was in Texas, I wasn't afraid. I was kind of out in high school. I just could never decide on what label. I am glad that I am public about it, and I think I should be.

I can't speak for other people, but for me, I feel like gone are the days that you need to come out of a closet. I never felt like I was in a closet. I never did. I always felt comfortable with who I am and the decisions I made.

I would advise any gay person that being out in the real sense can never happen too soon.

I'm honestly not the kind of person who wants to step up to a podium, test the microphone and be like, 'Hey, I'm homosexual and this is who I am, hear me roar.' That's not who I am.

People who were close to me - family and friends - they knew about my sexuality.

I don't feel closeted.

I am gay, and I'm very comfortable with it.

If I was gay, why would I hide it?

Everybody knew me as a gay man, and in my life in London, I never tried to hide.

I think knowing people by first names, not by what they do sexually, is really what it's about. Not being afraid. Fear is the enemy. I've always been comfortable with being gay.

I kind of live my life as an example, and I just never felt like I had to be on the cover of a magazine announcing that I was gay; it's just who I am. I just live my life, and I never really thought about it.

There is no rule in the pink-triangle guide to coming out that you must wear a rainbow flag cap and organise a full band parade.

I always knew I was gay. I always knew that somehow it would work out.

I wanted so badly to be straight like my friends. But I couldn't change it any more than I could change having brown eyes. And I knew I would never fit into what kids thought was normal.

Being from New York, if you're gay, you're gay. I think it's important that if you are gay, you not be afraid to say who you are.

I try to treat my orientation the same way I would if I was straight, which is to talk about it when it's relevant.

If I was ashamed of who I am, I would be in the closet.

When I played Hope in 'Booksmart,' I was like, 'I could see myself with a woman.' Because, literally, I was seeing myself with a woman.

I've never hidden my sexuality from anyone - my whole life, in fact - and I've been waiting for someone to ask about it in an interview, 'cause it's not something you just blurt out.

Maybe I've limited my opportunities by being so open about my sexuality, but my thinking is that, if I come out of the gates this way, then it's not really going to be a big deal in a couple of years.

I'm not ashamed to be gay.

I cannot thank the LGBT+ community enough for their support, for their love, for their acceptance, and for the first time in a letter, I am incredibly proud to say that I am gay and have never been happier.