Wilson Cruz broke barriers in Hollywood at 20 by portraying Rickie Vasquez in 'My So-Called Life', becoming the first openly gay actor to play an openly gay character on prime-time TV. This role fostered important dialogue across America and provided visibility to those often overlooked in the industry, allowing many to see themselves in his character. Cruz stated, 'I understood that I was giving young people and their families permission to see themselves in me.'
Cruz's groundbreaking role led him to come out to his parents before production began. He expressed, 'I wanted them to hear it from me before we started filming and before doing press, where I knew I would be coming out.' Unfortunately, his father reacted by kicking him out of their home, a reality shared by many LGBTQ youth, as a 2021 Trevor Project survey found nearly 30% experienced homelessness due to family tension over their identity.
After a year apart, Cruz reconnected with his father following an episode of the show where Rickie came out. He mentioned, 'My father asked to talk, and I drove about 60 miles to have that conversation with a beer box.' Reflecting on their reunion, Cruz noted, 'I grew up assuming I wouldn’t have a relationship with my father, so the fact that he was vulnerable enough to go there with me was the greatest gift he's ever given me.'
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