Magic Mike‘s Matt Bomer Talks About Being Out as Gay: What Brought Him to Tears?

Matt Bomer doesn’t like talking about his private life.

And even if the White Collar star did publicly aknowledge he was gay earlier this year, he’s not about to start spilling anytime soon.

“I never really endeavored to hide anything,” Bomer, 34, told me this weekend while promoting his new movie, Magic Mike. “But there were times I chose not to relegate my history to the back page of a magazine, which to me is sort of akin to putting your biography on a bathroom wall.”

Not that he dismisses the importance of being an out actor.

“I had somebody from the military approach me a few weeks ago just saying how this helps people, affects people,” Bomer said. “It brought me to tears.”

I go so far as to suggest that he could be saving young gay people’s lives. “I hope so,” he said. “They need saving, certainly in this day and age as much as ever—no matter how much we think we’ve progressed.”

His coming out was as subtle as they come. Bomer simply thanked his longtime partner, Hollywood publicist Simon Halls, and their three children, Kit, Walker and Henry, when he was honored by the Desert AIDS Fund in Palm Springs in February.

“What we really have to do is stop the adjective before the job title—whether it’s ‘black actor,’ a ‘gay actor’ or ‘anything actor,’” Bomer said. “Everybody thinks that equality comes from identifying people, and that’s not where equality comes from. Equality comes from treating everybody the same regardless of who they are. I hope the media and the press catches on to that because it’s time to move out of 1992.” more…

Matt Bomer has been a very busy man. The White Collar star has a movie opening soon – you may have heard of a little “independent” project calledMagic Mike – but he isn’t forgetting his TV roots.

In addition to his leading role as con man Neal Caffrey on the dapper USA Network hit, Bomer found time during his hiatus to film a guest spot on a decidedly different show – the musical comedy Glee– giving him two shots at an Emmy nomination.Here, the actor talks to TVLine about the Emmys’ indifference to USA Network shows, his favorite moments from White Collar‘s most recent season and stretching his comedy muscles. He also reveals why big screen success won’t ever stop him from donning Neal’s impeccably stylish suits.

TVLINE | Do you see something like Magic Mike and a growing movie career as a positive or a hindrance to your Emmy chances — as well as to White Collar‘s future?
It’s always good to get your face out there, especially if you’re working with somebody like [Magic Mikedirector] Steven Soderbergh. I don’t think that hurts. I certainly don’t think it’ll hurt the show. The great thing about getting to do a cable series is we’re on for six months and we’re off for six months. I’ve been trying to use my hiatus to work with filmmakers like [In Time director/writer] Andrew Niccol and Steven Soderbergh that I really believe in, in smaller roles, rather than taking a lead in something big and studio and splashy – not that Magic Mike hasn’t become studio and splashy. [Laughs] But when I signed on to do it, it was a $5 million independent movie. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to go out there and challenge yourself as an actor.

TVLINE | We don’t have to worry about you leaving White Collar any time soon, right?
No, I consider White Collar my home base. I’m so lucky to get to play a character that’s very multifaceted and the writers take risks on and never get into a staid process with. They’re always challenging themselves and, thusly, me as an actor. As long as they continue to do that, I’m happy. I love my job on White Collar. I won’t be leaving it any time soon. more…

Matt Bomer isn’t a conventional dad. He’s the star of the hit show “White Collar” on USA, for one thing, and he’s co-starring in a movie about male strippers, called “Magic Mike,” out June 29, for another. He’s also gay, having come out during an awards speech in February, thanking his longtime partner Simon Halls, who is co-parent to their three boys: seven year-old Kit and four-year-old twins Walker and Henry.

“It’s fantastic and kinetic and the greatest thing that ever happened to me,” said Bomer, 34, of fatherhood. “Every day is an exciting adventure that starts at 6:30 until they go to bed at 8 or 9. They were supposed to see me in New York this week, but one of our twins broke his arm and I had to fly home to Los Angeles. There’s never a dull moment.”

This week, e-tailer Park & Bond celebrated Bomer as one of New York’s most stylish fathers. He’s also in the midst of 70-hour work weeks at Silvercup Studios in Queens filming the fourth season of “White Collar,” which begins airing July 10. Halls, a prominent Hollywood publicist who counts Tom Ford and Ryan Murphy as clients, holds down the fort in Los Angeles. While they share an industry, Halls is “above his pay grade,” Bomer noted of any professional advice the two give each other. more…