That experience of a not known person coming out is just as hard as a publicly known person. Now I think I used to think differently. I used to think that it would be harder for a publicly known person, but now as I'm out in the world and I'm talking to a lot of different people and really coming to understand the dynamic of coming out for anyone, it's hard, it's equally difficult for anyone. We all have a public, right? We all have a fan base, whether that be if you're a teacher and your fan base is your students and your fellow faculty members and your community. Well, your fan base is what you know. It's all relative. So the stakes are high for everybody. I'm not one to give advice, but if I were asked what my advice would be, it would be to make sure that you're safe and able to come out if you decide to and prepare yourself emotionally that some people may not like your truth, and that it's a big deal to come out for everybody.

It's been almost a year since the film debuted at LA Film Fest and of course there was lag time for post-production. How are things different for you since the film was being made?

Well, I'm married. I'd heard that. Congratulations.

Thanks. You know, freedom is time released. I continue every day to have little light bulb moments where I go, "Oh, this is freedom!" It just continues to reveal itself—getting married, holding my wife's hand as we walk down the street, enjoying the holiday season where our families invite us and expect us to show up at everything and there's no behind-the-doors negotiations of how do we hide this relationship? The holidays used to be a really stressful time for me when I was in the closet. There were some grand negotiations about "Okay, I'll stay here and then I'll leave Christmas Eve and I'll get on a plane, I'll do three days with my family and I'll try to get back as quickly as I can." It's very stressful, and it's unnecessary. I enjoy the holidays so much more now that I don't have to do all that figuring out how to navigate the dark waters of the closet

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