GEO:  You came out at 19 and were initially rejected by your parents.  Your father even kicked you out of the house.  How did you deal with the fact that you were rejected by the two people who should have unconditional love for you?  

WILSON: To be honest with you I never doubted the love my parents have for me, especially in the case of my mother. While the circumstances of my coming out were not ideal, I knew that any anger or fear on my father’s part was due to a lack of understanding, not a lack of love. I knew that in a matter of time we would be able to eventually come to terms with our disagreement and that is exactly what eventually came to pass. As the years passed my father’s acceptance and love has been undeniable. It was an unfortunate chapter in my life, but we all came out of it stronger, that’s for sure. 

GEO:  What advice would you give a young person who’s thinking of coming out to their parents? 

WILSON: I think the most important thing to do before coming out to your parents, at any age, is to be sure to have a system of support in place. You must have a person you trust, whom you can talk to, whom you can depend on, in case things don’t go very well when you do come out to your parents. That person can be a friend, a teacher, another family member, like an aunt or uncle. The other very important thing to remember is that when you reveal this to your parents, you have to take a moment and put yourself in their shoes for a moment. It will, most likely, be a shock. You must be as empathetic to them as you expect them to be to you. That means allowing them to feel whatever it is they are going to feel. Let them go through the natural process of grief, worry, and hopefully, acceptance. Be gentle with each other and with yourself. In short, love each other.  

GEO:  Do you believe your Puerto Rican heritage played a major factor in your parents’ struggle with your homosexuality? 

WILSON:   I’m sure that cultural views sexuality and gender are to blame, but not because of an inherent ignorance. I believe that, at the time that I came out, there was less of a conversation about issues surrounding sexuality in the Latino culture. We didn’t have the vocabulary to discuss such topics. I do believe that things have changes and I honestly believe that the work GLAAD has done in Spanish language media has a lot to do with it.  

GEO:  You made the decision to go to Hollywood and pursue acting roles as an openly gay young actor.  Do you think the route you took was easier or harder than if you’d pursued acting roles as a closeted gay young man? 

WILSON:  I honestly don’t know. But I also don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it. I made the decision to come out professionally because, first and foremost, I knew that the only way I could live my life authentically and successfully was if I embraced and celebrated all of myself. I also knew that it would be the best thing for my work. I carry no regrets. I have had, I feel, a successful career and the roles I’ve played, although most have been gay, have been varied and span the spectrum of our community. 

GEO:  Your first ‘big role’ was on the short-lived but popular television series My So-Called Life in which you played the character Enrique Vasquez, a troubled gay teen.  Did you consider the danger of being ‘pigeon holed’ into only being offered gay roles before you took the part of Rickie? 

WILSON:   The only thing I thought about at the time was the immense responsibility I felt as the person playing the role. He was the first gay teenager on primetime American TV and he was a Latino youth, to boot. So, I felt that whatever fears I had about myself were overridden by the fact that I needed to display the kind of courage that my character was modeling for us all. 

GEO:  You’ve played so many different character types, J. Edgar Hoover’s servant Joaquin, Mikey in johns, Angel in the Broadway production of Rent and Victor in Party of Five.  Which character was your favorite and why? 

WILSON: Answering that question is like asking a mother to choose between her children. I loved playing all of those roles for different reasons. Rickie will always be part of me. I will always be grateful for that experience, but Angel in RENT was a dream. It changed my life and gave me an enormous amount of empathy and grace, Victor in Party of Five was an opportunity to talk about how we talk to our children about sexuality issues, Dr. Junito Vargas in Noah’s Arc was probably the most well adjusted, brave, and loving person, I loved being him. I could go on and on. I guess my favorite role would be the next one, because it allows me to continue to work. 

GEO:  In the past you’ve stated that you don’t believe in role models but you do have a lot of gay young people look up to you because you are a successful openly gay actor.  How do you balance being ‘an example’ to these gay youth who admire you and just being yourself and living your life? 

WILSON: If I allowed myself to think too much about that I think it would paralyze me. Look, I can not express to you how much the love and support people have shown me through the years means to me. It has lifted me up and carried me through some of the most difficult times in my career. But I have to live my life as best I can. I will make mistakes. I have made mistakes. I don’t want anyone to put me on any kind of pedestal. I’m doing the best I can everyday and I expect everyone to do the same. I think we can inspire each other to be better by promising to be our authentic selves. I’ll do it for you, because so many people have done it for me. 

GEO:  You’ve received a lot of awards and accolades including the ALMA Award and the Young Artist Award.  You’ll be receiving the GLAAD Visibilidad Award here in Miami on April 12.  What does this award mean to you? 

WILSON: I’m so honored to be receiving this award from GLAAD. I have been involved with GLAAD for many years and I am familiar with the people there and their work. To be honored by them in this way is overwhelming to me. What makes it even more meaningful to me is that I get to receive this award for my visibility in the Latino community, which is incredibly important to me. It’s an opportunity for me to celebrate both parts of my identity. I have great respect for GLAAD and all they do. 

GEO:  You’re very involved in LGBT youth work and some people have described this as one of your passions.  Share with the readers of Gaysofla.com some of the programs you are involved in to better the lives of gay youth.  

WILSON: I have been very fortunate to be involved with many youth organizations. Whether it’s the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, GLASS, Hetrick Martin Institute I feel like these are our kids and we have a responsibility to them. I don’t have any children of my own, so I claim our most needy children as my own.  

GEO:  What professional/acting projects are you currently working on? 

WILSON: Well, I have a film with Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Anniston and many others called “He’s Just Not that Into You”, which premieres in August. We are making more episodes of “Rick and Steve”. I have an Indie film that will be making the festival rounds soon called “Ode” and I hope to be filming another Indie this June, called “The People I’ve slept with”. 

GEO:  I’ve read you like to relax by playing the saxophone and one of your hobbies is colleting vintage black-and-white photos of actors.  Give our readers ‘the scoop’…share something about Wilson Cruz with GaySOFLA that’s not searchable on Google.  Anything…hobbies, interests, relationship news…. 

WILSON: I workout like a crazy person. It’s my alone time. I’m single at the moment. I was doing a long distance thing. It wasn’t working but we’ve remained good friends.

GEO:  Where do you hope you’ll be both professionally and personally in, say….10 years? 

WILSON: Oh god, please don’t make me do this. I’m just trying to make it through the month. I’m serious! Things are great right now. Things will continue to be great. I look forward to many more creative opportunities and more opportunities to love. How’s that? 

GEO:  That will work.  So, you’re coming to south Florida in a few days. What are your Miami haunts? Favorite clubs or restaurants... 

WILSON:   I wish I could say that I’ve spent enough time in Miami to say I have a favorite haunt. When I was in Miami a few years ago, I enjoyed Twist very much. But personally, I love a good beach, I can’t get enough!