‘White Collar’ Actor Matt Bomer Comes Out as Gay at Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards

White Collar actor Matt Bomer has come out as a gay man. The handsome actor decided to make the announcement during the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards while accepting an award for his humanitarian work.

Matt Bomer took to the podium to accept the New Generation Arts and Activism Award for his work to fight against HIV/AIDS. During the acceptance speech, he finally decided to go public with his much-questioned, and highly private, personal life.

I'd really especially like to thank my beautiful family: Simon, Kit, Walker, Henry, he told the audience. Thank you for teaching me what unconditional love is. You will always be my proudest accomplishment.

By thanking his partner, Simon Halls, Bomer made the very public announcement that he is a gay man. Halls is a publicist in Hollywood.

In the past, the 34-year-old actor has declined to comment on any rumors regarding his sexual orientation. He wanted to keep that aspect of his life private. I don't care about that at all, he told Details magazine in 2010. I'm completely happy and fulfilled in my personal life.

Matt Bomer followed other celebrities who have decided to come out as homosexual recently. In October, actor Zachary Quinto was so saddened by the bullying homosexual teens were facing, particularly the suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer, that he came out as a gay man. Quinto became part of the It Gets Better campaign to fight against bullying.

Kristy McNichol came out as a lesbian just a few weeks ago. Ricky Martin came out in 2010. Actor Sean Hayes came out in 2010. CNN anchor Don Lemon came out in 2011 on The Joy Behar Show.

As for Matt Bomer, he has roles slated in numerous upcoming pieces including The Normal Heart, the film adaptation of Larry Kramer's HIV/AIDS drama alongside Alec Baldwin and Mark Ruffalo; and he will play the older brother of Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss) on Glee.