Luke MacFarlane of "Brothers & Sisters" comes out publicly as gay



Canadian actor Luke MacFarlane, who plays the character of Scotty on Brothers & Sisters, has come out in an interview with the Canadian Globe and Mail. Regarding his decision to come out after years of speculation in the press regarding his sexuality, Macfarlane comments:

"I don't know what will happen professionally ... that is the fear, but I guess I can't really be concerned about what will happen, because it's my truth. ... There is this desire in L.A. to wonder who you are and what's been blaring for me for the last three years is how can I be most authentic to myself - so this is the first time I am speaking about it in this way."



The piece focuses on the upcoming episode in which Scotty and Kevin (Matthew Rhys) are married, which MacFarlane feels is groundbreaking despite the obvious attention-getting nature of the soap's storyline: "How exciting that we're saying, 'This can be part of the cultural fabric, now,' because it is two series regulars, two people that you invite into your home and you see every week. It's telling of the beginning of more waves and I'm very proud of that."

MacFarlane, who had been linked to out actor T.R. Knight and not-out actor Wentworth Miller by the tabloids in the past, declined to go into any details as to his romantic life, noting that there are parts of his life that he would still like to keep private.

This is the first mention we've seen of Scotty as a "series regular", which is encouraging (Macfarlane says that he's going to be on the show "a long, long time"). Although not half as encouraging as Macfarlane's decision to come out, on his own terms, at what is surely a career high point for him thus far. A big congratulations to Luke and best of luck from all of us here at AfterElton.com ... he just gave us a new celeb to cyberstalk!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this the first time we've had an out gay actor playing an out regular gay character in an actual physical relationship on a primetime network show?