This 'Spring Baking Championship' Contestant Came Out to Parents on TV

Dennis Van used his Food Network spotlight to be his most authentic self with his family.

Food Network's Spring Baking Championship took an emotional and heartfelt turn this week when a contestant decided to share his truth with the ones he loves the most! 

Dennis Van, a pastry chef from Austin, Texas, took time during the most recent episode of the 8th season of the currently ongoing and beloved sweets-making competition to casually come out as gay to his parents. 

"I'm not out to my parents," Van said during a discussion in the episode with host Molly Yeh. "They don't know I'm gay, but I'm not hiding it from them, but I'm not also fully embracing it, either."

"They're watching right now, and you just came out!" Yeh then says, referring to the fact that cameras are rolling as he is on a nationally televised food show.

"Yeah!" he replied.

Elsewhere in the episode, Yeh thanked Van for sharing such a special moment with the Spring Baking Championship cast and crew, saying she was really honored. 

"I know they're not gonna change how they feel about me or anything like that, it just, when the moment feels right, it feels right," Van then said. "This is the moment that's gonna come down in my scrapbook for years to come."  

"Category is: something unexpected," Van wrote in a follow-up post on Instagram after the episode aired and when People picked up the news. "Speechless! When I was asked to reveal something unexpected about me in the past challenge, I never thought that my story would get picked up by [People] magazine but I’m forever honored and grateful. I don’t want to make this soppy, but all I want to say is thank you to everyone who reached out and that there isn’t any age limit to when you feel it’s right to express your true self. Free your mind and the rest will follow."

Duff Goldman, famous cakemaker, Ace of Cakes star, and one of the judges of Spring Baking Championship, even commented on Van's post, congratulating him on his coming out. 

"You’re a good dude, Dennis," Goldman commented. "And a fantastic pastry chef."

Congrats on finally being able to share your truth with your family, Dennis! 

Catch new episodes of Spring Baking Championship on Monday nights at 8/7c on Food Network and stream the series on Discovery+.

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This 'Spring Baking Championship' Contestant Came Out to His Parents on TV