Who is Wayne Brady? What does it mean to identify as pansexual?
The former ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ star is in the spotlight again as questions about his sexual orientation have become a talking point. What’s the deal?
While hosting the 2024 GLAAD Media Awards, the 51-year-old star addressed the speculation and gossip surrounding how he identifies when it comes to sexual preference. Indeed, Brady discussed the common misconceptions about the term that he now applies to himself.
Who is Wayne Brady?
When one takes a look at the career of Wayne Brady, it’s ironic to note that the native of Columbus, Georgia, never had plans to enter the world of entertainment. Indeed, after growing up in Orlando, Florida, Brady was set on the idea of a career in the military by the age of 16. What we know today, is that fate had other plans. A chance performance in a high school play not only brought him to the attention of those in the industry but quite frankly paved a path toward the status that he has now secured. From roles in stage productions such as “A Chorus Line”, “Fences”, “A Raisin in the Sun”, “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “I’m Not Rappaport”, it was clear a star had been born.
From there he moved to Las Vegas (1996) where he began to work in both theater and television. Needless to say, it wasn’t long before he began to claim roles in a number of productions including the famous “Blade to the Heat” at the prestigious Mark Taper forum. Since those early days, Brady has gone on to star in several television series such as “I’ll Fly Away”, “The Home Court”, “In the Heat of the Night”, and of course the well-known “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
OK, what’s all this about pansexuality?
Following his reveal in August of last year, when he disclosed that he identifies as pansexual, there has been plenty of chatter about exactly what that means. Speaking while hosting the above-mentioned GLAAD Media Awards, Brady sought to set the record straight.
To be clear, pansexuality is defined as “Sexual, emotional, and/or romantic attraction toward others regardless of their sex or gender identity. Like other multisexual orientations, such as omnisexuality and polysexuality, pansexuality is considered by some to be analogous to or a subset of bisexuality; others consider pansexuality to be distinct from bisexuality.”
Now, as we know, words are words and then there is our interpretation of them and subsequent application. Where Brady himself is concerned, here’s what he had to say: “The biggest misconception - and I even make a joke about it onstage tonight - is that people think that you’re an indecisive bisexual,” he said. “No, no. Let me set you straight.” Brady continued, “What the definition basically boils down to is, regardless of gender, regardless. So that means that I am happily free to fall in love with anybody here. If you’re gay, if you’re straight, if you’re non-binary, trans, I don’t care. It’s the person, which in my mind is the ultimate in acceptance and loving.” Brady concluded by explaining that because his options for love are limitless, it’s a “win.”