Queerness is so en vogue at the moment! So trendy and cool – now a former Bachelor is cashing in and coming out. 
The most important news from this week: Former Bachelor Colton Underwood came out as gay. Of course, the public will be dying to know every ounce of detail regarding his incredible story of self-realization. Fortunately for the culture, Netflix will be providing just what the world so desperately needs, a new reality series starring Underwood, the latest gay man.
Underwood sent shockwaves around the world on Wednesday, April 14, when he came out as gay on ABC’s Good Morning America in an interview with lesbian Robin Roberts. “I’ve ran from myself for a long time. I’ve hated myself for a long time, and I’m gay. I came to terms with that earlier this year and have been processing it,” he said. Stunning. Brave.
Famously known as “The Virgin Bachelor”, the Catholic former NFL player announced that a new Netflix series already in production will document his coming out and life as a gay man. The show will also feature Olympian Gus Kenworthy, a freestyle skier who came out in 2015 and is now Underwood’s gay sidekick. Gayness is apparently a big selling point for Netflix. In actuality, it probably isn’t, but mainstream media would never miss an opportunity to force the homosexual agenda on the American populace.
Underwood discussed his Catholic upbringing with GMA and said that as a boy he “learned in the Bible that gay is a sin.” “I’ve know that I’ve been different since the age of 6, and I couldn’t process it and I couldn’t put my finger on what it was until my freshman year of high school when I knew I was gay,” he said. Since then he struggled with being honest with himself, but now is “closer to God” by coming out. “I used to wake up in the morning and pray for Him to take the gay away. I used to pray for Him to change me,” he explained. After finding out he was going to be the 23rd Bachelor, he celebrated the opportunity to find a wife and have children, thanking God “for making me straight.”
While the whole world is weighing in on the matter of Underwood’s sexuality, some have been distrustful of the news, seeing it as a publicity stunt, or disingenuous. Others have attacked his character, most notably for the way his relationship with his previous girlfriend from the show panned out. Cassie Randolph, who received the final rose from Underwood, at one point sought a restraining order from him, accusing him of stalking and harassment. She later withdrew her request for the order. Underwood even received backlash for following conservative Candance Owens on Instagram. In some corners, he is not being welcomed as a member of the LGBTQ community because his political views are considered too right-leaning.
One particular instance from Underwood’s Bachelor days has resurfaced that takes on new meaning in the wake of his coming out. It is a short moment involving comedian Billy Eichner, who jokingly encouraged him to look into whether or not he is gay. “Maybe you’re the first gay bachelor, and we don’t even know it!” he exclaimed.
I’m happy for @colton. If you’re gay, be gay! I’ve been gay forever & I love it! https://t.co/vuDWy7HVap
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) April 14, 2021
Unfortunately, the time when The Bachelor features an out member of the LGBTQ community may not be far off.