The High School Musical<\/em> universe has confirmed what fans knew all along \u2014 Ryan Evans is gay.<\/p>\n Disney+ shared the first few minutes<\/a> of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series<\/em> season 4 on Tuesday, July 25, which featured a glimpse at the fictional filming of High School Musical 4<\/em><\/a>. In the show, Lucas Grabeel<\/strong><\/a>, Kaycee Stroh<\/strong><\/a>, Corbin Bleu<\/strong><\/a>, Monique Coleman<\/strong><\/a>, Alyson Reed<\/strong> and Bart Johnson<\/strong><\/a> play themselves while reprising their roles from the hit Disney franchise for a reunion film.<\/p>\n In the clip, Grabeel\u2019s Ryan shares a kiss with his husband \u2014 Scott Hoying<\/strong>, who brings the unnamed newcomer to life as he supports Ryan\u2019s decision to return to his roots at East High School.<\/p>\n Ryan\u2019s sexuality was one of High School Musical<\/em>\u2018s biggest mysteries since the original films aired from 2006 to 2008. In High School Musical 3<\/em>, Ryan seemingly sparked a romance with fellow student Kelsi Nielsen (Olesya Rulin<\/strong>)<\/a> as they attended the prom together. Fans, however, questioned whether Ryan actually had an interest in Chad Danforth (Bleu) after they swapped outfits in the second film<\/a> following their \u201cI Don\u2019t Dance\u201d performance.<\/p>\n High School Musical<\/em> director Kenny Ortega<\/strong><\/a> later revealed that he believes Ryan is gay<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI put a lot of who I am into my work. I think, yeah, that it\u2019s just there, and whether it\u2019s screaming at you, or whether it\u2019s just sort of quietly there, it\u2019s there,\u201d Ortega, 73, who is openly gay himself, told Variety<\/em> in June 2020. \u201cWe decided he\u2019s probably going to come out in college. It was less about coming out and just more about letting his true colors come forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Ortega went on to explain why Ryan\u2019s sexuality couldn\u2019t be discussed when the musical film came out.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI have to be honest with you. I didn\u2019t think at the time [it would] \u2014 and Disney is the most progressive group of people I\u2019ve ever worked with,\u201d he added at the time, noting that the studio \u201cmight not be ready to cross that line and move into that territory yet\u201d considering High School Musical<\/em> catered to family and kids.<\/a><\/p>\n The choreographer continued: \u201cSo, I just took it upon myself to make choices that I felt that those who were watching would grab. They would see it, they would feel it, they would know it and they would identify with it. And that is what happened. I have to say thousands of kids that have said, \u2018If it weren\u2019t for High School Musical, I don\u2019t know that I would have ever been comfortable in my skin. I don\u2019t know when I would have been able to feel comfortable enough to come out, embrace who I am.’\u201d<\/p>\n The fourth and final season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series<\/em> premieres on Disney+ August 9.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n Ryan Evans his husband.<\/span> Courtesy of HSM: The Musical: The Series\/Twitter<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"'High](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/high-school-musical-the-musical-the-series-confirms-ryan-is-gay-01.jpg?w=700&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Lucas Grabeel, Kaycee Stroh, Monique Coleman, and Corbin Bleu.<\/span> Disney\/Fred Hayes<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n