After coming out, Raymond Gutierrez has the support of family and friends

Raymond Gutierrez has received an outpour of support on social media after coming out as a member of the LGBT community.

The Filipino TV host and columnist shared his story in an exclusive interview with MEGA Magazine and posted the cover on his Instagram feed on Sunday. The post has earned 37,000 likes as of writing.

Mond was also flooded with I love you's and well wishes from close celebrity friends and prominent family members, including his older sister Ruffa, who not only commented in Raymond's post but also took to her Instagram Stories to tell him she loves him.

Ruffa's daughters Lorin and Venice Bektas, his twin brother Richard Guttierrez, and his wife Sarah Lahbati all voiced out their support.

Richard, on the other hand, simply left three heart emojis in the comments section, enough to send hundreds of netizens hitting the like button.

Mond also received sweet messages from the likes of BJ Pascual, Georgina Wilson, Anne Curtis, Solenn Heussaff, Nico Bolzico, Isabelle Daza, Maggie Wilson, Liz Uy, Angie Mead-King, Mark Bumgarner, Will Dasovich and Angel Locsin.

Raymond Gutierrez entered show business as a TV host at 19 years old. He told MEGA that being a part of a family of entertainers and the presumed effects on them was among his struggles coming out.

Raymond said it was the COVID-19 pandemic helped him realize how important it is to live one's life to the fullest, and that he'll continue to do so by being true to himself.

"I'm here to formally say that I am a proud member of the LGBTQ community. And it feels great saying that publicly because I am," Mond said.

In a followup post on Monday, Raymond clarified that he was never not out. "I never denied who I was. I just never shared my story publicly until now," he wrote.

"I’m thankful to those close to me - my friends and family for giving me the confidence to embrace myself fully without judgement," he continued, recognizing how lucky he was to have a support system.

"I want to encourage those who feel alone that it’s never too late to love yourself, acknowledge those feelings and face your fears —- because it feels damn good to be on the other side," Raymond said.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Mond (@mond)

— Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News