Wayne Brady hopes that coming out as pansexual helps others to feel comfortable about themselves.
The 53-year-old actor and comedian revealed that he was pansexual - meaning he is sexually attracted to all genders - in 2023 and would be delighted if his revelation benefits young people who are struggling to come to terms with their sexual identity.
Wayne told People: "It hasn't changed in the big sense of, 'Oh I'm out dating and whatnot', because really, I'm kind of (keeping) to myself.
"I'm a believer in really trying to help the next generation. And I think that if there's any black (or) brown kid growing up in any hood - any town USA - (who) feels bad about themselves or ashamed about themselves or less than, I hope that if they see me, and if they're familiar with me, like, 'Oh, that's Wayne. And he just said what? Maybe I can be verbal about myself. So I don't have to carry that rock.'"
Wayne explained as if he feels as though a weight has been lifted from his shoulders after coming out and believes it has improved his life from both a personal and professional perspective.
The Let's Make a Deal host - who has daughter Maile, 22, and son Val, three, from previous relationships - said: "I feel lighter, because I'm me. That lets me be a better actor. Lets me be a better performer onstage. Lets me be a better dad. Lets me be a better partner to someone someday. I'm happier, I'm brighter."
Brady recalled how he realised he was pansexual when the death of Robin Williams in 2014 led him to start working on his mental health.
He said: "Once I opened that door to myself, though, I had to start learning about myself, and I had to start owning up to the things that maybe I'd either repressed, suppressed, or just didn't wanna deal with.
"I've done a lot of work on other things until now, one of the last things on that checklist was: What's one of the last things that you need to be really happy and to be truly, authentically yourself?"
