Keiynan Lonsdale Says Coming Out Has Been A ‘Wonderful Experience’

“The Flash” star Keiynan Lonsdale has no regrets about coming out five months ago.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter at GLSEN’s Respect Awards: Los Angeles, Lonsdale opened up about how his life has been since going public with his sexuality.

“It’s been a wonderful experience, a very welcoming experience,” the 25-year-old actor said, rejecting the long-held belief that coming out as LGBTQ could end one’s acting career. “We have the power to change that outcome ourselves and if you come out and you’re proud of it and you’re proud of yourself then people are proud for you. It’s infectious.”

Lonsdale is also thrilled that he gets to inspire a lot of other LGBTQ people around the world. “I have kids contact me from Nigeria,” Lonsdale shared. “I’m part Nigerian and now they can see someone on TV and reach out to me on social media from the other side of the world. It’s amazing. To hear them say they feel better about themselves, it means the world to me.”

Lonsdale, who plays Wally West/Kid Flash on “The Flash,” came out last May. In a lengthy on Instagram post, Lonsdale revealed that he’s attracted to both girls and boys, admitting that he spent several years of his life hating himself and thinking that he was less valuable because he was different. But the actor shared that he was able to accept who he really is a couple of years ago. Although that self-acceptance saved his life, he revealed that he recently got into a new road block and felt kind of lost.

But Lonsdale wrote that he’s now done being insecure, ashamed and scared, noting that seeing a lot of young people being their best and truest selves inspired him to fully embrace his sexuality. At the end of his post, Lonsdale wrote that he’s hoping that everyone can all learn to accept who they really are and not judge people who are not exactly the same as they are. “The truth is we are all family, we’re all one. Just love,” Lonsdale wrote.

After receiving overwhelming positive response from fans following his coming out, Lonsdale took to Twitter to thank everyone for their love and support.

The GLSEN gala was the first major LGBTQ event that Lonsdale has attended. During the event, the Australian actor helped introduce student co-host Nate Fulmer and “The Flash” openly gay executive producer Greg Berlanti, who presented DC Entertainment with this year’s Visionary Award.

In a recent Instagram post, Lonsdale revealed that he learned and cried a lot during the event.

“The Flash” Season 4 airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on The CW.