Coming out as a member of the LGBT+ community can go badly all too often. It can lead to relationship tension with friends and family, as well as potential harassment from others.
Sometimes, though, it goes remarkably well. Stories like Ben Platt's reassure people that it is possible to live as their authentic selves.
Ben, who is known for various theater roles, shared his story with Ellen DeGeneres, who also had a very public coming out.
Ben Platt On How Ellen Inspired Him to Be His Authentic Selfwww.youtube.com
Platt was appearing on the show to promote his new album, Sing To Me Instead.
The album is largely about relationships, and Ben talked about this being the first time he had been able to write openly and honestly about his sexuality.
Platt came out to friends and family at the age of 12, but was not out publicly until the video for "Ease My Mind," which shows him in the arms of a man.
He told Ellen that the reaction from the public has been "encouragingly innocuous."
He also told Ellen that her example inspired him and showed him that he could be himself, authentically.
"Hopefully we're past the time where it's gotta be this whole giant announcement, and it can just be a part of who you are and part of the work."
Fans on Twitter are loving this new side of Ben.
Several people latched onto the fact that he is currently single.
As more people in the public eye come out and decide to live as their true selves, it gets easier for the everyday person to do the same. Thank you to Ben and Ellen for being so publicly LGBT+, and setting an inspiring example for the rest of us.
