Just Jack just came out. Four years after ending his run as Will & Grace’s scene-stealing sidekick, Sean Hayes has confirmed the long-swirling rumors of his sexuality by proudly taking this month’s cover of The Advocate. “I am who I am,” the 39-year-old Emmy winner told the magazine. “I was never in, as they say. Never.” As for why Hayes waited so long to speak so candidly about his personal life, well, there’s one simple reason: It was—and despite his sudden forthcomingness, remains—nobody’s business. “I believe that nobody owes anything to anybody,” he said. “Nobody owes anything to anybody.

After years of refusing to directly answer questions about his sexuality, Sean Hayes finally sits down with a major GLBT publication to reveals that he is indeed gay. Some highlights from his interview in the April edition of the Advocate:

“I am who I am. I was never in, as they say. Never.”

“Why would you go down that path with somebody who’s done so much to contribute to the gay community?” he asks.

Sean Hayes finally comes clean about his sexuality in the new The Advocate, but don’t expect him to be apologetic for not taking a stand during the height of his popularity. “I am who I am. I was never in, as they say. Never. … I feel like I’ve contributed monumentally to the success of the gay movement in America, and if anyone wants to argue that, I’m open to it. You’re welcome, Advocate.

Through it all, Hayes sounds like he’s still very much upset over Hollywood’s inability to see him as anything beside Jack. But as a loyal W&G fan, I have to ask: Is that really so bad? It’s sad that the industry is still too close-minded to cast actors in roles regardless of sexual orientation, but Hayes still ought to be awfully proud of his biggest pop culture accomplishment: creating one of the funniest, most memorable characters in TV history. For eight years, the series provided a showcase for his world-class comic talents — not to mention singing and dancing chops. He earned an Emmy and four Screen Actors’ Guild awards, along with legions of fans, and (we’re assuming) plenty of nice paychecks. It was an opportunity that most actors can only dream of. And while there’s no doubt that Hayes’ talents go beyond the limits of just that one character (his turn as Jerry Lewis in 2002’s Martin and Lewis showed off a neglected knack for drama), we’ll still always appreciate him for giving us Jack. Just Jack.