'I knew from a young age': Teen Wolf star Charlie Carver comes out as gay in touching Instagram posts

Charlie Carver came out as gay in a series of heartfelt Instagram posts.

The Teen Wolf star took to the picture sharing site on Monday to come out publicly for the first time after achieving success on television.

Charlie, 27, says that while he came out to his family as a teen it has taken him this long to feel comfortable to reveal his sexual orientation as a professional working in Hollywood.

Scroll down for video 

Brave young man: Charlie Carver came out as gay in a series of heartfelt Instagram posts on Monday, pictured in December

Brave young man: Charlie Carver came out as gay in a series of heartfelt Instagram posts on Monday, pictured in December

Sharing a photo of the anonymous quote 'Be Who You Needed When You Were Younger' he talked about what it was like for him as a child. 

'As a young boy, I knew I wanted to be an actor,' he recounted. 'I knew I wanted to be a lot of things! I thought I wanted to be a painter, a soccer player, a stegosaurus… But the acting thing stuck. It was around that age that I also knew, however abstractly, that I was different from some of the other boys in my grade.'

Inspired: Sharing a photo of the anonymous quote 'Be Who You Needed When You Were Younger' he talked about what it was like for him as a child

Inspired: Sharing a photo of the anonymous quote 'Be Who You Needed When You Were Younger' he talked about what it was like for him as a child

'Over time, this abstract “knowing” grew and articulated itself through a painful gestation marked by feelings of despair and alienation, ending in a climax of saying three words out loud: “I am gay”,' he continued.

'I said them to myself at first, to see how they felt. They rang true, and I hated myself for them. I was twelve. It would take me a few years before I could repeat them to anyone else, in the meantime turning the phrase over and over in my mouth until I felt comfortable and sure enough to let the words pour out again, this time to my family…'

Sensation: The actor starred on MTV's Teen Wolf from 2013 to 2014

Sensation: The actor starred on MTV's Teen Wolf from 2013 to 2014

He then went on to explain why he decided to come out now at this stage in his life. 

'But what can I do? How can I participate? Honesty is probably a great step in the right direction. I now believe that by omitting this part of myself from the record, I am complicit in perpetuating the suffering, fear, and shame cast upon so many in the world.' 

He concluded with a brief nod to his twin brother Max, who also stars on MTV's Teen Wolf: 'And let the record show my twin brother is just as cool for being straight.'

 

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now