Comedian/actor Wayne Brady announced he is pansexual, meaning his sexual preference is not limited to sex or gender.
Brady clarified that he is “Bisexual — with an open mind!”
“I love all people equally, and now that includes myself,” the 51-year-old entertainer told PEOPLE exclusively.
The “Let’s Make a Deal” host said his daughter, Maile, 20, and ex-wife Mandie Taketa, 47, are accepting of his decision to come out.
“I just said, ‘Great.’ As I knew coming out would help him be happier,” Taketa told PEOPLE.
Brady has long been rumored to be bisexual. He decided he was pansexual after doing some research on the subject.
“[P]an means being able to be attracted to anyone who identifies as gay, straight, bi, transsexual or non-binary,” he said. “Being able to be attracted across the board. And, I think, at least for me for right now, that is the proper place. I took pan to mean that not only can I be attracted to any of these people or types physically, but I could be attracted to the person that is there.”
Wayne (right) played Kinky Boots on Broadway. He is pictured posing with pop singer Cyndi Lauper in a photo dated April 4, 2018.
Brady said he sought therapy for his “love addiction” which he said “is borne of trauma.”
“Let’s be really honest: I’ve also been attracted to certain men in my life, but I’ve always pushed that aside because of how I was raised, and because I live in today’s world, and it’s scary as s–t,” he said.
“What’s the fastest way to hurt another man? I’m gonna call you out of your name. I’m gonna call you gay. I’m gonna emasculate you. I’m gonna use the F-word. I learned that very early from the people around me, they’re like, “Oh, so those are bad things? Yeah. You, you don’t wanna be that.”
“So, what does it mean if I feel something? I don’t think I’m gay, but what if I feel something for another [man]… That’s still gay. I was already bullied about a bunch of other s–t. I didn’t wanna add a top hat on top of that suit.”
