Actor Luke Macfarlane Comes Out

On TV's Brothers & Sisters, Canadian Luke Macfarlane plays a gay man in a serious relationship. In an exclusive interview, the 28-year-old actor talks about his character's trip to the altar, and why he's decided to go public with his own sexuality**

(Toronto, Ontario) Actor Luke Macfarlane, a regular in the ABC series Brothers & Sisters, has come out in an interview with a Canadian newspaper.

Macfarlane, who plays a gay character in the popular series has been the subject of months of speculation in Weblogs. He chose to come now because his character, Scotty Wandell, exchanges vows with his lover Kevin Walker in next month's season finale.

The Canadian-born Macfarlane says he felt compelled to come out even though it could have career risks.

"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," he told the Globe and Mail.

He also told the newspaper that he would someday like to marry and said that the season finale will monumental in the way it treats same-sex marriage.

"From a standing outside perspective, and also as someone who is gay, I think that it's a very exciting time. 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 grew up in London, Ontario. He attended the Juilliard, in New York, and ,then went on to roles in the miniseries Tanner on Tanner and the motion picture Kinsey. He also had roles in FX, Over There and Supreme Courtships.

"MacFarlane’s coming out marks the first time an out actor on network television has played such a prominent gay role," AfterElton editor Michael Jensen noted on the Web site. AfterElton, like 365Gay.com, is owned by Logo Television.

"Neil Patrick Harris and T. R. Knight, two of television's other out gay actors both play heterosexuals. Bryan Batt's gay character on Mad Men and Mario Cantone's on Men in Trees are very small parts." wrote Jensen.

Macfarlane was asked by The Globe and Mail if he currently has a boyfriend but declined to answer.

*365Gay.com News Center Staff
**The Globe and Mail.com