Zachary Quinto Inspires ABC Anchor Dan Kloeffler to Come Out on Air [VIDEO]

ABC News anchor Dan Kloeffler came out as gay on air while reporting on Zachary Quinto's coming out.

He's 34, I'm 35 - I'm thinking I could lose my distraction about dating actors, Kloeffler quipped.

It was a subtle statement, but no less powerful for it.

I've never shared that I'm gay on-air, even though I've been out to my family, friends and co-workers for years, Kloeffler wrote after the show. In fact, an old boyfriend -- now best friend -- has always given me a hard time about not doing so. For the same reason that Zach decided to come out, I, too, no longer wanted to hide this part of my life. There have been too many tragic endings and too many cases of bullying because of intolerance.

He added, As a journalist, I don't want to be the story, but as a gay man, I don't want to stand silent if I can offer some inspiration or encouragement to kids that might be struggling with who they are.

Quinto came out in a New York magazine interview on Sunday. Fans had long suspected that the Star Trek actor was gay, but he had previously dodged all questions about his sexuality.

Quinto has, however, expressed his support for gay rights before now, including by recording a video for the It Gets Better project.

That project was sparked by a string of suicides by gay teens, and Quinto said his own decision to come out was inspired by the suicide last month of Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old who was bullied for coming out.

In light of Jamey's death, it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality, Quinto wrote in a blog post on his Web site on Sunday.

I believe in the power of intention to change the landscape of our society, and it is my intention to live an authentic life of compassion and integrity and action, he wrote. Jamey Rodemeyer's life changed mine. And while his death only makes me wish that I had done this sooner, I am eternally grateful to him for being the catalyst for change within me. Now I can only hope to serve as the same catalyst for even one other person in this world.

He already has.