Jim Parsons, openly gay Emmy winner, is star of sitcom that just got renewed for THREE more seasons

True confession: When people ask me things like: “WHY do you have to say he’s gay?” I usually delete their comment and might even de-friend them on Facebook.

I just can’t take it, you know? Makes my head want to explode.

It matters even if some people want to believe that it doesn’t.

Last night at the Greg In Hollywood 5th anniversary party, a group of us were talking at dinner about Paul Lynde, the late closeted actor of Hollywood Squares, Bewitched and The Paul Lynde Halloween Special fame.

Back in the 70s, when he was at the height of his fame, it would have been unimaginable that he could have been openly gay and still been the star of a network series – would not have happened.

So the fact that we have openly gay Jim Parsons as star of the smash CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory – just renewed for THREE more seasons, I think it’s worth celebrating the significance of that.

The lengthy renewal assures the show of being on the air through the 2016-17 season. The show premiered in 2007.

Parsons casually came out as gay in a line that was part of a larger profile on him in The New York Times in May 2012.

The show not only remained as popular as ever but is also a smash in syndication.

‘Comedy is a big part of our schedule, and The Big Bang Theory is the biggest comedy force on television,’ CBS Entertainment Chairman Nina Tassler said in a statement. ‘This multi-year deal further strengthens our network’s position for future seasons.’

In addition to Parsons, the show also stars Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, and Kaley Cuoco.

Parsons also has a role in the upcoming AIDS drama The Normal Heart to air on HBO in May.