“I wasn’t out, and I wasn’t ready to be out, but I had a boyfriend,” he recalled. “I had this dream that I was gonna land the winning run, ski up to him, and kiss him. And then that was gonna be my coming out to everybody, and my silent protest. But it didn’t happen.”
So, he felt connected to another Heated Rivalry character, hockey star Scott Hunter (François Arnaud), who publicly comes out as gay after reuniting with and kissing ex Kip Grady (Robbie G.K.) on the ice after winning the Cup in episode five.
“I really related to him,” Gus reflected. “He wanted to be out, but really, just truly felt like he couldn’t be, because of his circumstances. That was me for so many years. I had the same yearning—to be in love, to be public, and to not have to hide.”
