'Supergirl' actor Chyler Leigh comes out of the closet for Pride Month, says Alex's journey mirrored her own
When Alex Danvers came out as gay on 'Supergirl,' it was a huge step forward in terms of representation in the Arrowverse and a major part of Alex's journey. Now, it turns out that that pivotal scene wasn't just life-changing for Alex Danvers, but also for the woman who plays her - Chyler Leigh.
Leigh shared her message on CreateChange.me, a website she co-founded, that's meant to "be your go-to source for encouragement and inspiration to help you become the change you want to see in the world." The post, entitled 'Wear Your Pride,' is on the website's front page, posted in honor of Pride Month.
Leigh's character, Alex Danvers, came out to her sister Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist) back in Season 2. "When I was told that my character was to come out in Season 2, a flurry of thoughts and emotions flew through and around me because of the responsibility I felt to authentically represent Alex's journey," Leigh wrote. "What I didn't realize was how the scene where she finally confessed her truth would leap off the pages of the script and genuinely become a variation of my own. IRL. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest each take we filmed, every time presenting another opportunity to get those honest words out of my mouth. Though they don't exactly match my personal dialogue, the heart behind it surely did. From the director, the press, the media, the cast, and the fans, I'm still told that it was the most realistic coming out scene they'd ever witnessed. And to steal from Alex's words, that's because there’s some truth to what she said about me. The scene is in Season 2, Episode 6 if you wanna see for yourself."
You can watch that scene below:
"Here's the kicker though,” she wrote. "Since that episode aired, I was told from dear friends (and even avid watchers of Supergirl) that they would no longer watch the show because of the fact that Alex's journey took a turn from their less than acceptable beliefs. Soon after, they began to distance themselves and eventually my family and I were outcast, marking the loss of many folks we loved. However, after the initial sting, I don’t hold a grudge towards the negative response, because as I said, we all have had a hard time in one way or another with acceptance (whatever the subject may be) whether towards ourselves or others."
"It's been a long and lonely road for both my husband and myself but I can whole-heartedly say that after all these years, he and I are still discovering the depths of ourselves and each other, but throughout our journey we've learned to be proud of who we are, no matter the cost," she finished.
It should be noted that the post only confirms that Leigh is not straight - she has not said whether she's gay, bi, pansexual or any of the number of labels that come under the LGBTQIA+ spectrum - and fans have been asked to respect her privacy in pinning her sexuality down. What matters is that Leigh has come out as a proud member of the queer community, adding to the diversity of the cast of 'Supergirl' and further reflecting the diversity of its characters.
Alex Danvers can be seen on 'Supergirl,' with returns in 2021 on the CW.