This year, ABC's Grey's Anatomy decided to add a new character to its cast. Enter Dr. Nico Kim, the series’ first gay male surgeon, played by Alex Landi.

 

Well, this past week was a big episode in the doctor's story arc, and it included the coming out of another character. Surgical intern Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli, pictured above, left, with Landi) told Kim he is also gay. The moment included a passionate kiss.

 

But there's even bigger news. Borelli took the opportunity, following the West Coast airing of the episode, to come out publicly as well.

 

“As a gay guy myself, tonight’s episode was so special to me,” he wrote on Instagram. “This is exactly the kind of story I craved as a young gay kid growing up in Ohio, and it blows my mind that I’m able to bring life to Dr. Levi Schmitt as he begins to grapple with his own sexuality this season on Grey’s Anatomy.”

 

 

The actor said he's been out to family and friends for some time, but felt it was time to share his sexuality with fans.

 

“My dad said, ’When you have a truth about yourself and you finally have the courage to speak up and share that truth, a weight gets lifted,'” Borelli explained. “I knew in that moment this is the right thing to do. This is bigger than me.”

 

“For people who are watching, I hope it can inspire them to tell their truth, whatever that may be. It doesn’t have to be about being gay. It’s just about being honest,” he added.

 

“I was fortunate enough to grow up in a time that had Grey’s Anatomy as a show and had shows like Glee and Will and Grace. I had all these giant, iconic television shows telling me that it’s ok to be gay, it’s ok to be out, and growing up in that environment for the last 10 years had made it a little bit more of a welcoming environment for me to come out right now.”

 

Here's hoping for some steamy sex scenes!