'9-1-1: Lone Star' Actor Shares Why Coming Out As Bisexual Was Important
"9-1-1: Lone Star" actor Ronen Rubinstein, who plays T.K. Strand, an openly gay firefighter on the show, explains why LGBTQ representation on television could not be more timely for the world.
Rubinstein, who recently came out as bisexual this year, opened up about his "really beautiful and well-paced relationship" with the show in a new interview with ET Canada.
"Now, more than ever, we need to showcase those people on a wide spectrum like network television," Rubinstein told ET Canada. "We have access to so many people that are seeing themselves for the first time ever."
"Lone Star" features a diverse representation of characters, including African-American, Latino, Muslim, gay and transgender storylines that rise above the usual tropes.
"It's extremely important, especially with everything that is going on in the world and our country," said Rubinstein, who says his coming-out announcement couldn't have come at a better time.
"It was a beautiful mixture of playing T.K. and the safe, welcome, inclusive environment I was in," he explained. "And then the fans. The last kick in the ass for me to be brave was the fans. A lot of them are kids, are young, and I have been connecting with them for over two years. I hear their extremely personal and intimate stories. They felt like they are able to open up to me. I felt like the least I could do is be honest with them and open up to them."