Spring Break
B.D. Wong Comes To UConn
Jenny Barrows
Issue date: 3/21/06 Section: Focus
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After being introduced by Jeff Walton of the AsACC, Wong came out asking an essential question concerning the back room of the Student Union Theater meant for guest-speakers.
"What if I was like sleeping or shooting up in there?"
Wong briefly reflected on his past speaking experience at UConn in 1999, when he was first beginning his career as a speaker, and thanked the various organizations that pushed for his appearance for inviting him back.
"I'm an Asian American, gay, theater nerd," Wong declared as he began his lecture. He reflected on how important it is for different cultural and demographic groups to intermix.
"I encourage groups to cross-pollinate," Wong said, as he praised UConn for hosting all three groups, AsACC, the Rainbow Center and Drama Department at his dinner.
Wong described his key identities - his Asian American heritage, homosexuality and life as an actor as the "three most identifiable and arguably most important parts of myself."
Wong grew up in San Francisco, where the gay and Asian American cultures thrive. Wong described his early desire to become an actor.
"Very early on in my life, I discovered a sense of creativity," Wong said. "I was not like the other boys ... I was much more about making things, reading and such."
Wong knew that there was such a thing as an "artist" out there but he was not sure what it meant; he just knew he wanted to be one. This was even reflected in a childhood Halloween costume.
Wong described his childhood and teenage self as "a ham, a performer." He described himself as the kid who always got the bit solos in elementary school choir and the teenager who emceed events.
"I was so outgoing and extroverted ... I wanted to share my personality," Wong said.
Wong was the third generation of his family in America, but this did not remove him from the traditional views Asian American parents held concerning their children's futures. Wong claimed that his parents entertained his artistic expressions, but were absolutely set on him ultimately studying medicine or law. In high school, Wong discovered the thrill of being onstage.