By G. Zisk Rice

YNOT EUROPE – The apparent suicide of popular gay performer Wilfried Knight on Monday has sparked a discussion on the gay side of the adult entertainment industry: What can we do to stop a disturbing trend?

Knight, 35 and a native of Champagne, France, reportedly became despondent after the suicide of his life-partner of nine years, Jerry, in early March. The details of Knight’s death have not been released.

He was the third gay porn star to take his own life this year. Israeli Roman Ragazzi, 38, and Hungarian Arpad Miklos, 45, committed suicide in February.

Producer and director Michael Lucas worked with all three men.

“Coming so soon after the suicides of Roman Ragazzi and Arpad Miklos, Wilfried’s death is deeply troubling,” Lucas wrote Tuesday in an open letter to the gay community. “I am scared at what this trend suggests about the gay world. It’s not just porn stars who are killing themselves: about 10 guys in my gym alone have recently committed suicide.

“But porn actors are among the highest-profile casualties of gay suicide, and are especially vulnerable in some ways,” Lucas continued. “We do not have good support systems in place for people in our industry. We need to talk more about this as a community. We need to be there for each other.”

“Discovered” in 2004 and signed to an exclusive contract by Lucas, the 6’2”, 200-pound Knight eventually became a dual exclusive for both Lucas Entertainment and Raging Stallion/Falcon. Chris Ward, president of the latter studio group, called Knight “a consummate performer and a joy to have on set.” He voiced shock and sadness at the news of Knight’s death.

“’Wilfried’s death is a blow to our studio and to our industry,” Ward wrote in a formal statement. “There was no nicer man. We have all lost someone very special. I can only say that personally I am devastated. Wilfried was a friend and I shall miss him. All of us at Falcon and Raging Stallion Studios hope he is at peace.”

Marc MacNamara issued a statement on behalf of the entire Lucas Entertainment family in which cast, crew and other co-workers praised Knight as a treasured friend and a caring human being. The statement also called for the gay community to end the “domino effect.”

“In the wake of this news we have to step back and look at the awful losses the industry has experienced this year,” the statement said. “Wilfried’s passing had nothing to do with the industry, but the outpouring of sadness we have seen urges us to address others in need.

“We all would like to consider ourselves strong people, but there will always be certain things that tear us down,” the Lucas team continued. “We have to think about what awfulness brought Wilfried to this point and fight against it. Life is guaranteed to devastate us at some point, but we can’t and shouldn’t cause others who care about us to go through such pain. The domino effect has to end.”

Lucas himself suggested the alarming number of suicides in the gay in the gay adult industry may be especially related to a struggle to a dichotomy between public and private personas. Because they are highly visible, gay porn stars serve as standard-bearers, of sorts, for the larger gay community. The public image must remain shiny even when a man’s personal life falls apart. Talking with non-judgmental others who understand pain can help, Lucas said.

“To anyone in the porn world who is reading this: If you are feeling depressed, or despairing about the future, please know that you’re not alone,” he wrote in his open letter to the industry. “If you’re in trouble, call me. My phone number is 917-449-3101 and my e-mail is Michael@lucasentertainment.com. I will do whatever I can.

“Life can be rough, but it’s a gift and you only get it once,” Lucas concluded. “Your pain will pass. We have to remember that and help each other.”

[SIZE=1][/SIZE]Image: Wilfried Knight, courtesy of Lucas Entertainment.