‘Boots’ Actor Miles Heizer Gets Candid About His Painful Coming-Out Experience

Opening a new chapter both on-screen and off, Miles Heizer—currently starring in the Netflix series “Boots”—recently shared the raw and emotional story of his own coming-out journey. While his role immerses him in a world of military boot camp and hidden identity, Heizer reveals that his real-life telling of his truth was far from easy.

Miles Heizer: Early Life and Discovery

Born and raised in Kentucky in what he describes as a “super-conservative, religious” household, Heizer came of age surrounded by values that made open discussions of sexuality nearly impossible. In an article from Gay Times, “Heizer was raised by his mother and grandmother in a ‘super conservative, religious’ environment before coming out at the age of 19.” Rather than a peaceful revelation, this moment marked the collision of his truth with the weight of family expectations and religious upbringing.

Growing up, Heizer often felt a quiet tension between who he was and what was expected of him. Acting became an outlet—a way to explore emotions and identities that he couldn’t yet express in his real life. That disconnect between his inner life and outer world would later inform not only his performances but also his understanding of authenticity.

When he finally moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to pursue acting, the distance gave him room to breathe. Yet even in the freedom of a more open environment, Heizer carried the weight of secrecy and fear from his upbringing. By the time he came out at 19, the decision felt both necessary and terrifying—a defining moment that forced him to reconcile his career ambitions with his need to live truthfully.

The “Nightmare” of Coming Out

In the candid interview with Gay Times, Heizer described the moment of coming out to his family as the “classic gay coming-out story” — but one that offered little comfort. “It was a nightmare, and everyone was upset,” he said. Amid the tension, there was one bright spot: his sister, whom he calls his best friend, was unfazed and supportive. “I’m lucky my sister… could not have cared less and was very there for me,” he added. Despite the initial setback, Heizer says the relationships have improved over time—though the early days were deeply marked by fear, distance, and misunderstanding.

How His Role in “Boots” Reflects His Reality

Heizer’s current role in “Boots” sees him as Cameron Cope, a young gay Marine recruit navigating a hyper-masculine environment and the fear of being exposed. Through this lens, Heizer revisits many of his own formative emotions. In an article with Teen Vogue, he says the series allowed him to “pull little things from my actual experience being a gay teenager.” Heizer observes how the show shines a light on what it means to hide yourself, to carry secrets, and to question whether you’ll be accepted—topics he experienced firsthand in his own life.

Reflection, Growth, and Moving Forward

Although the early coming-out years were rocky, Heizer notes progress has come. He credits his friends with giving him the support he lacked at home. “My friends around me were super-supportive, and things have gotten so much better in that regard with my family over the years.”, he shared with Gay Times. Now, he sees his own journey not simply as a personal struggle but as part of a broader moment of queer visibility in film and TV. Through “Boots”—and his openness—Heizer is contributing to conversations about identity, acceptance, and the meaning of chosen family.

Why This Story Matters Today

The context of “Boots”—set in the early 1990s military, before the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy—makes Heizer’s participation all the more potent. He connects his own adolescence to this setting of secrecy and survival. By sharing his personal coming-out story, Heizer opens a door for other young queer people feeling isolated, showing them they’re not alone and that growth, acceptance, and community are possible—even if the beginning was painful.

Miles Heizer’s candid reflections remind us that the journey to living honestly often begins in the hardest places. While his breakthrough role wrestles with secrets and suppression, his real-life story underscores the strength it takes to stand up and say, simply, “This is me.”