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Power Ranger David Yost: I'm Gay


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In an interview with The Advocate running online next week, David Yost, who from 1993 to 1996 starred as the blue Power Ranger in more than 200 episodes of the children’s television phenomenon Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,talks about the taunting and teasing he endured on the set of the show, and the years of ups and downs that have finally made him able to say the words, “I’m gay.”

“A week before I left the TV show I made a commitment to myself saying, “If I get called 'faggot' one more time, I’m walking because I can’t handle it any more,” Yost says. Within a week it happened, and it happened from a higher-level person on the show.”

Yost says he spent the next few years doing everything he could to “pray the gay away.”

“There were times when I would call prayer hotlines like Joyce Meyer’s prayer hotline or Pat Robertson’s 700 Club prayer hotline and instead was condemned over the phone,” he says.

Instead of helping, all the prayer ultimately led to a mental breakdown and a five-week stay in the hospital — and because his parents didn’t know he was gay at this point, they assumed it was the pressure of having not worked in a while.

Yost says he’s coming out now because he’s “tired of hearing stories about teenagers still taking their lives and committing suicide because of who they are and not understanding that there are resources for them to get help.”

Check back to Advocate.com next week for our full interview with David Yost.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Kurt
    Date posted: 8/6/2011 1:29:35 PM
    Hometown: Washington, DC

    Comment:

    David, I respect you even more now for your honesty and courage. You were and still are my favorite Power Ranger. Whenever I watch the reruns I am transported back to a good time in my life but I am very sad to hear of what you endured on the show and in society in general. Your path doesn't sound like it was easy but thank you for being who you are and allowing us to know the true you. I am proud of you.

  • Name: ryan
    Date posted: 6/11/2011 10:17:13 PM
    Hometown: sherats

    Comment:

    so f ing whired the blue ranger is gay

  • Name: Anthony
    Date posted: 5/14/2011 5:36:33 PM
    Hometown: Indonesia

    Comment:

    I am from Indonesia. Who says that gays are dirty and useless? Although you are a gay, but you have outstanding work, and even through your work as a blue ranger, it was very memorable and is still remembered clearly the several million people in this world. So, although you are a gay but you have to beat the straight people who have been saying gay is a useless person. I really love you David ....

  • Name: Mikie
    Date posted: 3/19/2011 3:16:59 AM
    Hometown: Prichard

    Comment:

    david ive always been a fan of yers. when i was a kid i was always the blue ranger lol. who cares what people say man??? it just goes to show ya how stoopid people are. whoever called ya the "f" word can fuck off :) yer a damn good actor, and still my favorite ranger lol

  • Name: Joey LeBlanc
    Date posted: 1/15/2011 4:55:41 PM
    Hometown: Provincetown, MA

    Comment:

    Congratulations David! It takes a lot of courage to admit that you are gay, but it takes a lot more courage to accept the fact for yourself. You should feel very proud of yourself. I was hoping to read an article somewhere about you coming out after seeing you in Provincetown back in 2004 or 2005.

  • Name: Alpha
    Date posted: 9/15/2010 9:55:47 PM
    Hometown: mayville

    Comment:

    The Blue ranger was gay!?!?!?! Ei yi yi!!!!

  • Name: Jonathan
    Date posted: 8/29/2010 5:14:29 PM
    Hometown: Pleasanton

    Comment:

    I went to high school with Dave, we all knew he was gay. We all thought he came out 10 years ago??? I think we blew each other at his "then" girlfriends house... good times

  • Name: Dan Glenn
    Date posted: 8/29/2010 11:42:52 AM
    Hometown: Palm Springs

    Comment:

    @Peter from Phoenix There's a difference between your doctor having a discussion with you about not smoking and alternatives that he/she might have for you to help, like the patch, and him saying you're going to Hell and he/she will pray for you and doing nothing more.

  • Name: Emanuel
    Date posted: 8/28/2010 11:49:35 PM
    Hometown: Olinda

    Comment:

    Man, I can remember it! I think I was just a kid when it'd be shown on tv here in Brazil. It reminds me of my school holidays at my grandma's, when I'd see it every day! It'd never crossed my mind that he could be gay. It was just so frightening to think that I suffered, as my christian family wanted me to believe, from a disease, and that it was a rare one. Phew!

  • Name: Dennis
    Date posted: 8/28/2010 2:46:16 PM
    Hometown: Philadelphia

    Comment:

    I remember the show from back in the day when I was in my teens. Billy, who was the character David played was always the one character that stuck out in my mind as being so different and being a role model for kids everywhere. To show that brains are just as important as brawn. That it is ok to be the nerd or the geek, or not belong to the 'in crowd'. It's such a terrible shame that he left the show, but given what is mentioned in the article I can't blame him at all. Maybe someday humanity will grow up and quit being so ignorant.

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