Zac Efron Gay Rumors: Actor Addresses Sexuality And LGBT Issues
Ever since Zac Efron burst onto the scene in 2006's "High School Musical," he's built a large LGBT fan base and been followed by rumors that he himself is gay.
Efron opened up about his own sexuality - straight - and his support of the gay community in a new interview with The Advocate.
Regarding rumors about his own sexuality, Efron said he tries to rise above gossip, but he doesn't see the speculation as an insult.
"I don't like to live in fear about things like rumors and backlash to begin with - that's the way I was raised - but I just can't see what's so wrong about being gay," he said.
He added that the fanfare he gets from the LGBT community is important to him.
"It's very flattering," Efron said. "After 'High School Musical' and 'Hairspray,' I've always felt embraced by the gay community, and I feel incredibly grateful and honored."
Efron grew up performing musical theater, which he said exposed him to gay and lesbian friends from an early age. He told the magazine that though he may have been less aware of their sexuality at the time, "without question I had gay role models."
Efron also discussed a scene in his upcoming film, "The Paperboy," which stars Nicole Kidman and was directed by Lee Daniels, in which Efron and Kidman dance around in the rain. Efron wears only white briefs, and stills from the scene made waves online.
The actor said he didn't think much of it at the time, but later realized how much attention his dance in wet briefs would attract.
"With a scene like that, you just have to stick with it and see where it takes you. After the fact, though, I remember thinking, 'Oh, jeez, what did I just get myself into?'" he said.
On the topic of gay marriage, Efron said he'd love to see marriage equality become the norm, especially for the benefit of some of his closest friends who are gay.
"It's an issue that affects so many people in my life - a lot of my close friends and some of the most influential people around me," he said. "I just want them all to be happy. It would make me so happy to see them able to live their lives and do what they want to do."
