As a gay person, we do [BLEEP] exist.
We've been here.
We're in the Latinx community.
I grew up being silenced.
I don't want to be silent anymore.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
One of the beautiful things about the Latinx list
is that you have 10 writers all come
from different experiences.
What drives you?
What's that push?
To me, my culture represents a north
star that I can kind of follow.
Like, I'm trying to be the artist both my parents
weren't allowed to be.
They know how complicated it is being Latinx in this country.
We've been here, we're indigenous, this is our home.
I feel like, now, people are willing to pay attention.
Hey what's up, everybody?
My name is Dominic Colón.
I am so excited to be interviewed today by my best
friend, my nonsexual life partner, Mr. Three-time Tony
award-nominee Robin De Jesús.
Ey, whaddup mi gente?
So, you wan to jump right in?
Let's jump right in.
How do you identify, culturally?
I identify as a Bronx born-and-bred,
NewYorRican, boricua, gay male.
How did your family end up here?
I wish it was more exciting.
Yeah.
They came over really early.
What were some of the opportunities
you got it because of them coming to the mainland?
My parents sacrificed everything for their children.
You know, I came of age in the late '80s, early '90s,
here, in the Bronx at the height of the crack epidemic.
They did everything to keep us, like, on the right path.
They were like, [BLEEP] you going to Catholic school.
[LAUGHS] Like, you are not--
I did one year of public school at the--
and we couldn't-- it wasn't like we could afford it.
Like, they would rob Peter to pay Paul.
Not rob, but you know what I'm saying.
Borrow from Peter to pay Paul.
Yeah, and it was one of those things where education was key.
And at the time I was like, y'all are horrible people.
Like, I couldn't get it.
I was like, why are you making go to catholic school?
But I'm so grateful that I did because Catholic school
really taught me discipline.
How would you say your family affected you as a writer today?
My family crazy!
They all crazy!
[LAUGHS]
[INTERPOSING VOICES] No, they--
Maria's not having that.
You can't say that.
Maria Colon, my mom.
I love you, Mom.
She's beautiful. She's--
She is beautiful.
Yeah.
And my dad, rest in peace, he's amazing.
I have siblings-- like, you know, they're beautiful people,
they're complicated people, they are people
who did their best with their experience,
like how they were raised.
And they were raised by complicated people.
Mm.
Does writing almost help you, in a way like,
heal the DNA trauma that's inherited?
I think-- I think, yes.
And it's cheaper than therapy.
You don't have to pay a co-payment.
[LAUGHS] No co-pay, no deductible, OK?
You get paid for it, I think.
Yeah, and I think that's one of the reasons
why I was a closet writer, you know what I'm saying?
Because, you know, it was so deeply personal for me.
I am very aware that I am not [INAUDIBLE] a look.
What struck me right now was you used the word "lonely."
Lonely?
Did I?
You said-- you said you don't feel lonely.
I don't feel lonely.
You don't.
But it's so interesting because, like, being a Latinx and gay,
I feel like, sometimes, there's an otherism that happens.
Yeah, but I-- well, yeah.
There is.
There totally is.
And I think if you asked Dominic now, do I feel lonely,
but I think that definitely took time.
Ten-year-old Dominic felt lonely, felt like another,
felt like he was the only one.
Throughout the journey of life, you know,
you come to know that those are lies.
Those are things that the society
tells us to break us down.
Those are things that we tell us, you know,
to break ourselves down because that's what we were taught.
But I feel like there is so much power in being an other.
One of the things that I write about is stepping
into your power, you know, is becoming the person
that you were meant to be.
How did everyone react when you came out as a writer?
I don't know if I ever did come out as a writer.
It was just kind of weird--
I think, even through the Latinx's they're like,
what's this?
Like, what?
You just-- so you're not home all day
waiting for all these people?
[LAUGHS]
Like, what are you talking about?
What about as an actor?
Well, I think as an actor--
you know, my mom has always pushed me.
My mom has always been my number one supporter.
My father was the silent supporter.
Like he didn't-- like, he was there.
He kind of showed up, he didn't really say too much.
But, like, it's interesting.
For a huge chunk of my life, like, I'd go to the barbershop
to get my haircut and they're like,
oh, your father was here the other day.
He was bragging about this and you wanna know--
and I'm like, well, you couldn't tell me that?
Where were, you know, for all this, you know?
But I love them, and I'm blessed,
and I'm grateful for them because they
made me the writer I am today.
So much of what you're saying is about--
is about the intersectionality of being
working class and Latinx.
Mm-hmm.
But what does it mean, specifically
to you, to be of Latinx decent?
First of all, when we talk about Latinx, it's not-- we're
not a monolith.
Me, being born and raised in the Bronx
and maybe not necessarily, you know,
having the connection to the island,
I can't take that away because of all of that--
it still lives within me.
There is no separation.
Do you speak Spanish?
I mean-- I'm not when [SPEAKING SPANISH] But, like--
[LAUGHS]
--I speak NewYorRican Spanglish, [BLEEP] up.
You know, but that's just because, like, I
don't have that confident yet.
Well, but also, it's really difficult
to have that confidence when there's
that shaming that shakes you. When you're shamed.
Yeah.
Yeah, you're absolutely shamed.
Or when your shame is like, you [BLEEP] speak horrible Spanish.
Your chopped up Span-- yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, you're not making me want to speak more Spanish
when you shame my Spanish.
I always feel like losing, like, your language is, sort of, the,
um--
the first, sort of, like, US transgression against us.
'Cause with that loss of language,
there can be a massive disconnect.
But even so, we've managed to work around it.
Well, I think there's, like-- what I have to say
is there's a lot of beauty that has come out of it.
Yes.
Spanglish is, is my languag--
Spanglish is beautiful.
Yeah, and it is beautiful.
And like, that's how I write.
Why are you a writer?
One of the beautiful things of humanity
is that we are all mirrors of each other.
And I feel like through the gift of storytelling,
We have the power to say, no.
It's OK.
There is always hope, there is always
redemption on the other side.
What is your show about?
So this show called, "Papi," half hour dramedy
about a closeted, bisexual, Barbara from the Bronx who,
on his 21st birthday, gets custody
of his six-year-old daughter.
The inspiration for "Papi" actually came from someone
who I met via a dating app.
Dating is very, very loosely defined.
A dating app.
Sucio!
There's so many rich things with-- you know,
within the context of this show.
We hit these really hardcore themes,
but my talent is to do it in a really funny way.
Well, we talked about this all the time.
Like, the largest ticket-buying demographic at the movie
theater are Latinos.
And I feel like they're the most underrepresented
in terms of those ratios. Yeah.
Hell yeah, you what I'm saying?
And when it comes to film and it comes to TV--
and now it's like, oh, well we got
to pay attention to Latinos.
Yeah, well we've been here.
And not only that, it's like, you know, our,
you know, our cultural palate is,
like, there's so many different ways to tell stories.
I feel like, now, people are willing to pay attention.
Yeah we need to continue providing opportunities
for Latinx creatives, and specifically, we
need to position Latinx folks in executive positions.
We need people who can sign the checks,
we need heads of corporations who
could make this stuff happen.
And this is one of the reasons why, even in the Latin--
I am so grateful for this experience
with the Latinx list.
Someone, a group of people, grabbed me by the hand,
put me on this list and said, pay attention to him.
You know what I literally heard in my head we said the hand.
[SINGING IN SPANISH]
[SINGING TOGETHER]
[LAUGHS]
We're stupid.
With that awareness and knowledge and power,
how do we uplift our Latinx LGBTQIA community?
Tell the stories. Mm-hmm.
Tell the stor-- Festival.
Tell the stories.
Tell the truth.
You know, people need to see themselves modeled.
Yeah.
You know, and that's the only way all of that negative banter
and stuff that society tends to put
on you-- that's the only way that they can change.
Yeah.
I love that.
So we are out of time.
Could we have-- well, we can't do round of applause for Robin.
But Robin, thank you so much for doing this.
I love you. You're my best friend.
I love you, boo, I always got you.
Your art, I love, love you so much.
And thank you, to all, for tuning in and celebrating
Latinx heritage month with us.
As always, be sure to like, comment, and subscribe
to this channel for all the latest
updates about everything Hulu.
[SPEAKING SPANISH] All accents welcome.