Actor Jason Stuart celebrates 20 years as an openly gay performer – see him coming out on “Geraldo”

There are so many of them now, thankfully.

Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto, Sean Hayes, Michael Urie, Neil Patrick Harris, Jessie Tyler Ferguson, Tuc Watkins, Jonathan Groff, Luke Macfarlane, Chris Colfer, Victor Garber, Nathan Lane, Cheyenne Jackson and on and on and on.

They are openly gay male actors whose careers have continued to thrive – and sometimes soar – after coming out publicly.

Back in 1993, actor and comedian Jason Stuart beat them all out of the closet when on Geraldo Rivera’s syndicated daytime talk show, he came out.

Jason wasn’t as big a name as the guys in that list then, and he isn’t now. But he’s worked steadily in television, films and comedy clubs being best known playing “Dr. Thomas”, the gay family therapist on My Wife and Kids.

He writes on his Facebook page: “20 years ago I came out on TV in the workplace as an actor and comedian. It has been a journey. I have been very lucky in some ways. I have worked with some terrific artists and some really talented people.”

He adds: “Still looking for equal opportunity. Still hoping to move to the next level in my career. Still grateful I’m still here. Still.”

Below are Jason’s Geraldo appearance and a more recent clip of him talking about being gay in the workplace.