Matt Bomer was recently awarded the Inspiration award, along with his partner, at the gay student advocacy group GLSEN's Respect Awards. 
When accepting the award, Bomer gave a speech, saying, “When I was in high school, there was no safe haven, there was no outlet for you to speak your mind," the 34-year-old White Collar star said last night at gay student advocacy group GLSEN's Respect Awards, where he and his partner, Simon Halls, were honored with the Inspiration Award. "So I did what any self-preserving 14-year-old would do—I signed up for the school play and also the football team to cover my tracks.
"When that happens, when you aren't allowed to speak about who you are, one of the most authentic parts of who you are, which is who you love or who you're attracted to, feels invisible," said Bomer, who publicly came out in February. "GLSEN gives visibility and authenticity to kids all across the country."
Bomer’s Magic Mike co-star, Joe Manganiello (who also went to college with Bomer), also spoke at the event in Bomer’s honor, saying, "You are the example that the rest of our country needs to wake up and see in terms of equality and putting an end to the bullying epidemic and making sure that every family is respected in our schools and our society.”
