Actor Max Adler's character on "Glee" was introduced as a bullying jock who tormented gay classmate Kurt Hummel, played by Chris Colfer.

However, fans of the show have since learned that his homophobia was perhaps fueled by his own inner turmoil.

It is revealed in the Never Been Kissed episode, that Dave Karofsky, Adler’s character, is gay after he passionately kisses Kurt. This week on the show, Karofsky survives a suicide attempt when his father finds him hanging and resuscitates him.

“It really does mirror what`s happening now,” Adler told Dr. Drew Wednesday night. “To me, it`s an epidemic and it`s a disease ... I feel a lot of people aren't talking about it and are kind of afraid to discuss it. I know some school districts have told their teachers not to talk about it.”

He added, “What`s happening is that there`s this belief that if you`re gay, you`re doing something wrong, which in turn, leaves the bullies or the antagonists to believe that what they`re doing in bullying is right.”

Zac Toomay, a high school swim team captain who came out in high school, told Dr. Drew that publicizing the struggle that gay teens go through every day is helpful to every teen and parent who watches or hears about it.

“It just makes it known that there are so many issues behind being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, besides just the sexuality itself,” Toomay said.

Adler noted, “It`s really a matter of talking about it and opening up a national [dialogue], which in turn, will change people`s perspective and the perception of the whole thing.  As long as people speak up and express how they want to be and what they believe -- we’re OK."

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