Degrassi actor reveals that he's gay - The Globe and Mail

is adamo ruggiero really gay

The actor who plays one of the show's most beloved characters announc he is gay himself.

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'DEGRASSI' 'S ADAMO RUGGIERO SAYS PLAYG MAR HELPED HIM COME OUT, BUT SHOW FELL SHORT EXPLORG GAY ISSU

Adamo Ruggiero reflected on how playg Mar Del Rossi on Degrassi: The Next Generatn helped him e out, but said the show fell short explorg gay issu." emprop="scriptn * is adamo ruggiero really gay *

"I was a closeted gay boy, and I found myself on the show, and my life went om zero to 100, " Ruggiero relled.

Though the show was known to ver a variety of tough subjects — cludg teen pregnancy, rape, abortn, and school shootgs — Ruggiero believ that fell short explorg gay culture. "We missed opportuni to talk about gay sex, and queer sex and queer bodi, " he said. But his relatnships, there was nothg about the dynamics of gay sex and safe sex and the sexual culture as a young gay man.

DEGRASSI ACTOR REVEALS THAT HE'S GAY

21-year old Adamo Ruggiero first beme a gay in at age 16. Too bad the Degrassi: The Next Generatn actor hadn't yet e to terms wh his own * is adamo ruggiero really gay *

21-year old Adamo Ruggiero first beme a gay in at age 16.

ADAMO RUGGIERO, DEGRASSI'S GAY MAR, OUT PUBLICLY AS A GAY {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;}TVBY BRIAN JUERGENSJANUARY 17, 2008/8:51 AMBY BRIAN JUERGENSJANUARY 17, 2008 / 8:51 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"ADAMO RUGGIERO, DEGRASSI'S GAY MAR, OUT PUBLICLY AS A GAY MAN","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-01-17T13:51:01.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-01-17T13:51:01.000+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"}},"CREATOR":"BRIAN JUERGENS","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;}GREAT NEWS OM OUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE NORTH: 21-YEAR-OLD ACTOR ADAMO RUGGIERO, WHO IS WRAPPG UP A 6-YEAR STT AS BELOVED GAY TEENAGER MAR L ROSSI ON CRIL AND FAN FAVE DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATN, HAS E OUT AS A GAY MAN A NDID TERVIEW TO A CANADIAN INTER VIO {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;}ECHOG THE G OUT OF WILSON CZ, THE US'S FIRST GAY PRIMETIME TEEN ON MY SO CALLED LIFE, RUGGIERO CID THAT AFTER SERVG AS A ROLE MOL TO YOUTHS FOR YEARS AS MAR, HIS GOG PUBLIC WH HIS SEXUALY WAS A {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;}HE NOT:{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 THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I WAS LEARNG AND I LEARNED AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO KD OF SHARE MY KNOWLEDGE THAN RIGHT NOW."{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;}RUGGIERO ALSO SPEAKS ABOUT THE PARALLELS BETWEEN MAR'S JOURNEY AND HIS OWN, WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS AAID OF BEG FORCIBLY OUTED BY THE GOSSIP PRS, AND MUCH MUCH MORE THIS THOUGHTFUL TERVIEW. HE'S ALSO ITALIAN, SO HE TALKS WH HIS HANDS A LOT, WHICH IS ADORABLE:{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;}WE'VE BEEN BIG FANS OF RUGGIERO AND MAR FOR A WHILE NOW, AND POSTED SOME GREAT PICS OF HIM A WHILE BACK - CHECK 'EM OUT! YOU N FD MORE OF OUR VERAGE OF DEGRASSI'S GAY CHARACTER OVER {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;}BIG LOVE TO RUGGIERO FOR THE URAGE TO SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT HIS SEXUALY AND TO NTUG TO BE AN SPIRATN TO YOUNG GAY PEOPLE BY LIVG HIS LIFE THENTILLY AND WH {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;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Mississga actor Adamo Ruggiero, who plays a gay teen on TV'sDegrassi: The Next Generatn,is gay himself and he's g out a big way next week: as the ver boy for fab: The Gay Scene Magaze, published biweekly out of Toronto. * is adamo ruggiero really gay *

Too bad the Degrassi: The Next Generatn actor hadn’t yet e to terms wh his own homosexualy. Takg on the gay role veloped me to a role mol. AB: I image there mt have been a lot of gnive dissonance for you when you hadn’t e out but you were playg Mar, who is gay.

Mississga actor Adamo Ruggiero, who plays a gay teen on TV's. Degrassi: The Next Generatn, is gay himself and he's g out a big way next week: as the ver boy for fab: The Gay Scene Magaze, published biweekly out of edor Pl Gallant nfirmed yterday that Ruggiero, 21, will be featured on the ver of the perdil's Jan. Degrassi st 2002 when he was 14, says the article that he didn't know his character, Mar, "was a gay role until I signed on.

Great news om our Friendly Neighborhood to the North: 21-year-old actor Adamo Ruggiero, who is wrappg up a 6-year stt as beloved gay teenager Mar l Rossi on cril and fan fave Degrassi: The Next Generatn, has e out as a gay man a ndid terview to a Canadian Inter vio se.

"DEGRASSI"'S ADAM RUGGIERO {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;}TVBY MICHAEL JENSENJANUARY 17, 2008/5:20 PMBY MICHAEL JENSENJANUARY 17, 2008 / 5:20 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"DEGRASSI\"'S ADAM RUGGIERO OUT","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-01-17T22:20:23.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-01-17T22:20:23.000+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"}},"CREATOR":"MICHAEL JENSEN","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;}ON WEDNDAY NIGHT, 21-YEAR-OLD ACTOR ADAMO RUGGIERO ME OUT AS A GAY MAN AN TERVIEW WH TANYA KIM OF CTV ENTERTAMENT MAGAZE ETALK. RUGGIERO IS BT KNOWN FOR PLAYG GAY TEEN MAR DEL ROSSI ON THE SUCCSFUL CANADIAN TEEN DRAMA DEGRASSI: THE NEXT {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;}IN THE TERVIEW, RUGGIERO TALKED ABOUT THE PARALLEL JOURNEY HE AND HIS DEGRASSI CHARACTER TOOK, TELLG KIM:{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 WAS GROWG UP THE EXACT SAME TIME AS MY CHARACTER WAS GROWG UP AND HE WAS QUTNG THGS THAT I WAS QUTNG AND I WAS JT A KID. I WAS PLETELY PETRIFIED, AND YOU DON’T REALLY UNRSTAND AND YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU F OR WHO YOU ARE, AND MY CHARACTER WAS ASKG THE EXACT SAME QUTNS BUT HE MOVED A LTLE B FASTER THAN I DID.”{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;}IT WAS THE CHALLENGE OF LEARNG TO ACCEPT HIMSELF THAT PROMPTED RUGGIERO TO PUBLICLY E OUT: “ULTIMATELY I JT THOUGHT MAYBE THE REASON WHY THAT THE KD OF FEARS ARE PERPETUATED OF ‘I N’T E OUT, WHAT’S GOG TO HAPPEN TO MY REER?’ IS BEE THGS REALLY HAVEN’T CHANGED … AND I FEEL LIKE THE MORE WE HI THE MORE WE PERPETUATE .”{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;}UNTIL THIS NDID TERVIEW, RUGGIERO HAD CHOSEN NOT TO DISCS HIS SEXUAL INTY WH THE PUBLIC. IN AN TERVIEW FOR HE WAS ASKED ABOUT SPECULATN ABOUT HIS SEXUALY BY DEGRASSI FANS. HE RPOND, “ REGARDS TO THE GAY THG ... THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE QUTN BEE OBVLY PEOPLE ARE CUR. I SAY TO MYSELF, LET THE GAY KIDS THK I'M GAY AND LET THE STRAIGHT GIRLS THK I'M STRAIGHT.”{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;}RUGGIERO, WHO WAS BORN MISSISSGA, ONTAR 1986, HAS BEEN ACTG SCE THE YOUNG AGE OF 7. HE HAS APPEARED THEATRIL PRODUCTNS OF RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REER AND BYE-BYE BIRDIE. RUGGIERO ALSO APPEARED AN IMPROV EDY GAME SHOW, DON’T LICK THE PIG, AND A SKETCH EDY SHOW, SHOW CRASH, ON A YOUTH-ORIENTED BLE WORK CANADA BEFORE APPEARG 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;}IN 2002, HE JOED THE ST OF DEGRASSI S SEND SEASON. MAR FORMED A CLOSE IENDSHIP WH ELLIE (STACEY FARBER), WHO BEME THE FIRST PERSON TO REALIZE THAT MAR IS GAY. ELLIE AGREED TO PRETEND TO BE MAR’S GIRLIEND FOR A WHILE TO HELP HIM HI HIS {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;}WHEN MAR BEGAN TO E OUT TO HIS IENDS DEGRASSI’S THIRD SEASON, STRAED HIS IENDSHIP WH SPNER (SHANE KIPPEL), WHO VANDALIZED MAR’S LOCKER BEFORE BEG FORCED TO NONT HIS HOMOPHOBIA. MAR ME OUT TO HIS MOTHER AFTER HIS RIVAL ALEX (DEANNA CASALUCE){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;}THREATENED TO OUT HIM TO THE WHOLE SCHOOL, AND TO HIS FATHER {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;}TRYG TO HELP ANOTHER GAY TEEN. THE SCEN WHERE MAR ME OUT TO HIS PARENTS DIVIDUALLY EXEMPLIFIED THE SHOW'S FT HANDLG OF DIFFICULT EMOTNAL MOMENTS VOLVG {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;}DEGRASSI TREATED MAR’S ROMANTIC LIFE NO DIFFERENTLY THAN THOSE OF HIS STRAIGHT CLASSMAT. HIS RELATNSHIP WH DYLAN (JOHN BREGAR) WAS A SOURCE FOR THE SAME KDS OF NFLICTS FOUND DEGRASSI’S HETEROSEXUAL RELATNSHIPS. THE TWO APPROACHED THE RELATNSHIP VERY DIFFERENTLY, WH MAR FEELG LONELY EASILY, AND DYLAN WANTG TO KEEP THE RELATNSHIP MORE SUAL. (AFTER A TYPILLY TUMULTUO TEEN RELATNSHIP THE TWO SPL WHEN DYLAN WAS RECED FOR A SWISS HOCKEY TEAM.){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;}DYLAN (JOHN BREGAR) AND MAR (RUGGIERO) {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;}DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATN IS A SP-OFF OF 1987’S DEGRASSI JUNR HIGH AND DEGRASSI HIGH SCHOOL, TOPIL TEEN DRAMAS THAT TACKLED ISSU SUCH AS PEER PRSURE, EATG DISORRS AND TEEN PREGNANCY. THE DRAMA IS THE MOST-WATCHED SHOW FOR BOTH CANADIAN BROADST WORK CTV AND FOR TEEN-ORIENTED USA BLE WORK THE {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;}THIS SEASON DEGRASSI ALSO BEME ONE OF THE FEW BLE PROGRAMS TO HAVE REPEATS SYNDITED NATNALLY, GIVG DAYTIME TV VIEWERS ADDNAL CHANC TO DISVER THE SHOW. IT HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS CLUDG HONORS OM THE TELEVISN CRICS' ASSOCIATN, CANADA’S GEMI AWARDS, AND NICKELOON’S TEEN CHOICE AWARDS. IT WAS ALSO NOMATED FOR A GLAAD MEDIA AWARD {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;}IN 2006, PRAISED DEGRASSI FOR HAVG TELEVISN’S BT PORTRAYAL OF GAY TEENS. REARS AGREED 2007, NAMG MAR ONE OF THEIR TOP 25 GAY TV CHARACTERS, AND RUGGIERO'S URAGEO CISN TO E OUT PUBLICLY AS A GAY MAN WILL NO DOUBT ENAR BOTH THE ACTOR AND HIS CHARACTER TO MORE GAY {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

Adamo Ruggiero is a Canadian actor wily known for playg the role of Mar Del Rossi Degrassi: The Next Generatn. He is openly gay and has been a relatnship wh a handsome boyiend. * is adamo ruggiero really gay *

Echog the g out of Wilson Cz, the US's first gay primetime teen on My So Called Life, Ruggiero cid that after servg as a role mol to youths for years as Mar, his gog public wh his sexualy was a not:"I thought, you know, I was learng and I learned and what better way to kd of share my knowledge than right now.

You n fd more of our verage of Degrassi's gay character over love to Ruggiero for the urage to speak openly about his sexualy and to ntug to be an spiratn to young gay people by livg his life thentilly and wh pri.

In Make the Yuleti Gay, now available on DVD, the Canadian actor plays Nathan, a llege stunt who surpris his boyiend, Olaf Gunn Gunnunrson (Keh Jordan), at his parents hoe over Christmas break.

Still, he feels that the show uld’ve gone farther havg s gay characters discs gay issu * is adamo ruggiero really gay *

What are the differenc you see the gay culture there pared to here the Stat? It has the same tone and culture, at least the Village [the gay strip Toronto].

Toronto is also a unique place right now wh the gay muny bee seems to be expandg. In Make the Yuleti Gay you play Nathan Stanford. This is your send role as a gay character.

I want them to know that s okay to be gay and that you n be succsful.

* is adamo ruggiero really gay *

I would wele any rol that e my way, but right now Im A-OK wh havg a gay path. Were you ncerned about playg a gay character then?

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* IS ADAMO RUGGIERO REALLY GAY

Adamo Ruggiero Mak the Yuleti Gay .

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