"Empire" actor Jussie Smollet recently appeared alongside his co-star Taraji P. Henson at the Family Equality Council's 10th Annual Night at the Pier to honor LGBTQ parents and promote family equality.

In addition to supporting family equality, both Smollett and Henson made the appearance to present an award to "Empire" creator Lee Daniels, who is also a gay parent of twins, Entertainment Tonight reports.

Before presenting him with the award, Smollett thanked Daniels and described the director/producer as his "gay father" who helped him become more truthful and honest.

"I now know what it means to have an amazing, gay father," Smollett said. "He's made me more of a truthful man."

Smollett's honesty was evident when he publicly came out to Ellen Degeneres following his appearance on her show, ET reports.

Although Smollett was openly gay to his friends and family, he officially came out to the media and his fans while speaking with DeGeneres.

"It was really important to me to make sure that it got across that there is no closet," Smollett told DeGeneres back in March. "There's never been a closet that I've been in. I don't own a closet. I got a dresser, but I don't have a closet, but I have a home and that is my responsibility to protect that home."

"Let's not read into it in the wrong way when I say that I don't talk about my personal life," he added. "It is in no way to hide or deny who God made me."

In a separate interview with Essence, Smollett revealed that since publicly coming out on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" nothing has changed for him and he is still happy and confident about who he is, People reports.

"The sun rose the next day, the clouds were out and I was still able to go to Whole Foods," he quipped. "And my mother said, 'Hey, baby,' like she always does. Nothing changed."