The Importance of Coming Out

I am an actor and stand-up comedian who recently came out to the world on the “Geraldo” television show. That was after years of doing stand-up comedy--but never as my true self--and two years of building up the courage to come out and be true to myself.

The first time I did an openly gay show was on a cruise ship. I figured if I’m in the middle of an ocean and it didn’t work out, no one would know.

After I successfully made it through that, I decided I would only be gay in the Midwest and on the road. But not in Los Angeles, New York or Chicago, where I would have to face the closeted attitudes of the entertainment industry powers.

Then I did my open act in Chicago and decided who’s going to know? Then Atlanta, Texas, etc. It was the audiences that kept giving me the strength and courage to keep going.

The shows started going over very well. The audiences were wonderful. Their support has been overwhelming. Only a few weeks ago, I was in Kansas City and a religious extremist organized a protest at the club where I was appearing. On the night of the protest, fans showed up to protest the protesters!

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I thought I should write something about the importance of coming out after I read the article by Jan Breslauer, “Heard the One About Lesbian Comics?” (Calendar, July 18). Gay and lesbian comics and actors are not just a phase. America is ready for us. I believe that we should be allowed to play straight and gay roles. We should be allowed to have careers. We should let the public know we are gay and not be afraid of our true selves, so that all younger gays out there can have self-respect for themselves.

With all the flak about gays in the military, President Clinton said acceptance of homosexuals has to happen easily and it can’t all happen at once. We gays have to wait. We’ll have to wait to be totally open about our lives, ourselves and our sexuality. Well, I, for one, am tired of waiting.

I’m a good actor, a funny comedian and I don’t want people to limit me just because I’m gay. I want the industry to be open to women, to blacks, to Asians, to Latinos, to American Indians . . . to everybody !

I don’t understand why prejudice continues to prevail among some people. I had one casting director say to me, “Jason, you can’t play a doctor. No would one ever believe you could be a doctor.” Well, what if I went to medical school? Then could I be a doctor? What are they going to say, “I’m sorry, you have the wrong haircut”?

We as gays and lesbians should have the same rights as everybody else. And people will say, “but you do have the same rights.” Well, we do on the books and in the law. However, we don’t in practice, and that’s what makes me angry: Nobody takes responsibility for it not happening for gays and minorities.

I want us to be in the mainstream, doing movies, doing theater (which we are now, thank God), starring on television. I want to see us represented in an equal way. I want to be part of the movement. I want to stand up and be myself and show some young gay kids out there in America that I’m gay and I’m making it, and when you grow up, you’ll be able to make it too.

As I’ve gone around the country, performing with openness about myself, I’ve become convinced that the country wants to be open. Nobody wants to be perceived as a prejudiced bigot. People want to be understanding.

If we permit understanding to flourish today, our country can be stronger tomorrow. The sooner we drop all barriers, the sooner we will truly be a country of the people, for the people. All people.