I was halfway through folding laundry last summer when I clicked on an episode of State of Mind hosted by Maurice Benard (yes, Sonny from General Hospital—I'm a crossover fan). The guest that day? Christian LeBlanc. You know, Michael Baldwin from The Young and the Restless. My favorite morally complicated lawyer with a smile as sharp as his legal wit.
I expected a little behind-the-scenes soap gossip or maybe some talk about Emmy wins (he's got three, by the way).
But what I got instead felt like a gut-punch wrapped in grace.
"I've been married for 28 years," Christian said calmly, then paused. "But I still can't hold my husband's hand in public."
My jaw dropped. And then, I cried.
Behind the Scenes of a Soap Star's Silence
Christian LeBlanc, 66, came out publicly in 2021 during that very interview—after nearly three decades of marriage to his partner, Sid Montz. That fact alone made me sit up straighter. How had I not known this? As a fan who's watched him portray everything from twisted villain to redeemed hero since the 1990s, I thought I knew Michael Baldwin.
But I didn't know Christian.
What struck me wasn't just the revelation—it was the honesty. He wasn't there to shock or dramatize. He was speaking as a man who had loved quietly for decades while the world celebrated a fictional character he portrayed.
"I still live with the legacy of that," he told Maurice, referring to the homophobia of his generation. "I still don't hold my husband's hand in public.
I can't do it."
As someone who has written fan letters to Michael and Lauren (long live Balwin-Fenmore love!), this moment made me realize how the real love stories are often quieter—and braver.
Meet Sid: The Zen Vegan Husband
It gets better. Christian's husband, Sid Montz, is a vegan Buddhist yoga instructor. (Could you write a more L.A. love story?) He's calm, kind, camera-shy, and often posts about mindfulness and meditation. While Christian lights up the courtroom in Genoa City, Sid lights candles and teaches breathwork.
Somehow, it just works.
They've been together since the early '90s—back when same-sex marriage wasn't even legal. That's 30 years of commitment, laughter, shared dogs, cats, art shows, and quietly avoiding PDA to stay safe.
What broke my heart? Christian said he still flinches when someone might "figure it out" in public. After all this time, that fear still lingers.
The Irony of Playing Michael Baldwin
As fans, we often celebrate the strength of characters like Michael Baldwin—how he fought back after trauma, protected Lauren, raised Fenmore, and never let anyone question his integrity.
But Christian, the actor behind the role, was fighting a private war. The irony isn't lost on me: a man portraying justice and moral redemption on screen, while privately hiding a huge part of himself.
It reminds us that acting isn't just fiction—it's sometimes armor.
Let's Talk About It, Genoa City
I'm writing this as a fan who feels moved, humbled, and surprisingly protective. Christian LeBlanc's honesty deserves more than applause—it deserves conversation.
So I'm turning to you, fellow Y&R diehards:
Did you see the State of Mind interview?
What was your reaction to Christian's story?
Have you ever felt afraid to love publicly?
Drop your thoughts below—whether you're from the Facebook fan groups or just someone who's admired Michael Baldwin since the Sheila days.
Christian's story isn't just about being gay. It's about being human—the parts we show, the parts we hide, and the power of finally telling the truth.
And Christian? You may still struggle to hold Sid's hand in public. But trust me, the fans are holding yours now.
The article is not finished. Click on the next page to continue.
Next page
