Maria Bello Comes Out As Gay

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Maria Bello has come out as gay following an emotional personal essay to The New York Times.

Most recently seen on the recently-canceled FOX drama Touch, the Grown Ups star discusses coming out to her 12-year-old son Jackson about her same-sex partner, Clare.

Jack’s father, Dan, will always be my partner because we share Jack. Dan is the best father and the most wonderful man I’ve known. Just because our relationship is nonsexual doesn’t make him any less of a partner. We share the same core values, including putting our son first. My more recent ex, Bryn, remains my partner because we share our activism. And Clare will always be my partner because she is also my best friend.

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So back to Jackson’s question, with me sitting on the edge of his bed: Was I romantic with anyone right now?

I exhaled and finally said it: “Clare.”

He looked at me for what seemed like an eternity and then broke into a huge, warm smile. “Mom, love is love, whatever you are,” he said with wisdom beyond his years. (Yes, he obviously attends one of those progressive schools in Los Angeles!)

I loved him so much for saying that. “But Jack, I’m a little scared,” I said. “When I was younger, people judged you if you were in a romantic relationship with a person of the same sex, and some still do. So I’m not sure how to deal with this. But we’ll figure it out together.”

Bello touchingly ends the letter by declaring, "Whomever I love, however I love them, whether they sleep in my bed or not, or whether I do homework with them or share a child with them, “love is love.” And I love our modern family." Bello poignantly goes on to declare, "Maybe, in the end, a modern family is just a more honest family."

Maria Bello will next be seen in the 2014 drama Strings alongside Josh Duhamel.

You can read the full letter via The New York Times.