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Close-up on Rafe, the newest gay character on daytime’s “The Young and the Restless”
I’m so happy to see that another CBS soap has added a gay character to its storyline and hope that every show on daytime does the same. Until that happens (yeah, right), we’ll just focus on what progress is being made on The Young and the Restless and that comes in the form of a new young lawyer named Rafe Torres who is portrayed by 24-year-old Yani Gellman.
And boy, is he HOT!
So Luke and Noah over there on As the World Turns might have a gay rivalry starting up. But really, since the shows air right after each other, it’s just a nice continuation of some long overdue diversity on the soaps. Rafe is a double-whammy: Hispanic and gay!
Out.com has a new interview with the young actor and I’ve snatched a few of the more provocative answers for your enjoyment.
When you auditioned, did you Rafe was gay?
I didn’t know. All I knew was that he was a young lawyer. I was on the show for a month or so before the producers called me in for a meeting to discuss the direction they wanted to take Rafe, and I was cool with it.
Is your family cool with you playing gay?
Yeah! They’re all happy. I have a lot of friends in the gay community, and a couple family members who are gay. Everyone’s really proud to be a part of this experience because it’s quite the landmark role. And it’s about time.
Y&R has never featured a major gay male character before. Gay couples like World Turns’ Nuke and Guiding Light’s Otalia have earned a very passionate, cult-like fan base. Y&R fans have already created a You Tube Channel for Rafe before he has even been paired romantically with anyone.
I did know that, actually. Wow. I’m overjoyed at the prospect of playing a meatier role on the show. And hopefully in a great storyline. Hopefully, the fans and press support this character and the show.
Y&R nonchalantly announced that Rafe was gay matter-of-factly. Were you happy that Y&R didn’t make a bigger deal over his sexuality?
I’m very happy. When they told me Rafe was gay, I was curious as to how they’d deal with it. When I got the script, it showcased beautifully where we are as society today. There’s a lot of acceptance in today’s world.
World Turns instituted a one-year kissing and sex ban on their gay couple, Nuke. Do you think Y&R will treat Rafe’s sex life as equally as they do with his straight counterparts?
I don’t know. I haven’t been on the show long enough to know how the top brass deals with these things. Having said that, I’m pretty much down for anything.
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Paul says:
So very pleased that you are focusing on Y&R. Am pleased that today’s focus was on Rafe. Rafe’s character was very slowly introduced. If we saw him once a week that was alot. I am eager to see into what direction they’ll take his character. In soapland, there is a reason for everyline uttered and most often it’s a clue as to what is coming. Out of the blue, they made Estella (Victor’s housekeeper) his aunt. Estella is one of Adam’s victims and Rafe is a friend of Adam’s, so how will this play out as everyone was speculating that Rafe would be paired with Adam.
adriana says:
I am very dissapointed that Y & R is bringing on a gay relationship. I watched the show for 20 years and this will make me stop watching the show. I was O.K. with Rafe being gay as long a sexual act was not starting up on the show, but now the show is going in a wrong direction where morality does not exist anymore. Sincerely,
Adriana
Corey says:
Adriana – you must be a complete idiot and moron. You say the show is going in a direction where morality does not exist simply because they may or may not show same sex affection? MORALITY – on a soap opera – ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Yes, heterosexuals are moral and gays are sinners who go to hell, right. Lets take one case, Sharon for example, she was Married to Jack, but had sex with her ex husband Nick who was also married at the time, flirted with Brad and helped cause his death, had sex with Billy (Jack’s brother) on the rebound and kept stringing Jack along. REAL MORALITY there, she is a total whore, but I guess since she’s a straight woman, that’s just titilating to you, but two men expressing affection for each other is out of bounds. Your hypocracy, bigotry, and lack of intelligence is astonishing. I bet 20 years ago you would have been opposed to Lily and Cane being together too… sad!
Marion Emery says:
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Marion Emery says:
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