Supergirl’s Chlyler Leigh opens up about speaking her truth

Playing a gay character on Supergirl for years now, Chyler Leigh is opening up about how her coming out storyline has mimicked her own experiences.

Supergirl is one of those CW shows that can sometimes be hit or miss, depending on which season you’re talking about, but no one can knock its commitment to diversity.

In its second season, and after moving from CBS to The CW, the show started to explore the sexuality of Chyler Leigh’s character, Alex Danvers. She would eventually come out as a lesbian to her sister and the rest of the world, embarking on a journey of self-discovery that continues on the series today. An extremely talented actress in her own right, Leigh’s portrayal of Alex’s coming out is one of the most poignant and heartfelt performances in the show’s history.

In honor of June being Pride month, Leigh recently took to social media to speak her own truth about the similarities between herself and Alex Danvers:

"“When I was told that my character was to come out in season 2, a flurry of thoughts and emotions flew through and around me because of the responsibility I personally felt to authentically represent Alex’s journey. What I didn’t realize was how the scene where she finally confessed her truth would leap off the pages of the script and genuinely become a variation of my own [life]. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest each take we filmed, every time presenting another opportunity to get those honest words out of my mouth. Though they don’t exactly match my personal dialogue, the heart behind it surely did.”"

While Leigh doesn’t actually give herself a label, it is implied that she is, indeed, a queer woman. She went on to elaborate further.

"“Since that episode aired, I was told from dear friends (and even avid watchers of “Supergirl”) that they would no longer watch the show because of the fact that Alex’s journey took a turn from their less than acceptable beliefs. Soon after, they began to distance themselves and eventually my family and I were outcast, marking the loss of many folks we loved.”"

Leigh, who has been open about her own personal mental health issues,  announced she suffered from a bipolar disorder last year. She has also been a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ community and frequently attends gay-friendly fan conventions such as ClexaCon.

She concludes her message on a hopeful note.

"“It’s been a long and lonely road for both my husband and myself but I can whole-heartedly say that after all these years, he and I are still discovering the depths of ourselves and each other, but throughout our journey we’ve learned to be proud of who we are, no matter the cost.”"

Fans rallied around the mother of three, who has been married to actor/musician Nathan West since 2002, posting messages of love and support. She responded with an Instagram post thanking everyone and stated, “I’m grateful to see more clearly, breathe a little easier, and I’m proud to contribute to all that I believe in with an honest, open heart.” She signed off using a row of hearts in the LGBTQ rainbow colors.

How did you feel about Alex’s coming out story on Supergirl? Let us know in the comments section below.