Disney Channel star Joshua Rush reveals he's bisexual
Disney Channel’s Joshua Rush has come out as bisexual. The 17-year-old Andi Mack star opened up about his sexuality in a heartfelt message to fans on Tuesday.
“I’m bi,” he declared in a Twitter thread, writing, “There are more important things to talk about than me liking a whole bunch of genders, but I do want to share a few things with you guys.”
first to respond to this tweet is bi lol
— joshua rush (@JoshuaRush) August 6, 2019
first! i win! it's me. i'm bi. And now that I've said that, I have a few things to rant about. There are more important things to talk about than me liking a whole bunch of genders, but I do want to share a few things with you guys.
— joshua rush (@JoshuaRush) August 6, 2019
Rush, who played Cyrus on the Disney Channel series, made history when his character came out on the show becoming the network’s first openly gay character. The teenage actor was inspired to share his own journey.
“How ironic, isn't it, that me, playing that character, never had mustered up that courage?” he tweeted. “Instead of feeling the courage to tell you today that I am an out and proud bisexual man because of the character I played for four years, I feel that courage thinking of all of you, who felt emboldened by Cyrus to come out.”
I saw so many of you watch Cyrus come out and said "Hey! I can be me!"
How ironic, isn't it, that me, playing that character, never had mustered up that courage?— joshua rush (@JoshuaRush) August 6, 2019
Instead of feeling the courage to tell you today that I am an out and proud bisexual man because of the character I played for four years, I feel that courage thinking of all of you, who felt emboldened by Cyrus to come out.
— joshua rush (@JoshuaRush) August 6, 2019
The Disney star said he suffered with “internalized homophobia” while playing Cyrus. “I stuffed the existential crisis of talking about my sexual orientation into a box in my mind for years. Today, I release it into the world,” he tweeted.
I had a close friend of mine come out to me in fifth grade. FIFTH GRADE! That was well before I had any clue of my own identity and orientation. I suffered with some level of my own internalized homophobia even while playing the first openly gay character on Disney Channel.
— joshua rush (@JoshuaRush) August 6, 2019
I stuffed the existential crisis of talking about my sexual orientation into a box in my mind for years. Today, I release it into the world.
— joshua rush (@JoshuaRush) August 6, 2019
“Being bi isn't all of my identity, nor is it the most important part of my identity,” he added, before highlighting important issues affecting the LGBTQ community. Rush encouraged his followers to donate to GLAAD and The Trevor Project, and to read up on bisexuality.
Being bi isn't all of my identity, nor is it the most important part of my identity. Bi erasure and issues like it are important, but trans women of color still have a life expectancy of THIRTY FIVE YEARS and that is absolutely unacceptable.
— joshua rush (@JoshuaRush) August 6, 2019
So. I want to encourage you all to donate to GLAAD. Our show wouldn't have existed in the form that it did without them, but also because their hard work in furthering acceptance in media helps an uncountable number of people.https://t.co/jlQTEcAAu3
— joshua rush (@JoshuaRush) August 6, 2019
I also want to encourage you to read their page on bisexuality. It has been incredibly helpful to me, and their resources have helped me to find where I fit on the spectrum of sexuality.https://t.co/oKjfKxFmTc
— joshua rush (@JoshuaRush) August 6, 2019
I also want to ask you to donate to The Trevor Project, who are literally saving lives every day. Helping young LGBTQ+ voices feel heard and loved is utterly crucial.https://t.co/jAgqEukuyh
— joshua rush (@JoshuaRush) August 6, 2019
“Thank you to you for giving me the courage to know who I am and tell you this today,” he concluded.
Thank you to you for giving me the courage to know who I am and tell you this today.
Happy 20biteen!— joshua rush (@JoshuaRush) August 6, 2019
Rush’s post has been met with lots of support.
HAPPY 20BITEEN INDEED!!!!!! 💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙💗💜💙
— GLAAD (@glaad) August 6, 2019
AAAAAAAHHH JOSH MY CHILD I LOVE YOU EJDJS IMSOBBING IM SO SO SO PROUD OF YOU
— Emiliaco Subs 🚀?? (@EmiliacoSubs) August 6, 2019
josh, i’m so proud of you. these past few years you’ve been such a huge inspiration to the lgbt community, while you yourself were struggling as well. i hope you’re facing nothing but overwhelming support right now. love you so much josh :)
— whistlecyrus #2 🏰 #LukeNotOnBrat (@whistlecyrus2) August 6, 2019
IM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!
— 🌹Alyssa🌹[📌Pinned📌] (@AlyssaIlovespn) August 6, 2019
josh i am so proud of you. i’m so glad you don’t suffer with internalized homophobia anymore and that you now have the courage to come out. love u ??
— nicole (@tjstyrus) August 6, 2019
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