Owen Thiele is opening up about one of the most important moments of his life.
The Adults and Overcompensating star recently reflected on coming out to his parents when he was 16 years old.
What stands out most is how ordinary the moment felt.
According to Thiele, there was no dramatic conversation (People).
There was no family crisis.
There were no difficult questions.
Instead, his parents simply accepted him.
Thiele said the reaction was so casual that it felt like he had asked someone to pass the salt at the dinner table.
For many LGBTQ+ people, stories like that can feel almost unbelievable.
But for Thiele, unconditional support was simply part of growing up.
The actor was adopted as a baby and raised by a Jewish family that encouraged his creativity from an early age.
He has often spoken about how supported he felt throughout his childhood.
Whether he was performing, entertaining guests, or dreaming about a career in entertainment, his parents were always cheering him on.
That support continued when he came out.
Today, Thiele describes his parents as special human beings.
He says they never treated his sexuality as a problem that needed to be solved.
Instead, they simply accepted him for who he was.
The actor’s career has continued to rise in recent years.
Many viewers discovered him through his role in Adults.
Others know him from Overcompensating, Theater Camp, and his podcast work.
He is also developing a semi-autobiographical comedy series called Off Color.
The project draws heavily from his real life and family experiences.
That includes the warmth and acceptance that shaped him growing up.
His personal life has also remained remarkably stable.
Thiele has been dating celebrity stylist Jared Ellner for more than a decade.
The couple have been together for 11 years.
According to Thiele, his parents are already looking forward to the day they eventually get married.
They reportedly keep asking when the wedding will happen.
For many LGBTQ+ people, coming out can be one of the most difficult experiences of their lives.
That is one reason stories like Thiele’s resonate so strongly.
They offer a reminder of what acceptance can look like.
His story will not be everyone’s experience.
But it shows how powerful simple support can be.
Sometimes the most meaningful response is not a speech.
Sometimes it is simply love.
📸 IG: @owenthiele