Wowlebrity Wilson Cruz (so great on the new Star Trek: Discovery!) spoke on the red carpet of GLSEN’s annual Respect Awards at the Beverly Wilshire hotel about being offered “help” by at least one older gay Hollywood exec back when he was a young actor looking for a break.

via Queerty:

“I mean, early on when I was a little twink there were people who made suggestions about how they could help me,” he said. “And you know, clearly I didn’t take them up on that because I would be far more famous than I am now!”

“I did not take them up on it, but it was uncomfortable,” he said. “I was in my 20s, and I thought: ‘Is this what one does?’ And also: ‘Am I going to ruin my career by not doing it?’ In the end, I politely said no and kept on my way.”

“But, you know, it definitely happens. I think it’s been quietly accepted as the norm in a lot of ways. People are like: ‘Oh, it happens’ and you brush it off. [But] I didn’t feel safe. I was trying to maneuver my way through Hollywood as an openly gay actor and there weren’t many examples for me at the time. I was juggling a lot of worries.”

(Photos: Pacific Coast News)