'High School Musical' Director Kenny Ortega Opens Up About Ryan Evans' Sexuality

Ryan Evans, the flamboyant High School Musical character played by Lucas Grabeel, has always been assumed to be gay, but never really confirmed.

His sexuality has always been a topic of conversation throughout the years, and director Kenny Ortega recently dished on when Ryan would have come out.

“The character of Ryan in High School Musical, Sharpay’s twin brother, we decided he’d probably going to come out in college. It was less about coming out and just more about letting his true colors come forward,” Kenny told Variety.

“I have to be honest with you. I didn’t think at the time — and Disney is the most progressive group of people I’ve ever worked with,” he continued. “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. 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.”

“I have to say thousands of kids that have said, ‘If it weren’t for High School Musical, I don’t know that I would have ever been comfortable in my skin. I don’t know when I would have been able to feel comfortable enough to come out, embrace who I am,’” Kenny added.

Disney had eventually, years later, crossed that line when Andi Mack character Cyrus came out to his friends.