Former Disney channel star Garrett Clayton come out as gay Monday and revealed the “long-term” relationship he has been in with a man.
“With the release of my new movie REACH coming up, I thought it was important to explain why I took on this project in the first place. REACH deals with some very serious and timely topics that have affected me personally, and have likely influenced many of your lives as well,” the 27-year-old actor captioned his post on Instagram Monday, while explaining why he took his latest movie role in “Reach.”
“(I also prefer to share things that are particularly important for me here on my IG) instead of in some random magazine or online article– because you are the ones that have been rooting for me and following me on my professional and personal journey in life,” he added.
Clayton continued, “When I read the script for REACH, I immediately knew it was a film I had to be a part of. I have personally dealt with suicide within my own family, intense bullying in high school, and–on top of it all–myself and the man I’ve been in a relationship with for a long time (@hrhblakeknight) have both experienced shootings within our hometown school systems, and have witnessed the heartache that takes place in affected communities after such tragic events.”
“These topics–not always easy to discuss–are all close to my heart, and, knowing how serious they are, I wanted to share this with you all,” the “Teen Beach Movie” star wrote. “This film has come from the perspectives of people who care deeply about these issues, and if watching it helps even one person… then it was all worth it.”
According to the description on Deadline, “Reach” is about a “socially awkward genius (Clayton) who divulges to a pro-suicide support group that he plans to kill himself after being constantly picked on by a former childhood friend and school bully (Jordan Doww) and his widowed father, for whom he harbors a deep resentment for over his mother’s death. When the new quirky kid (Joey Bragg) in school befriends him, his plans are sidetracked.”