Mister Rogers encouraged gay costar to stay in the closet and marry a woman
MR Rogers’ long-time costar Francois Clemmons has opened up about how the popular children’s TV host told him to stay in the closet and marry a woman.
Francois played Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood from 1968 to 1993 but was told not to be openly gay on the show.
In his new memoir, Officer Clemmons, Francois remembered the time he was called into Mr Rogers’ office to discuss his sexuality.
Rogers told him: “Franc, you have talents and gifts that set you apart and above the crowd.
“Someone has informed us that you were seen at the local gay bar downtown. Now, I want you to know, Franc, that if you’re gay, it doesn’t matter to me at all.
“Whatever you say and do is fine with me, but if you’re going to be on the show as an important member of the Neighborhood, you can’t be out as gay.”
In an interview with People, Francois broke down in tears remembering the moment his mentor and father-figure told him the hard truth.
He said: “I could have his friendship and fatherly love and relationship forever.
“But I could have the job only if I stayed in the closet.”
According to Francois, Mr Rogers – real name Fred Rogers – couldn’t have a cast member come out “because it threatens my dream.”
Instead, Mr Rogers suggested he think about marrying a woman after telling him no-one needs to know about his sex life.
Apparently Mr Rogers told Francois: “The world doesn’t really want to know who you’re sleeping with — especially if it’s a man.
“You can have it all if you can keep that part out of the limelight.”
But then Mr Rogers thought he had the perfect solution: “Have you ever thought of getting married? People do make some compromises in life.”
Francois admitted feeling “destroyed” at the interaction.
He said: “The man who was killing me had also saved me. He was my executioner and deliverer. But, at the same time, I knew that he would know how to comfort me.
“I didn’t have another mother or father to comfort me. I had no one to go and be a boy with. I was just vulnerable.
He got in a few slaps, some tough love, a good spanking. But I was not kicked out of the family.”
During the meeting Francois decided to marry a woman by the name of La-Tanya Mae Sheridan.
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He wrote in his memoir: “At the wedding reception, Fred and Joanne (Mr Rogers’ wife) approached me and my new wife.
It felt as if Fred and I were sealing some kind of secret bargain.”
Francois and La-Tanya divorced in 1974 and he went on to live his life as an openly gay man.
He said: “Lord have mercy, yes, I forgive him.
“More than that, I understand. I relied on the fact that this was his dream. He had worked so hard for it. I knew Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was his whole life.”
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