Former Baywatch actor and Playgirl cover model Jaason Simmons has come out of the closet and is soon planning a trip to Canada to marry his boyfriend of eight months, Irish actor John O'Callaghan.

The Tasmanian-born actor, who played Australian lifeguard Logan Fowler on Baywatch for three years in the mid 1990s, has ended years of speculation in the hope of raising awareness of African adoption.

O'Callaghan has a six year-old adopted son, Odin, whom he rescued from an African orphanage, and Simmons says he can't wait to become Odin's second father.

According to Australian New Idea magazine, O'Callaghan proposed to Simmons a few months after they met and Simmons immediately said 'yes'. The couple plan to wed in Canada later this year as same-sex unions are not legally recognized in California where they both live.

Said Simmons: "We're doing it for our family and for my soon-to-be son. Although you don't want to typecast yourself, you have to take responsibility and ownership and move humanity forward, out of bigotry. Our son needs to see we can stand in front of family and loved ones who are going to support our union through the good times and bad."

Last update: 03-10-2008 14:33