www.queertoday.com

Interview Conducted April 20, 2002.
Danny (MTV’s Real World New Orleans)

Queertoday.com: When did you come out? How did you friends and family react?
Danny: I started my slow and gradual coming out process in my freshman year of college (1996) by being honest with my best friends and moving down the line over the rest of my college career by coming out to others. I didn't come out to my family until Dec. 1999 when I was about to do the show. My friends and family all took it well. Basically with my friends it was a non-issue. They're all open minded people and could care less. It was almost like I was coming out to them as being vegetarian. I've been very blessed w/ the people in my life. However, the toughest part of the coming out process is being honest with oneself. It took me many years to accept the fact that I'm gay and that didn't truly happen until I was about to graduate from college. It was easier for me to tell others that I felt that I was gay than it was for me to admit it to myself.

Queertoday: What was your reaction when you got chosen for the real world?
Danny: Shock, disbelief, terror..."what have I gotten myself into?" And of course, excitement. Mostly I felt terror knowing that I still had to come out to my parents. I had 3 weeks in between finding out and starting the filming process and in that period, I told my parents.

Queertoday: Why have you chosen to participate in Youth Pride Boston?
Danny: Mainly because I've never participated in Pride event and I feel this a good place to start since it's aimed at youth. I feel very responsible now for being a role-model and positive example to young people and what better place to show that?

Queertoday: Do you ever feel tokenized as the "gay spokesperson"?
Danny: Obviously one of the reasons that I was cast on the show is the fact that I'm gay. However, there are many other reasons and one of the points that I constantly push is that being gay is not and should not be the only aspect of ones personality that defines him/her. So therefore, no, I don't feel as if I'm the token gay in non-gay environments. Most of my friends aren't gay, So I’m very accustomed to being around non-gays. I like keeping my life diverse and that means spending time around people who aren't like myself and I never feel the need to announce my sexuality to those around me. It's often a non-issue, just as it should be.

Queertoday: What are your favorite things: food, music/band/singer, movies?
Danny:
favorite food: Gyoza
band/album: The Verve, "Urban Hymns"
Movies: American Beauty, Fight Club, The color Purple
Favorite books: Brave New World-Aldous Huxley
Uncle Tom's Cabin-Harriet B. Stowe

Queertoday: How do you feel about the current "war on terror"? And the Bush administration?
Danny: The war on Terror: Though I feel it is a necessity to seek out and destroy possible terrorists cells, I feel that many Americans naively think that we will be able to destroy them all and move on with life. That's very untrue. The fact is that terrorist threats will be a part of America's story from now on. It's a part of life. Americans live in this little safe bubble and most of us know very little about the outside world. The bubble is gone. Europeans accepted this many years ago as a part of daily life and understand that it's something out of their control. What we as Americans need to understand is that as long as wealth is unevenly distributed across the world and we use other nations for their resources and man-power...we will be attacked over and over and over again.

Queertoday: Have you made any lifelong friends during the Real World? Who did you get along with best?
Danny: I'm very good friends w/ Kelley...it's almost as she and I we're brother and sister. I also consider Melissa to be a good friend and we work together often.

Queertoday: What was the most amazing/cool place you traveled in your life? Tell us about that.
Danny: Our trip to Africa was with out a doubt the most amazing trip I’ve made to this point. It was incredible to see South A. at a point in history post-apartheid. It was also incredible to see so much nature still unspoiled and untouched by man.

Queertoday: What are some of your hobbies?
Danny: I spend much of my time outdoors. I enjoy hiking, camping and mountain biking. I also like to stay in shape so I run and lift weights. My other hobbies are my aquarium (which is a disaster right now), and my website, countrytoconcrete.org

Queertoday: Where are you living and what are you doing now? And where do you hope to live and hope to be doing 10 years from now?
Danny: Paul and I are in Seattle right now, mainly for the outdoors. It's a great city, but the weather is exactly what people say it is. I'm currently studying Sports massage therapy. 10 years from now, who knows. Who knows what will happen next year!?

Queertoday: Were you ever harassed in school or in public? How did you deal with it, and how do you recommend youth today deal with it?
Danny: I was never harassed in school anymore than most people. High school is a tough time and most people get teased at some point. That's what kids do, mainly because most kids are extremely insecure. My being teased however had nothing to do with my sexuality since my sexuality was never an issue at that point. The way to deal with harassment is keeping ones cool. Don't feed in to it be attacking back. Ignore those who do it since they're only doing it out of their own insecurities. Focus on being a better person by being positive, getting involved and developing your passions. Don't focus on negativity and don't let negative people bring you down. In the big picture of life, school years are such a short time and most of it doesn't matter that much anyhow.

Queer today: Could you give a little advice to the youth of Queertoday.com - maybe on coming out, being themselves, etc.?
Danny: The most important piece of advice I have for young people has to do with self-identity. Don't get too wrapped up in the fact that you're gay. Though it's an important part of who you are as a person, it's not all that you are. I see so many people out there who are so self-obsessed with being gay that they are nothing else than an empty gay shell. Focus on your passions and abilities whether it's sports, art, a hobby, whatever. Being gay is your sexuality, not who you are.

Queer today: Thanks so much Danny, Good Luck in everything, and we’ll see you at Youth Pride!
Danny: Thank you.

Danny Roberts