Colton Haynes on coming out as gay: ‘I had to lie for so long’

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 11 (UPI) — Colton Haynes is finding his joy after publicly coming out as gay.

The 28-year-old actor said in the September issue of Out magazine that he’s ready for happiness after years of hiding his sexuality.

“I feel really bad that I had to lie for so long,” Haynes told the publication. “But I was told that was the only way I was going to be successful.”

“When you’re young in this industry, people take advantage of you, and they literally tell you that your dreams are going to come true,” he explained. “If you believe that, you’ll do anything.”

Haynes confirmed he’s gay in May after months of speculation about his sexuality. The star, who named Idris Elba, Ryan Reynolds and John Cena as his celebrity crushes, is now open to finding love and eventually having several children.

“I want to somehow have a happy ending. Or a happy beginning,” he said.

Haynes had told Entertainment Weekly in his coming out interview that he previously “just wasn’t ready” to come forward. The actor said he was willing to wait because he “didn’t feel like [he] owed anyone anything.”

“Everyone has to make those decisions when they’re ready,” he said. “It took me so long to get to this point, but I’m doing so good … I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and healthier than I’ve ever been, and that’s what I care about.”

Haynes is known for playing Jacksone Whittemore on Teen Wolf and Roy Harper, aka Arsenal, on Arrow. He will next star with Lea Michele and Taylor Lautner in Scream Queens Season 2.