High School Musical’s Ryan Evans confirmed as gay in sweet kiss scene
Lucas Grabeel is reprising his role for the Disney+ spin-off
High School Musical fan-favourite character Ryan Evans (Lucas Grabeel) will confirm his sexuality as he makes an appearance in the fourth season of the ongoing spin-off.
He will return for the final episodes of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series where viewers will get to catch-up with one half of the beloved Evans twins once more.
Other familiar faces who will appear alongside Ryan include former classmates Chad Danforth (Corbin Bleu), Taylor McKessie (Monique Coleman) and Martha Cox (Kaycee Stroh).
But fans have been given a sneak-peek at some of the action from the upcoming season, including some very cute scenes involving Ryan.
“This means so much to me that you’re here”
In a teaser, he is seen kissing his apparent boyfriend, played by Scott Hoying. “You look amazing, this is so cool!” the newcomer says in the snippet as he greets Ryan backstage.
“This means so much to me that you’re here,” the beloved character responds,” before he’s told: “I love you,” in response.
Ryan goes on to kiss him, before adding: “Gimme that mic.”
Lucas has previously addressed his on-screen counterpart’s sexuality in an interview with TMZ.
He recalled: “I came up to Kenny [Ortega] one day and was like, ‘Hey, so can we talk about the character for a second? Ryan’s gay, right?’”
The star added of Kenny’s response: “He was like, ‘Well, I mean, it’s a touchy subject sometimes with children’s programming — I’m not sure if Disney is ready now for that kind of thing.
“‘I absolutely agree that he is and I think we have an opportunity here to showcase a real person.’”
The director himself has spoken out on Ryan’s sexuality too. “We decided he’s probably going to come out in college,” he told Variety in June 2020.
“It was less about coming out and just more about letting his true colours come forward.”
He explained he “didn’t think at the time” the movies were released that Ryan should be gay.
“I was concerned because it was family and kids, that Disney might not be ready to cross that line and move into that territory yet,” he shared.
“So, I just took it upon myself to make choices that I felt that those who were watching would grab. They would see it, they would feel it, they would know it and they would identify with it. And that is what happened.”