"And, you know, again, as a gay man, I look at that and say there's a hopelessness that surrounds it," he continued. "But as a human being, I look at it and say, "Why? Where is this disparity coming from and why can't we as a culture, as a society, dig deeper to examine it?"

Quinto may say he's a "pretty low-key person," but his coming out has the potential to save and heal lives.

Just ask the gay kid watching Star Trek.

UPDATE: Shortly after news of the mag's story hit the net, Quinto posted a message to fans on his website. Here's an excerpt:

"When i found out that Jamey Rodemeyer killed himself—I felt deeply troubled," Quinto wrote. "But when I found out that Jamey Rodemeyer had made an it gets better video only months before taking his own life—I felt indescribable despair."

"I also made an it gets better video last year—in the wake of the senseless and tragic gay teen suicides that were sweeping the nation at the time. But in light of Jamey's death—it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it—is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality."