Raymond Gutierrez says he never denied his true identity

TV host Raymond Gutierrez shared that he never denied his true identity and officially shared his story to the public on Sunday, August 1.

In a lengthy Instagram post earlier today, August 2, the showbiz royalty penned his personal journey about facing his real identity.

He wrote, “I was never out. I never denied who I was. I just never shared my story until now.

“Growing up, it took me a while for me to face my true identity, and figuring out it wasn't easy. I went through a long period of time of hating myself because society taught me that being different wasn't the right path, especially for someone growing up in the public eye.”

Raymond also opened up about his past struggles about his sexuality and shared, “I went through a dark phase of self-destruction--creating unhealthy habits to have some sort of escape so I didn't have to face my reality.”

“I kept things to myself because I was scared to bring shame to my family, and didn't know how others would treat me.”

The 37-year-old TV host also thanked his family and friends for fully accepting him for who he truly is.

“I'm thankful to those close to me - my friends and family for giving me the confidence to embrace myself fully without judgment. I consider myself lucky because some people don't have a support system they can run to.

“Which is exactly why I'm sharing my story now. Because if there's one thing I learned this past year and a half is that life is fleeting.

“I want to encourage those who feel alone that it's never too late to love yourself, acknowledge those feelings, and face your fears--because it feels damn good to be on the other side.”

He continued, “Sexuality shouldn't define who you are and it should never hinder your greatness. For me personally, being in touch with my masculine and feminine side allowed me to push boundaries creatively and create magic with the projects I do.”

Raymond also wrote a message for those people who claim to know his true identity.

“So for those saying “we knew”, you never knew my story and my struggles,” he shared.

He also gave a thoughtful and inspirational message for those who are going through difficult times through the words, “And if you're reading this and you feel like you're alone, I want to let you know that I went through the same things -- you will be loved, your feelings are valid, and those who truly love you will stick around.”

Local celebrities and netizens alike expressed their utmost support and love for the known TV host in the comments section.

Photo courtesy: mond (IG)

As of this writing, Raymond's inspirational and articulate post has over 15,000 likes on the photo-sharing platform.

On August 1, Raymond Gutierrez officially came out as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and shared his coming out story.

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