Some in the LGBTQ community are bracing for backlash after 'House of Cards' actor, Kevin Spacey, came out as gay.
On Sunday, Spacey addressed allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior in the 1980s with then 14-year old actor, Anthony Rapp, saying it was "drunken behavior" and "I now chose to live my life as a gay man."
"It backfired because it automatically associates the stereotype that LGBTQ people are pedators," said Scott Stout. "And just that simple statement of, yeah I might have done this but I'm gay, has just added gasoline to the fire."
"We've taken a step back," Stout said about Spacey's comments. "Ten steps back!"
Stout says the dangerous stereotype associating gay men with pedophilia is what kept many of his generation in the closet.
"It was very difficult for a lot of people," Stout said. "I know people who were married and came out and lost their family and had to face all that."
Stout said he was the exception. "I actually came out on February 13, 1963. The day I was born."
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Stout said he's always known he was gay. Next June, he'll get married.
"I've seem people be uncomfortable," Stout remarked. "If you have a conversation with anyone, you might not change their mind, but you may be able to change how they think, and that's all we can ask for."
