September 6, 2016
Watch: Openly Gay 'How to Get Away With Murder' Star Accepts HRC Award
READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Openly gay actor Conrad Ricamora, who stars on ABC's "How to Get Away With Murder," accepted the Human Rights Campaign's Visibility Award over the weekend with an emotional acceptance speech.
Ricamora, 37, talked about coming out when he was a teen living in rural Florida and discussed playing Oliver, who is an HIV-positive character on "HTGAWM" - a network show that also stars Viola Davis.
"I will say that it's a little ironic to be getting the Visibility Award because so much of growing up as a kid was spent trying to be invisible," he said. "It was rough, not only being gay, but having the colored skin that I have. I was terrified that someone would see me as gay and I was also terrified that I would see myself for what I naturally was."
Ricamora said he's proud to play Oliver - the only openly gay Asian character on prime time TV and one of the few characters who are HIV-positive.
"I'm happy to be playing Oliver, and to be providing that visibility now not only for gay men, but also for gay men of color and HIV positive people," the actor said.
Last month Colton Haynes gave a moving speech when accepting his HRC Visibility Award.
Watch Ricamora's speech below.
