Weeks after going public with the news that he’s been in a queer relationship for about 11 years, “Harold and Kumar” star Kal Penn is already at work on a comedy pilot for FX, and it’s about a man who comes out as gay in his 40s. The project is called “Belated,” created by Peter Tolan (creator of “Rescue Me,” who himself came out later in life) and starring Penn as a doctor who enters his 40s and realizes he’s queer. The series will revolve around his attempts to co-parent with his ex-wife while navigating his new gay life. For a very long time, coming out stories have been dominated by the experiences of young white gay men, so for a sitcom centering a middle-aged person of color to get a shot is a good sign. More wide-ranging approaches to storytelling mean more queer people get to see their lives represented in film and television. For this we’re grateful to Penn’s willingness to speak about his life. Fingers crossed for a series order!
