The Official Gays.com Blog

Our favorite comedian, the hilariously funny ANT, host of VH1 reality series Celebrity Fit Club and U.S. of ANT on MTV’s LOGO channel, has taken up the IDAHO Challenge and he wants you too!

Here’s what he had to say about the importance of being OUT and why he’s taking part in the IDAHO Challenge:

I get letters everyday from young people asking why being “out” is so importANT. The gay community is a very docile group. We don’t get into fist fights per se. We only take to the streets when we have been pushed beyond the limits of what civilized society would deem unacceptable. And we aren’t prone to lynching people, bashing them, and then trying to justify it with a “gay panic” defense. Can you imagine if a heterophobic gay person murdered a straight person and used a “straight panic” defense? You’d still be able to hear the laughter.

When you are “out,” you are visible and have identified yourself as a member of a group and community. The more people that come out the larger that community gets. There is safety in numbers. There is also strength in numbers. Think about this. The more openly gay people in society – the more likely straight people will come in contact with one in their daily routines. That’s where understanding and healing begin. It’s hard to hate someone when that someone is also your brothers, sister, neighbor, friend, mailman, stock broker etc…You are living openly. That in itself is a statement to those around you that you are not lurking in the darkness, hiding something shameful. You are proud of who you. When you are proud and have no secrets…NO ONE can hurt you. You taken away the biggest obstacle seperating them from us…fear. Miracles happen when fear isn’t looking.

Bonus clip of ANT’s transgender character, Janice, right after the jump!