A Minnesota news anchor who went viral for going live on morning television reflected on the life-changing experience during his first Pride month celebrations.
News anchor Jason Hackett came out as gay in NBC KARE 11's “Sunrise” affiliate program on May 3.
“Coming out to people is never easy for me. I'm very nervous right now. “I’m not going to lie,” Hackett said at the time. “Without a doubt, this is the most people I have ever talked to at one time. But what I… and all of us here at 'Sunrise' are looking for is authenticity. And I can’t preach that without being myself.”
“For anyone watching this now, who is struggling to find acceptance, or struggling with their family or friends, believe me, a gay black son of immigrants, the road may not be easy, I won't lie to you. and say it is, but don't worry, move on,” he continued. “You will achieve”.
In an interview with Today Of his high-profile coming out experience, the 36-year-old journalist said “a lot has changed in the last two months.”
Hackett recalled the relief he felt at finally being able to go out in public with his partner of five years without worry. The pair recently attended a basketball game together and for the first time, he didn't care who was watching. The 13-year broadcast veteran said, “He had his hand on my knee and we were obviously together and I didn't give a f–k what people thought.”
“I lived in a glass closet where my friends and coworkers knew I was gay, but my audience never knew,” Hackett explained. “He kept it for me.”
Before the camera panned to him on May 3, Hackett said he was so nervous he felt a knot in his stomach.
“There was a moment where I thought, ‘Oh my God, am I really going to do this?’” Hackett recalled. “When that red light came on, my heart was pounding in my chest.”
He added that once he started, “the words started flowing.”
During the segment, Hackett's co-host Alicia Lewis was visibly moved, while meteorologist John Zeigler noted that Hackett gave her goosebumps. Zeigler said, “I'm so proud of you.”
After leaving the studio that day, Hackett said he felt “100 pounds lighter.”
“A huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders,” Hackett said. “I felt very relieved. It feels like gay people are constantly coming out to new people (you come out to your hairdresser and your butcher) and it's scary every time. Now that I have come out to the whole world, I have nothing to worry about anymore.”
As someone whose parents are from Jamaica, a country he described as not “LGBTQ+ friendly,” he noted that many people of Caribbean descent have reached out to him with kind words and have also shared their experiences of coming out. He added that he wants to continue to be a resource for LGBTQ+ youth who are struggling and need guidance, and left his DMs open for anyone who wants to reach out to him.
