Jake Borelli on Why Grey's Anatomy's Gay Blood Ban Story Is Personal

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The actor, who me out publicly around the same time as his character Levi a few years ago, is proud the show will she a light on the discrimatory polici around gay men and sex.

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JAKE BORELLI ON WHY GREY'S ANATOMY'S GAY BLOOD BAN STORY IS PERSONAL

And when I was growg up, that led me to not knowg that I was gay for a long time. Not havg the language or unrstandg that I was gay. The beloved character, who me out as gay at the same time Jake Borelli, who portrays him, me out publicly, worked amid the trma of early COVID-19 last season, and suffered full-on burnout after losg his first patient unr the hospal's new trag method this season.

But for Borelli, a gay blood ban story that volv Levi Grey's Anatomy's 18th season fale (also the show's whoppg 400th episo), is eply personal.

"In preparg for the episo and talkg to people about this, I found that pecially om the straight muny, that there's this ia that oh, well, the blood ban is now no longer a lifetime blood ban for gay men, " he adds. "You're fe as long as you don't have sex, as long as you don't partake sodomy, or if you don't get married, " Borelli says of ndnal acceptance of gay and bi men. "Borelli, 31, joed ABC's long-nng medil drama 2018, g out publicly as his character's gay storyle unfold not long after.

DON'T ASK, DON'T KISS: "GREY'S ANATOMY" GO GAY WH ARY {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVMAY 9, 2008/8:23 AMMAY 9, 2008 / 8:23 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"DON'T ASK, DON'T KISS: \"GREY'S ANATOMY\" GO GAY WH ARY SMOOCH","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-05-09T12:23:02.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-05-09T12:23:02.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GREY'S ANATOMY HAS LONG BEEN A FAVORE OF THE GAYS THANKS TO OUT SUPERSTAR T.R. KNIGHT, BUT FOR THIS WRER GREY'S FELL OM SEATTLE GRACE A LONG TIME AGO. I'M FICKLE THOUGH, SAY "G.I. JOE'S KISSG ANOTHER MAN" AND MY QUEER EY ARE THERE!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO WRE ABOUT THE ARY MAN-ON-MAN ACTN LONG TEASED, PECIALLY WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT SANTIAGO OM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS WAS GOG TO BE ONE OF THE HOTTI SMOOCHG ONE OF MY FAVORE ROAD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WATCHG "THE BEG" WAS BTERSWEET FOR ME; I HAD HOPED TO WATCH JT THIS ONE EPISO AND GET OUT WHOUT BEG SUCKED BACK TO THE MELODRAMA BUT KNEW WAS RISKY. I WAS BURNT TO A CRISP BY GIZZIE AND ISAIAH WASHGTON SO GREY'S FLATLED FOR ME LAST SEASON BUT I THK I N MOVE ON UNSTHED ... WHICH IS MORE THAN I N SAY FOR OUR GAY ARY BOYS AT THE CENTER OF THE DRAMA LAST {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS THE SHOW OPENED I WONRED HOW MUCH OF MEREDH'S SELFISH BANTER I'D HAVE TO ENDURE BEFORE THE REASON FOR ME TUNG POPPED UP ON SCREEN. THANKFULLY WAS WH THE FIRST FEW MUT OF THE SHOW THAT WE WERE TRODUCED TO DARREN COVGTON (FNL'S BENNY CIARAMELLO), THE NEWT PATIENT MCDREAMY AND MEREDH'S CLIL TRIAL OF DOOM (THE POOR BOY HAS A BRA TUMOR).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CUE THE STUD UNIFORM NAMED TODD VERNON (ROAD RULER DAVID GIUNTOLI) WHO WAS LLED BEE HE'S DARREN'S "CLOST IEND" AND WHILE THGS ARE LOOKG BLEAK THE ROOM, THGS ARE LOOKG DAMN FE ON MY FLATSCREEN! TWO STRAPPG YOUNG LADS WH A SECRET FOR SOME SEXUAL HEALG; 'S KDA HOT...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OBVLY DARREN'S UPSET THAT TODD SHOWED UP, SEEG HOW HE'S BEG PLOYED FIVE DAYS AND ALL, BUT WH ONLY MEREDH THE ROOM TODD LETS DARREN KNOW THAT HE'S NOT GOG ANYWHERE AND HE MAK HIS WAY TO THE BED AND REASSUR HIS SECRET LOVER WH A CRAZY TENSE STARE THAT LEADS TO ONE OF THE MOST SENSUAL, EMOTNAL AND DAMN NEAR HEART-BREAKG GAY KISS I'VE EVER SEEN ON WORK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SADLY, THE PASSN AND RELIEF VANISH THE MUTE DARREN'S EX-SOLIR OF A FATHER WALKS , TCHG THE BOYS MAKG OUT. SERLY? SERLY! DADDY COVGTON FLIPS HIS LID, THROWS TODD OUT AND DARREN SPENDS MUCH OF THE RT OF THE EPISO NOT WANTG TO DISTURB HIS FATHER WHILE NYG HIS ONE TE LOVE. IF I'M BEG HONT, I THK DADDY COVGTON'S GOT A SECRET BEAR-ISH LIFTYLE HE'S HIDG ... DID YOU TCH THAT GOATEE? WHO'S HE FOOL'?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DARREN'S SURGERY HAD ME ON PS AND NEEDL BEE THE UNIVERSE REVOLV AROUND THEM MER AND DER DIDN'T MAKE ALL ABOUT THEIR RELATNSHIP STEAD OF HOT ASS BRA TUMOR ON THE TABLE. THANKFULLY, THEY WERE ABLE TO FOC ON THE PATIENT FOR A SPL-SEND AND ALL SEEMED WELL UNTIL 9:45PM WHEN HE FLIPP' DI ON !{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I KNEW WAS G. I ULD TELL BY THE SAD LILH FAIR-LE MIC THAT DARREN AND TODD WEREN'T GOG TO HAVE THEIR DREAM HOE WH A WHE PICKET FENCE AND A TWO BAT-TANK GARAGE. WHAT I ULDN'T PREDICT WAS HOW EMOTNAL I WAS GOG TO GET. IT WAS GUT WRENCHG TO WATCH MEREDH TRY HER HARST TO GET {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BOYS TO HAVE A MOMENT TOGETHER BEFORE SURGERY ONLY TO HAVE FEAR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DISSAPPOTMENT GET THE WAY, THANKS TO DADDY BEAR'S PROXIMY AT ALL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I'M NOT GOG TO LIE, I CRIED BIG BUCKET O' TEARS WHEN TODD FALLY GOT THE URAGE TO STAND UP TO DARREN'S DAD AND MAND HE ACCEPT THEIR LOVE AND ACKNOWLEDGE HIS NCERN, ONLY TO BE MET BY TEAR-STAED FAC SIGNIFYG ONLY ONE THG. TODD WAS CSHED, MEREDH WAS CSHED, AND AS PATHETIC AS SOUNDS, I WAS CSHED. JT WHEN I THK THE TEARS ARE DONE, THERE IS AN UNSPOKEN MON GROUND THAT DADDY BEAR AND TODD FOUND WHEN TODD GO FOR HIS FAL GOODBYE'S. SOFTLY, SWEETLY, HE LEANS AND KISS HIS AD LOVER (AND STROK HIS EAR - AN ADD TIMATE TOUCH PROBABLY UNNOTICED BY MANY) AND I BURST TO TEARS AGA!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I'M AN OPTIMIST WHEN TO LOVE. I WANTED TO BELIEVE THAT THE TWO ULD WORK THROUGH THE FEAR AND NIAL (NOT TO MENTN THE ARY) TO BE HAPPY AND GAY TOGETHER. WHILE A PART OF ME RENTED THE FACT THAT I WAS CRYG AT GREY'S ANATOMY, THE OTHER PART OF ME KNEW WAS BEE THEY'D DONE A REALLY NICE JOB WH HANDLG THE PLITNS OF FORBIDN LOVE A WORLD WHERE DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL IS STILL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE STORYLE WASN'T REALLY POLIL NOR WAS PREACHY. IT FELT LIKE AN HONT PORTRAYAL OF UNNDNAL LOVE; WELL, THAT IS UNTIL MEREDH TRIED TO TURN ALL AROUND AND MAKE ABOUT HER THE FAL MOMENTS OF THE EPISO. THANK HEAVENS HER THERAPIST (THE AMAZG AMY MADIGAN) VERBALLY BCH-SLAPPED HER BACK TO REALY; THAT A MAN DYG HAVG NEVER SAID GOODBYE TO HIS TE LOVE THAT'S WAG THE ROOM NEXT DOOR IS NOT A HAPPY ENDG NO MATTER HOW YOU TRY TO SP {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I THK THAT WAS A VERY SUCCSFUL STORYLE AND I'M IMPRSED AT HOW GOOD BOTH OF THE ACTORS WERE THEIR RPECTIVE ROL. CIARAMELLO AND GIUNTOLI WERE NOT ONLY BELIEVABLE BUT PASSNATE, TIMATE, AND POWERFUL THEIR DOOMED PORTRAYALS. KUDOS TO BOTH FOR THE KISS TOO - THAT THG WAS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO WHAT DID YOU GUYS THK? DID GREY'S DO A GOOD JOB AT TELLG A TABOO STORYLE WHOUT SENSATNALIZG OR TRIVIALIZG THE LOVE THE TWO SOLIRS HAD FOR ONE ANOTHER? DID YOU CRY? COME ON, BE HONT ... I N'T BE THE ONLY SAP OUT THERE - FS UP!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}*OH AND DON'T FET TO MENT ON CALLIE AND DR. HAHN HEADG TOWARD A LBIAN TRYST. I DON'T MD THAT AT ALL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

I uldn't bee I knew that I was gay, " Borelli says. Grey's Anatomy has long been a favore of the gays thanks to out superstar T.

Which is more than I n say for our gay ary boys at the center of the drama last the show opened I wonred how much of Meredh's selfish banter I'd have to endure before the reason for me tung popped up on screen. Obvly Darren's upset that Todd showed up, seeg how he's beg ployed five days and all, but wh only Meredh the room Todd lets Darren know that he's not gog anywhere and he mak his way to the bed and reassur his secret lover wh a crazy tense stare that leads to one of the most sensual, emotnal and damn near heart-breakg gay kiss I've ever seen on work, the passn and relief vanish the mute Darren's ex-Solir of a Father walks , tchg the boys makg out. I wanted to believe that the two uld work through the fear and nial (not to mentn the ary) to be happy and gay together.

Brigte Bugayong...

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GREY'S ANATOMY GAY MILITARY EPISODE

Jake Borelli on Why Grey's Anatomy's Gay Blood Ban Story Is Personal.

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