E.J. Johnson Talks About Being A Gay Role Model

Just a few weeks ago, Magic Johnson’s 20-year-old son E.J. Johnson “came out” as being gay.  The story made headlines everywhere and everyone seemed to be interested in him now.  Shortly after his big reveal, Magic Johnson began to speak out in support of his son.

After a few days of headlines, the media moved on to the next big story.  Now, after things have settled, Earvin Johnson III (E.J.) is giving his first interview since coming out.

He sat down with the You Tube talk show, Gwissues, and revealed that the news broke publicly sooner than he planned, but he didn’t feel violated by TMZ, and that he’s surprised at the public’s interest with him being gay.

See the highlights below:

On TMZ breaking the news:

“For me, it was really surprising because I didn’t think it was gonna be that big of a deal. I had been out to my friends and my family for at least five years. It was almost as if I was coming out of the closet again so like reliving the experience has just been both exciting and interesting rather because I’ve been through it but to have the media involved is just different but I’m reveling in it.”

“I always wanted to come into the spotlight.  I always had dreams and plans of doing my own thing and creating my own image, so it came a little sooner than I thought it would but this is still something I knew I would be going through and would have to experience.”

On being attacked by social media:

“They’d say nasty things about me and what I’m doing … It’s almost like they’re attacking me for being me…..and so to that I can only say, ‘Well, I can only be myself, so I don’t know really what you want me to do.’”

On his family being supportive:

“I am very, very, very blessed to have the family that I do. My parents have always been super supportive. My sister and I have always been really close and she’s been really supportive as with my brother. When it was time to come out, I was, obviously, scared as most people are. After I got all the love and support from my family then I knew I could go out and conquer the world, I guess.”

On coming out to his parents:

“I told her how I was feeling and she obviously told me that she had known and always would love me anyway. The same thing happened with my dad like a year or so later. Everyone has to get used to it. No parent is prepared 100 percent and fully for something like that. We all had to work and move forward.”

On being a role model:

“I would love to have a talk show someday and just be another voice for [my] generation and, you know, be the voice for young gay people who need someone to be on TV or wherever else to talk to them, and talk about all kinds of issues that all of us face. Not just homosexual issues, but all kinds of issues.”

E.J. also acknowledges Ellen Degeneres, Anderson Cooper, and RuPaul as being gay role models that have encouraged him.  Check out the video below:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH4S6vO1grA&w=560&h=315]