{"id":3957,"date":"2021-06-24T10:27:37","date_gmt":"2021-06-24T14:27:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluedoor.ca\/?p=3957"},"modified":"2023-08-03T16:09:52","modified_gmt":"2023-08-03T20:09:52","slug":"degrassi-stars-adamo-ruggiero-and-ana-golja-look-back-on-playing-2slgbtq-characters-on-screen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluedoor.ca\/degrassi-stars-adamo-ruggiero-and-ana-golja-look-back-on-playing-2slgbtq-characters-on-screen\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Degrassi\u2019 Stars Adamo Ruggiero And Ana Golja Look Back On Playing 2SLGBTQ+ Characters On-Screen"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n

Watch the full conversation with Ruggiero and Golja.<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
In honour of Pride<\/a>\u00a0month, ET Canada\u2019s Carlos Bustamante joined former \u201cDegrassi\u201d stars Adamo Ruggiero and Ana Golja to reflect on their 2SLGBTQ+ roles they played on the iconic Canadian series, as part of an initiative that supports 2SLGBTQ+ youth.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

While ET Canada and Corus Entertainment have already donated $5,000 to Blue Door\u2019s INN-Clusion program, which provides safe temporary housing for homeless 2SLGBTQ+ youth, Ruggiero and Golja explain why the organization still needs your help.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came out also through Marco, so, you know, we kind of grew up together and we figured it out together. It was incredible that the show at that time was able to start that conversation \u2013 so I see Marco often as a conversation starter,\u201d Ruggiero recalled. \u201cNow, over the last 20 years, to see how that conversation has progressed is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur community is so much more diverse than what just Marco was. Marco was this tiny little piece \u2013 and I\u2019m so grateful for him, and many young people are grateful to him, \u2019cause now we\u2019re exploring what it\u2019s like to be all aspects of the 2SLGBTQ+ community,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cHearing the stories from the fans is the most rewarding part of being on \u2018Degrassi,\u201d Golja chimed in.<\/p>\n

She continued: \u201cThose are why I do what I do \u2013 to have that kind of impact especially on young people at such a delicate age, and at such a very delicate time too. It\u2019s just, really, the biggest honour I\u2019ve had in my career to date.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really saw Zoe struggle with that. You really saw her battle in her home. You saw that connection between her and her mother, and how she wasn\u2019t accepted by her mother,\u201d Golja stated. \u201cI think that\u2019s something that a lot of children deal with, a lot of youth deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why Blue Door, a not-for-profit proving emergency support for the homeless in Ontario\u2019s York Region, has launched their \u201cINN-Clusion\u201d initiative, creating a dedicated safe space for 2SLGBTQ+ youth where they can heal from trauma and search for permanent housing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think for a lot of 2SLGBTQ+ people, that home\u2019s not safe and outside\u2019s not safe. there\u2019s like nowhere safe to go. That\u2019s really very terrifying,\u201d said Ruggiero.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing your true, authentic self shouldn\u2019t be a privilege. It should be a standard. It should be a given and I think everyone should do what they can, should do their part to make sure that everyone is able to, to be their true selves in a safe space,\u201d Golja added.<\/p>\n

Fans and viewers can donate now by visiting\u00a0BlueDoor.ca<\/a>, or by texting PRIDE to 437.500.6441.<\/p>\n

Watch our full conversation with Ruggiero and Golja.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

June 23, 2021, By: Alyssa Croezen, ET Canada, Original Article Watch the full conversation with Ruggiero and Golja. In honour of Pride\u00a0month, ET Canada\u2019s Carlos Bustamante joined former \u201cDegrassi\u201d stars Adamo Ruggiero and Ana Golja to reflect on their 2SLGBTQ+ roles they played on the iconic Canadian series, as part of an initiative that supports […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3959,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t