Wentworth Miller Gay: "Prison Break" Star Comes Out Of the Closet

Culture

British Actor Wentworth Miller, 41, who played the role of Michael Scofield in the hit TV series Prison Break, just came out of the closet, disclosing that he is a gay man in a letter addressed to Russia's St. Petersburg International Film Festival. The heart stopping actor that captured everyone's eyes when he debuted on Mariah Carey's infamous video "We Belong Together" rose to stardom in Prison Break, a show centered around a man who gets intentionally arrested to break his brother out of death row.

Wentworth's letter was in response to an invite to the film festival in Russia, where he thanked them for their invitation but quickly declined, saying "As a gay man, I must decline. I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government." Furthermore, he said that "The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly."

Miller's bold rejection comes amidst an international outcry over Russia's strict anti-gay laws. Gay pride parades are banned and many pictures have surfaced out of Russia that depict brutal beatings of LGBT people by anti-gay protesters and the Russian police. Last month, four Dutch tourists were also detained in Moscow for "gay propaganda." All this is happening when Russia is just a year away from hosting the 2014 winter Olympics in Sochi that will undoubtedly put LGBT visitors in danger. In response to this, many celebrities like Miller have been speaking out and gay bars have started to ban the sale of Russian vodka to protest the violence.

Do you think this will have any weight on the Russian government to change their laws? Do you think Miller, with his irresistible charm, can help change a barbaric law? Do you think there will be any change?

Here is his letter for reference: