Canadian actor Luke MacFarlane, who's best known as Scotty, Kevin Walker's cute gay lover on ABC's hit show Brothers & Sisters, has come out of the closet in an interview with the Canadian Globe and Mail.

Macfarlane has, until now, been guarded about his personal life as a gay man, but has been open to his family and close friends. It was widely reported in the blogosphere that Macfarlane was dating Grey's Anatomy star T.R. Knight a couple of years ago.

Over lunch with Canadian Globe and Mail in Los Angeles, Macfarlane initially insists that he has no concerns about his public revelation - but a few seconds later he is shifting nervously in his chair, and concedes that he is "terrified."

"I don't know what will happen professionally ... that is the fear, but I guess I can't really be concerned about what will happen, because it's my truth.

"There is this desire in L.A. to wonder who you are and what's been blaring for me for the last three years is how can I be most authentic to myself - so this is the first time I am speaking about it in this way."

Macfarlane's character Scotty will marry Kevin Walker in the season finale of Brothers & Sisters, which airs on May 11. This represents a monumental step in television culture, the 28-year-old actor says:

"From a standing outside perspective, and also as someone who is gay, I think that it's a very exciting time. How exciting that we're saying, 'This can be part of the cultural fabric, now,' because it is two series regulars, two people that you invite into your home and you see every week. It's telling of the beginning of more waves and I'm very proud of that. "He does, however, note that a certain irony still exists: While a show featuring a gay marriage may be an important step toward building tolerance, it's still an attention-grabber in today's television world.

"Most importantly, in portraying gay people, the more we realize it's just like portraying anybody else and, gay marriage, it's not about two people being gay, it's about two people who love each other and who have decided to commit to each other for the exact same reasons any other couple would get married. Hopefully, the more that becomes part of the cultural awareness it won't be," he pauses and says, employing a mock, exaggerated voice of a television announcer, "a spectacular Sunday episode."

Congratulations Luke!

Last update: 04-15-2008 11:59