Actor Matthew Bomer has 'come out' as a gay man after publicly thanking his partner and their family while accepting an award for his HIV/AIDS activism over the weekend.

The In Time star, 34, was accepting the New Generation Arts and Activism honor at the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards in Palm Springs, California when he acknowledged his publicist boyfriend, Simon Halls, and his three children as his "proudest accomplishment."

He told the audience, "I like to give a special shout out to my table... and I'd really especially like to thank my beautiful family: Simon, Kit, Walker, Henry - thank you for teaching me what unconditional love is. You will always be my proudest accomplishment."

Bomer has previously skirted around long running rumors about his sexuality, telling Details magazine in 2010, "I don't care about that (gay rumors) at all. I'm completely happy and fulfilled in my personal life."