Playing the priest on 'Oz' was a fantastic experience. I was very lucky.

Usually, when you are an ethnic person or a trans person, in your average, everyday, unsophisticated television show, you are there for that reason. And they clearly justify and overexplain why. You very rarely see a transgender actor playing the part of a grocery-store clerk without having to say, 'Oh, look at that trans person.'

If I were to limit myself to the opportunities that were presented playing only Chinese-American parts, I would be virtually without a career.

Writing is an incredibly creatively empowering experience for me. It is the place where nobody tries to control what I'm doing.

I realize it's a cliche almost, that coming out of the closet is a very healthy and empowering thing to do, but for me, it really has been a truly wonderful thing.

Asian people are very practical and come from a conservative world. The parents want their kids to be doctors and lawyers. There are casting calls for Asian children, but once the parents find out the children might miss school, they're opposed to it.