“But I definitely think that showing hot, disabled sex was on the agenda.”
“I feel like society castrates disabled people at birth,” he says.
RYAN O’CONNELL:Oh, the hardest part?
Noted ‘wallflower at the orgy’ Julian (Ryan O’Connell) flanked by seafood towers in ‘Queer as Folk’.Alyssa Moran/Peacock
That’s so interesting.
Well I did have to have fake sex with Nyle DiMarco, which
Awwww….
I know, I know.
Marvin (Eric Graise) finding his horny light in ‘Queer as Folk’.Peacock
Don’t cry for me, Argentina.
But sex scenes are uncomfortable.
The rumors are true.
Ryan O’Connell and Johnny Sibily in ‘Queer as Folk’.Peacock
But Nyle was so, so sweet and so generous.
And of course I was very nervous.
It’s always humbling.
And in writing the episode, were there any challenges for you there?
I think the challenge was just making sure I got things right, especially from Nyle’s perspective.
Did you bring any of your personal history into this story?
I relate to the anxiety that Julian feels occupying a space at a sex party.
I identify as definitely being a wallflower at the orgy.
So that definitely felt autobiographical.
What was the atmosphere like on the set the day of that sex party shoot?
I think it just felt very liberating, to be honest.
When has a group of disabled people been encouraged to just be their sexiest, most empowered selves?
Sometimes I don’t even give myself permission to feel things until I write about them.
You know what I mean?
Now, the episode is titled “F– Disabled People,” which is a little provocative.
Was there any pushback against that?
No, of course not.
It’s a f—ing joke.
They don’t quite know how to be.
And it feels good because it’s coming from me, an actual disabled person.
It might hit different coming from an able-bodied writer.
But to me, I thought it was just a very funny play on words and a funny mistake.
Is there anything in particular you want viewers to pay attention to with this episode?
And why is that?
Why have we never been seen this way?
Why is it groundbreaking?
So much of the stuff that I do, I’m like, “Why is this groundbreaking?”
It shouldn’t be, and you should examine that.
Why are we having this interview?
Do you know what I mean?
No shade to this interview.
But it’s just frustrating, and I want people to really think about that and why that is.
Do you have any future plans for more disabled sex on TV?
Oh, honey, disabled gay sex is my muse.
Always has been, always will.
So yeah, I got some things.
I will die on the gay, disabled, anal sex hill, honey.
You’ll have to bury me there.
It’s called being a hero.
I’m an activist.
That’s such a good question.
And it’s going to sound so LOL.
Because I know it sounds LOL why am I wishing for so little?
That, to me, honestly, is like, “representation matters,” truly.
And that’s what I want.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Queer as Folkpremieres June 9 on Peacock.
