00:00We're here at THR's Pride event. How are you celebrating Pride Month this year?
00:04I'm celebrating by being louder and prouder than ever. I think now what's going on with the nation,
00:09I feel that this is the time to not suppress and to be shy, but to be louder.
00:16And we've been here, we are here, we're not going anywhere, so be proud and loud.
00:22Who's another out and proud celebrity that you're especially proud of right now or inspired by?
00:27I'm really inspired by Chapa Rowan, you know, just like the way unapologetic.
00:31And I think, you know, the way they speak up for voices that are targeted in the LGBTQ community.
00:39It's just inspirational to see that, like, there's brothers and sisters in our group that are doing stuff
00:45that makes you like, yes, exactly, yes. And so leading by example. It's great. Yeah.
00:50Talking about the times that we're in right now, what's your message to LGBTQ plus youth right now?
00:55I think times are hard right now. I think for youth, for just human beings in general across the United States
01:02and across the world, I think my message would be don't give up, don't give up hope,
01:06because what makes us human is that we're supposed to be empathetic and be there for one another.
01:12Don't lose the side of humanity because that's what makes us human.
01:15We're asking everyone tonight, what song is your pride anthem?
01:20My pride anthem song, I mean, you can't go wrong with the classic, you know, Diana Ross, I'm coming.
01:28Right? You can't go wrong with that. It's just like every time I hear that song.
01:31As a kid, I used to love that song. I didn't know what it meant.
01:33Like, I thought it was like, I'm going out tonight. I'm going out.
01:35And it could mean that, you know, as well.
01:36But as I got older, I think I remember the moment that it clicked for me.
01:40Like, I was just like, I'm coming out.
01:45I'm coming out tonight.
01:49And then that was the end of my, you know, trajectory of coming out.
01:54Yeah, so I think that's the go-to song.
01:56How would you say your definition of pride has changed since coming out?
01:59I think now, looking back and like, you know, the idea of coming out has always been something really like a traumatic sense for me.
02:09Because coming out means that someone who is queer wakes up and says, hey, I think I'm gay.
02:13Or I think I'm lesbian. Or I think I'm trans.
02:15Or people who are queer don't wake up and think that they are that second and go and tell everyone.
02:20When someone comes out to you, they're really letting you in.
02:23So when I let you in, what you do with that information is so valuable.
02:27Because it will determine if I let other people in.
02:30So that's why it gets so scary out there.
02:31When people let others in, into their home, into their space.
02:36I open the door and I say, this is it. This is who I am.
02:38These are the paintings that I like. That's the rug. This is my home.
02:41And then you decide to do something that's so heinous with my space and my feeling and my letting you in.
02:49It will determine if I ever open that door up again.
02:51So there's kids out there who are afraid to open up the door and they're just peeking out the window.
02:55Let those kids open up the door.
02:56And when they ask you and invite you in to know who they are, please be careful and cautious about the space that they created for themselves.
03:04That's amazing advice.
03:05And for you, what has it been like saying goodbye to what we do in the shadows and stepping into this next era of your career?
03:11I'm really excited for the few, you know, since I wrapped Shadows, I've shot like three films.
03:17So I'm really excited because while doing Shadows and I was so grateful for Shadows, you know, that was my whole thing.
03:22My focus was on that.
03:23And now when the show was over, I was like, well, what am I going to do now?
03:25And they're like, oh, there's a movie.
03:26Okay.
03:27And there's another movie.
03:27All right.
03:28And there's this and that.
03:28So I'm really excited for what the future and I get to play different characters.
03:31So it's nice to like, I'll miss Guillermo and Guillermo will always be there.
03:34You know, who knows?
03:35You never know what's going to happen with Guillermo in the future, but I will miss him.
03:38But I think right now is a good time for coming out.
