Actor Daniel Franzese, who played Damian in the 2004 film "Mean Girls," has officially come out, Us Weekly reported.
In an open letter penned to his character in the film, the 35-year-old actor has officially come out as a gay man. This week's letter has been publicized 10 years after Franzese played the role of Damian, Lindsay Lohan's new-school-buddy who was labeled "too gay to function" in the film.
"Dear Damian: It's been a long time since our last encounter. Ten years to be exact," Franzese wrote. "I was twenty-six; you were sixteen. You were proud of who you were; I was an insecure actor. You became an iconic character that people looked up to; I wished I'd had you as a role model when I was younger. I might've been easier to be gay growing up. You WERE beautiful in every single way and words couldn't bring you down."
In the letter, Franzese explained that he was "terrified" to play the role of Damian, but thanked the pink polo shirt owner for everything. The actor reflected on the negative influence Damian had on his life and explained his difficult journey trying to find work in the entertainment industry.
"There were industry people who had seen me play you in Mean Girls but never seen me read in an audition but still denied me to be seen for 'masculine' roles," he continued. "Damian, you had ruined my life and I was really pissed at you. I became celibate for a year and a half. I didn't go to any gay bars, have any flings and I lied to anyone who asked if I was gay. I even brought a girl to the 'Mean Girls' premiere and kissed her on the red carpet, making her my unwitting beard. Meanwhile, I was still in the closet. Deleting tweets that asked if I was gay, scrubbing IMDB message boards for any indication."
He thanked Damian, his costar Tina Fey and the film's screenwriter bringing him to a place where he felt safe to come out as gay to the world. But Franzese said his attitude begin to change when "grown men started to coming up to me on the street - some of them in tears - and thanking me for being a role model to them."
"I had the perfect opportunity in 2004 to let people know the REAL Daniel Franzese," he continued. "Now in 2014 - ten years later - looking back, it took YOU to teach me how to be proud of myself again. ... So, I'm not afraid anymore. Of Hollywood, the closet or mean girls."
Fransese signed the moving letter with his name and added: "P.S. I hate it when people say I'm 'too gay to function.' I know you do, too. Those people are part of the problem. They should refrain from using that phrase. It really is ONLY okay when Janis says it."
