On Mr Spock and More Human Heroes

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24TH, 2011

Zachary Quinto is a hero.

At 34, Pittsburg native Quinto's career has been impressive. From an unnamed role on the TV series "The Others" in 2000, through creating television's most deliciously wicked villain (Syler from the "Heroes" TV series (2006-2010)), being cast in the iconic role of Spock in the Star Trek reboot, to being both producer and lead (as analyst Peter Sullivan) in the brilliant "Margin Call", Zachary's star is definitely on the rise.

And this doesn't even touch his well received appearances on stage.

Conventional wisdom would suggest that such success (especially after transitioning so effortlessly from stage to small screen to blockbuster motion pictures) should be protected with a certain level of discretion concerning one's romantic preferences.

While Zach is well known for playing emotionly guarded characters (who better to succeed Nimoy as Spock?) this emotional caution does not, it would seem, carry into his personal life.

On October 16th, Zachary publicly declared that he is gay.

While it must be admitted that we've come a long way since the days where Rock Hudson kept his closet door firmly closed for fear of losing his leading man status, we continue to live in a world where gay teenagers find suicide preferable to the bullying they must contend with every day.

Mr Quinto likely never had the moniker "heart-throb" as part of his career path (although judging by the photo, he could certainly step into that role in a heartbeat), but in the world of blurred lines between fantasy and reality, his admission could easily restrict his suitability for roles as a love interest to leading ladies, more than his over abundant eyebrows ever could.

North Americans simply have ingrained difficulty in seeing beyond the sexual orientation of their leading men. And while impregnating multiple women and setting divorce records may be ultimately acceptable to the movie going public, finding love in the arms of another man just doesn't play quite so well to oh-so-many moral hypocrites.

This was of minor consideration to Mr Quinto, when compared to his self-perceived responsibility in taking a public stand against the intolerance and prejudice that caused the deaths of Jamey Rodemeyer (and other ostracized gay teens, such as Ottawa's own Jamie Hubley).

He wrote on his blog...

"When i found out that Jamey Rodemeyer killed himself - i felt deeply troubled, but when i found out that Jamey Rodemeyer had made an "It Gets Better" video only months before taking his own life - i felt indescribable despair. I also made an "It Gets Better" video last year - in the wake of the senseless and tragic gay teen suicides that were sweeping the nation at the time. But in light of Jamey's death - 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.

Our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered citizen of this country. Gay kids need to stop killing themselves because they are made to feel worthless by cruel and relentless bullying. Parents need to teach their children principles of respect and acceptance.

We are witnessing an enormous shift of collective consciousness throughout the world. We are at the precipice of great transformation within our culture and government. I believe in the power of intention to change the landscape of our society - and it is my intention to live an authentic life of compassion and integrity and action. Jamey Rodemeyer's life changed mine. And while his death only makes me wish that i had done this sooner - i am eternally grateful to him for being the catalyst for change within me. Now i can only hope to serve as the same catalyst for even one other person in this world.

That - i believe - is all that we can ask of ourselves and of each other."

Or as Spock would say, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few - or the one. (La Quinto was certainly well cast!)

You may not be anything like Sylar (one would hope), but you truly are a hero! If integrity plays a part in success, your career has nowhere to go - but up! In a world where gay teens have traditionally had few role models (Quentin Crisp just doesn't cut it for everyone), you gave them a penultimate one.
 
I am one who hates associating the word "Pride" with being "Gay", believing that pride is something which should be reserved for our accomplishments, not assigned to a simple state of being. But even by my definition, Zachary Quinto has every right to be very, very proud!

Now, do gay Vulcans still have to endure Pon Farr???