(Images by Ryan Pfluger for GT)
Derek Chadwick — newly out actor, musician and Instagram model — claims one of the August 2018 GT covers.
Inside, the 23-year-old says:
Coming out in this way allows me to use the privilege that I have to help other people who don't have that. The opportunities that I've been given to have a voice. I feel like that was the main reason why I wanted to do this cover. I want to be the person that's at those rallies and events advocating for people and anybody. I never felt that I could do that unless I did this, and I think this is a major way for people to see visible queer people.
Keep reading for more pics and more of Chadwick's interview ...
On why he waited to come out:
I felt it (“gay shame”) on the most personal level that you could feel it because my parents were, at first, not very accepting of it (being gay) at all. I came out to my mom and stepdad, and I remember my mom saying that she thought I was straight.
I have a very private life, and because I haven’t been out, I’ve been nervous about people seeing my personality because I didn't want them to jump to conclusions about me without knowing my whole story.
That's what has made me cautious on social media to begin with – to reveal the real me.
Check out the full GT piece here!
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