Op-ed: Zachary Quinto Needs Our Help

Zachary Quinto's coming out as gay on October 16th has been seriously underplayed by the media. The blogs and news outlets have all picked up and commented on the story, but none of them seem to have fully grasped the fact that this is a seminal moment in Hollywood and gay history. For the first time, a major movie star, an action hero as well as a romantic leading man, has admitted his homosexuality.

"In light of Jamey's death," Quinto posted on his website referring to the suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old gay student in New Jersey, "it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality."

By coming out of the closet, Quinto has not only done something of great significance for the entertainment industry and the gay people within it, he has committed to using his voice to fight on behalf of LGBT teenagers who don't have a voice -- teens like Jamey who need others who are more visible to serve as role models to give them strength and hope.

JAMES DUKE MASON is an actor and activist. Read the rest of his column on dot429.