“I got pretty desensitized during the whole Evan Hansen experience to being very vulnerable onstage and exposing a lot of who I am, but doing my own materials is a brand new experience without the safety net of a character or a piece surrounding me,” says Platt.

“I never have had the opportunity in my work or in my art to discuss my sexuality or my relationships, so to have the opportunity to do that through something personal and a piece of work has been really wonderful,” he continued

The actor/singer-songwriter’s work was inspired, in fact, by Ellen DeGeneres. “I grew up a large fan of yours and your stand-up,” he shared, “and very inspired by you because in the way that you discuss your sexuality and your relationships it became part of the art and became part of what made you so funny and fantastic...and that was really inspiring to me.”

The music videos tied to Platt’s albums feature same-sex partners in songs about getting over a lost love, finding comfort in a partner, and more. “The sexuality of it all has been encouragingly innocuous,” he said of the reaction to the work. “Hopefully we're past the time where it can be this whole big announcement.”

Next, Platt is preparing for the release of his new Netflix show The Politician, from creator and executive producer Ryan Murphy.

READ: Listen to Ben Platt Sing ’Bad Habit’ and ’Ease My Mind’ From New Album

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