Model/Actor Derek Chadwick Comes Out As Gay

Model and actor Derek Chadwick has come out as gay. 

"I would identify now as gay...I think I realised vaguely at school that I was gay, like officially. There was a point that I just knew," the 23-year-old explained in Gay Times Magazine's latest issue. "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."

Chadwick was nervous how he'd be perceived by his 275,000 Instagram followers, but he's excited to be himself without fear. "It’ll allow me to be more personable on social media. I’ll be able to post more on my stories and videos on Twitter...it’ll allow me to stand up on the stage in front of the LGBTQ community and not feel so pressured about, 'Oh my God, I wonder they think of me,' or, 'I wonder what they’ll think of me.'"

" 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."

The Scream Queens actor is excited to be an advocate for the LGBTQ community. "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."

"If I can just inspire one person, whoever that is, to be their true self or do something they were scared to do or didn’t feel 100% confident in, that would be the most rewarding part of all this. Helping that one person, they can then go on and hopefully help someone else that’s in the same situation as them, and it’ll keep going on and on. Being honest and being who you are is always the best way to live."

Welcome to the family, Derek!