Television presenter Fotis Sergoulopoulos has revealed that he lived openly as a gay man without ever having to come out to his parents.
Speaking in an interview on the online show Rainbow Mermaids, the veteran broadcaster explained that his family environment was naturally accepting of his sexuality, with his parents welcoming his long-term partners into their two-storey home.
Sergoulopoulos said he felt comfortable being openly gay immediately after finishing high school because his identity felt entirely natural to him. That openness continued when he entered drama school, an artistic environment where he said being gay was readily accepted, before he moved to Paris for theatre studies and grew accustomed to living freely.
Acceptance in the family home
During his studies in Paris and his early career, Sergoulopoulos regularly brought his partners to stay at his family residence. He noted that while having parents embrace their child's same-sex relationships was uncommon at the time, his parents formed close bonds with his serious partners and the entire household enjoyed their time together.
He explained that he never held a formal coming out conversation with his mother and father because there was never any need to do so. Within their home, he said, his sexual identity was simply treated as a normal part of life.
Fatherly concern about social obstacles
The only discussion his father initiated about the matter focused on potential social hardships. Sergoulopoulos recalled his father asking him to consider that, because he saw no light ahead, his son would face difficulties in wider society.
Sergoulopoulos said his father was not urging him to conceal his identity, but was instead warning him about the challenging road that lay before him. When he assured his father that he was very happy living as he was, his father replied that his happiness was enough for him.
Pressure to speak out publicly
Later in his career, Sergoulopoulos hesitated before addressing his personal life in public. He recounted how a close female friend who was prominent within the LGBTQ+ community repeatedly challenged him to speak publicly about his sexual identity.
At first, Sergoulopoulos resisted her urging and argued with her over the issue. He maintained that he was not hiding anything or presenting a female partner to the public, and he questioned why people would be surprised by his life. His friend insisted that making an open declaration held broader social meaning.
Sergoulopoulos eventually recognized the truth in her argument, concluding that stepping forward and sharing personal stories is vital not only for the LGBTQ+ community but for everyone who supports human rights.
He noted that when public figures remain silent, public gossip and speculation tend to grow larger. Looking back, he said that speaking publicly brought him immense relief, adding that living honestly had likely contributed to his long-standing career and longevity on television.
Honesty in parenting and relationships
The presenter also discussed raising his son, insisting that children should grow up without secrets. Sergoulopoulos said he spoke honestly to his son about his life from a very early age, adding that no question from a child should be treated as too difficult to answer.
The remarks follow earlier public comments by Sergoulopoulos on family and identity. In November 2024, he dismissed negative public commentary surrounding non-traditional families, saying that it was the children of judgmental critics who were unhappy rather than his own son. In March 2025, he also observed that knowing early in life that gay boys were not widely accepted had served as an early survival instinct.
Turning to his romantic life, Sergoulopoulos explained that routine, intimacy, and long-term stability do not diminish his passion, but instead heighten his romantic and sexual desire. He remarked that domestic habit works well for him, while noting that when his past relationships reached an end, they successfully transitioned into enduring friendships.
A prominent voice on Greek television
Sergoulopoulos has spent decades as a leading television host, actor, and stage performer in Greece, gaining nationwide prominence through morning and daytime entertainment broadcasts. Over recent years he has become one of the country's most visible advocates for equality and family rights, frequently discussing parenting and representation in the media.
