Dan Bucatinsky on Pros and Cons of Coming Out as Gay in Hollywood

Daniel Bucatinsky, a celebrated actor, writer, and producer, is best known for his role as James Novak in the Shonda Rhimes drama series Scandal.

For his performance in the political thriller, he even won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2013.

But over the years, Bucatinsky, who is openly gay, has also recognized himself as an adherent of the LGBTQ+ community. He is often found speaking for gay rights, as well as for LGBT actors.

Pros and Cons of Coming Out as Gay in Hollywood

Speaking of one such instance, the Marry Me star opened up about the pros and cons of coming out as gay in Hollywood at the union’s Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Town Hall meeting in Los Angeles.

Bucatinsky, who was a keynote speaker at the event, discussed his own misgivings about coming out professionally and how he finally made the decision to take the big step.

"Coming out of the closet is a bitch; and awesome; and awful. And well OK, for some it’s harder than others, depending on where we’re from and how we were brought up," he stated [via Deadline].

In his lengthy speech, the actor added, "Regardless, the tiny three-word phrase ‘I am gay’ feels almost nuclear in its power."

Bucatinsky also felt that one could choose to stay in the closet if that is working for them authentically so that nobody can tell them who they must be or to whom.

All in all — the actor implied that coming out as gay in Hollywood, especially in the 90s, was a very scary thing, as people tried to abuse and ignore them. On the other hand, coming out as gay or orientation of one's choice helped an individual to create their own identity.

Daniel Bucatinsky Talks about Meeting His Husband

Bucatinsky is a happily married man — and he is married to his gay partner, husband, screenwriter Don Roos.

The two reportedly met his future husband in 1992, subsequently after which the screenwriter invited him to be his date at the premiere of Love Field.

Recalling the moment during the mentioned event, the actor said, "I remember feeling a wave of excitement at the opportunity to be Don’s 'plus one.'"

Daniel Bucatinsky and his husband Don Roos at Emmys. (Photo: Instagram)

"They were having a screening and after-party in Westwood, but he told me soon after we wouldn’t be staying for the screening."

Instead, the couple, together with the film’s producers, actress Michelle Pfeiffer, and her, at the time, new husband, David Kelley, went to dinner together.

But since it was not the best of times to come out as gay partners in the industry, they kept their relationship a secret for a long time.

Daniel Bucatinsky and Husband Are Parents to Two Kids

Fast forward to 2008 and Bucatinsky and Roos tied the knot with each other, during the four months same-sex marriage in California was first recognized.

Now, the couple is also parents to two children: Eliza and Jonah. A quick scroll through the actor's social media shows pictures of the family happily living together.