Sir Ian McKellen is a gay icon. Ever since coming out 30 years ago, he has been one of the most active campaigners for LGBTQ rights.
And to celebrate his coming out, he shared this post on Twitter.
I’ve never met a gay person who regretted coming out – including myself. Life at last begins to make sense, when you are open and honest. Today is the 30th anniversary of the BBC radio discussion when I publically said I was gay. So I’m celebrating!
— Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) January 27, 2018
“I’ve never met a gay person who regretted coming out – including myself. Life at last begins to make sense, when you are open and honest. Today is the 30th anniversary of the BBC radio discussion when I publically [sic] said I was gay. So I’m celebrating!”
Sir Ian came out on BBC Radio 3, back in 1988, during a debate on Section 28, a piece of legislation that banned the “promotion” of homosexuality. It also banned the recognition that gay relationships were normal.
Related: 7 of Sir Ian McKellen’s finest gay moments
Since coming out, Sir Ian has co-founded the charity Stonewall and campaigned for the advancement of LGBTQ rights in many countries. He’s slammed India’s anti-gay laws, urged closeted actors to come out, and led protests against Chechnya’s horrific gay purge.
He has also said that he wants to be remembered more for his activism than his acting.
“I’m very proud of my small contributions to changing the law in this country and changing attitudes, all for the better.
“I suppose in the scheme of things that is more important and has more merit and [will be] longer lasting than any acting that I have done. But that is more for other people to judge, isn’t it?”
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