Following the release of Boots on Netflix, Miles Heizer, who plays a closeted gay teenager who goes on to enlist for the U.S. Marine Corps in the show, has shared his own coming-out story. Heizer gained worldwide acclaim for his portrayal of Alex Standall in 13 Reasons Why. He recently opened up about the troubles he faced when he revealed the truth about his sexuality to his family.
Boots star Miles Heizer says he ‘had a very unfortunately classic gay coming-out story’
While speaking about his turn as a gay military personnel in Boots, the Love, Simon star noted that his family has come around regarding the nature of his being. However, it wasn’t a smooth sailing ride from the get-go.
“I had a very unfortunately classic gay coming-out story. It was a nightmare, and everyone was upset,” Miles Heizer remarked to Variety. He added, “I’m lucky my sister, who’s my best friend, could not have cared less and was very there for me. My friends around me were super supportive, and things have gotten so much better in that regard with my family over the years. But at the time, I definitely had the old Christian upbringing.”
Notably, the 31-year-old actor hails from Kentucky, where he used to live with his mother, grandmother, and sister Moriah. He shared how he was raised in “a super conservative, religious family.” The clan ultimately moved to Los Angeles when Heizer was 10 years old to support his acting career. He ultimately came out publicly at the tender age of 19.
In Boots, Miles Heizer enacts a storyline similar to that of his own life. The eight-episode series draws inspiration from Greg Cope White’s 2015 memoir, The Pink Marine. It recounts the story of a time when LGBTQ+ individuals were not permitted to hold any position in the military.
The critically acclaimed series premiered on October 9, 2025, and is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on ComingSoon.net.
