Grey's Anatomy actress Sara Ramirez came out as bisexual in a speech at the True Colors: 40 to None Summit in Los Angeles on October 8. Ramirez made the revelation while talking about homelessness among LGBT youth.
"So many of our youth experiencing homelessness are youth whose lives touch on many intersections—whether they be gender identity, gender expression, race, class, sexual orientation, religion, citizenship status," she said in her speech, the transcript of which was posted on her Twitter page.
"And, because of the intersections that exist in my own life: Woman, multi-racial woman, woman of color, queer, bisexual, Mexican-Irish American, immigrant, and raised by families heavily rooted in Catholicism on both my Mexican and Irish sides, I am deeply invested in projects that allow our youth's voices to be heard, and that support our youth in owning their own complex narratives so that we can show up for them in the ways they need us to," she said.
Interestingly, Ramirez -- who is married to longtime partner Ryan DeBolt -- played a bisexual character named Callie on Grey's Anatomy before quitting the show after Season 12. It is not immediately known if her former castmates knew about her sexual orientation, but Ramirez is thankful that her on-screen character has helped women come to terms with their sexual orientation.
Asked how she thinks the gay community has responded to Callie, Ramirez told the Daily Telegraph that the feedback has been "appreciative, overwhelmed with gratitude."
"Women have written, saying, 'Thank you for representing a journey that I was ashamed of going through, scared to go through, scared to admit to myself I was going through'. People (who) can now go to their parents and be, like, 'This is who I am, and I love myself and it is OK. There is nothing wrong with me.'"
