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The High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star might not have planned to come out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community last year, but now he's so grateful he did.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star Joshua Bassett told People that everything he does today "aligns with what I needed when I was 10." This includes being an out and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community -- even if he wasn't planning on coming out when he did.
In a video interview with Clevver News last May, Bassett referred to Harry Styles as being "hot," which fueled speculation about his sexuality. The singer-actor cleared things up shortly thereafter in an interview with GQ, where he said, "I'm happy to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community."
Reflecting on his coming out almost a year later, Bassett told People, "They kept asking me questions about Harry Styles, and I was like, 'This is pretty much my coming out video.' I wasn't intending on saying that, but I also wasn't kidding."
Today, Bassett feels freer than ever. "I feel so much more liberated," he said. "It showed me how silly it is to hide who you are to appease a small group of people. At what cost do you bury your heart and soul?"
While Bassett might be feeling like a weight has lifted, he's not quite ready to open up his heart. "Dating is not on my radar," he said. "I'm working on myself so much, and the place I'm in right now, I really only have energy for myself."
He's also plenty busy with his latest single, "Doppelganger," which dropped in February and his upcoming film Better Nate Than Ever (streaming April 1 on Disney+). It's about a boy who has big Broadway dreams, so he runs away to New York City to make them come true.
