Painter, illustrator, opera singer, comedian — MATTEO LANE has done it all. The Italian- American virtuoso may look like a hunky, reallife version of Mario Kart’s Luigi, but he opens

MATTEO LANE

Matteo wears shorts, by Fila, socks, stylist’s own

Words Cliff Joannou Photography Leigh Keily Styling Joseph Kocharian

When did you realise you were funny?

I grew up on the same block as my 22 cousins, and we’re all around the same age, so we were constantly together. I was kind of the show-pony for the family: “Oh, look what Matteo can do!” I was always doing impressions, singing, imitating people on TV.

Do you think it was partly that classic thing of using humour to deflect attention from your sexuality?

I think it’s a combination. I grew up in a family which communicates through humour. But also, yeah, you add on all those layers — going through middle school, everyone starts falling into their gender roles and you’re like, “Uh, oh!” when you realise you’re gay. But I wasn’t clever enough or funny enough to use that as a defence. When I was called “faggot” I would just shut down. I don’t think I became proud of my humour until I was in college and came out, then I started caring less about what people thought. I think it’s different today, but in my time we didn’t have a Tyler Oakley.

When did you first realise that you were different?

Around the age of four or five. I think most kids are fine up until they’re seven, then everyone becomes a little more self-aware. I grew up in Chicago, and was just hyper aware that the things I liked were not the same as other boys liked. Most gay people go through that. You live on the outside a bit.

When did you start to feel comfortable with that?

I came out when I was 18. I baby-step everything, I always need someone to pull me there. I had a friend who I went to college with, and he was just so much stronger than me and he was able to laugh about being gay in a way that was empowering. Once I became friends with him, I started to really own it. It took someone else’s strength to teach me how to do it. I’m just too sensitive.