Tucky Willams, actress and creator of the web series Girl/Girl Scene, has been open about both her sexual orientation and her epilepsy. Living and acting in Lexington, Ky., Williams created Girl/Girl Scene to promote solidarity among other young gay women who she feels are underrepresented in TV.
In the second season of her series, Williams tackles a new personal matterwhat it is like to live with epilepsy. With Girl/Girl Scene starting again next month, Williams chatted with Windy City Times about how being gay and being epileptic have had similar effects on her life.
Windy City Times: Hey, Tucky. Thanks for taking the time to talk. You have spoken about having a "coming out" with your epilepsy. Can you tell us a bit about how this happened?
Tucky Williams: One of the things when I was making Joe [a previous film]I never really talked about being gay. That was something throughout my life. It was never a secret, but when people would find out it was like, "Oh, Okay."
And then with epilepsy, I sort of felt the same way. People are very accommodating and very understanding, just like when I came out [as gay]. They wouldn't say anything but you kind of get the feeling that somebody thinks something and they're just not saying it out loudsort of like with homophobia. I've never experienced it here in Kentucky because they don't say it to my face.
WCT: Did you ever feel you were treated differently because of your epilepsy?
Tucky Williams: It's so hard to tell. I think people have the opportunity to treat me differently and judge me for both of my epilepsy and being gay. The funny thing is that I know there are actors and actresses in Hollywood who have epilepsy, and it's like the gay thingthey don't talk about it.
WCT: Did you have a coming out with your epilepsy as some do when they come out about being gay?
Tucky Williams: I just had a seizure two years ago, and I never kept it a secret. I had to let everyone know about it because they were freaking out when I would have a seizure. They were calling 911, and basically people lose it when they see that happen to somebody. And I had to tell as many people as I could what to do if I had one. I had to tell all my friends because I needed them to tell all the strangers to stay away from me. A seizure lasts only two or three minutes, and in those two or three minutes, everyone who doesn't know you sees it happening. I had to tell my friends to keep everyone away from me, don't call 911, and if someone does call 911, get me the hell out of there.
WCT: Have you ever felt directly stigmatized as an actor?
Tucky Williams: People can judge me acting-wise and say, "Oh, well she can't play this part because she's a lesbian," when of course I can play it, of course I can be interested in my character. I feel like a part that might require more intense action people might think, "She's sick, she can't do that," when I'm not sick at all.
WCT: Can you talk a bit about your advocacy work?
Tucky Williams: Mostly I'm speaking about [my epilepsy] in every interview I can. Suddenly, since our press release, I'm talking about it all the time. And I get these messages constantly through email and Facebook, and really everyone is reaching out and talking about epilepsy and their families. I'm really happy to be talking about it. I'm thrilled! I'm kind of proud how much I've accomplished, and with my new epilepsy work on top of that, I feel really proud. It is like the gay thing because before nobody had any idea I was a lesbian, and it would never come up and now, with epilepsy, it would have never occurred to them that I have epilepsy. Now everyone knows I'm gay and I have epilepsy. And they can openly talk with me about both and relate to me on both those levels.
WCT: How has your epilepsy influenced you creatively with "Girl/Girl Scene"?
Tucky Williams: Epilepsy plays a huge part in season two of my show. I really go there with it. I don't want to ruin any surprises, but something happens to my character. You write what you know, and this is really something I can dig deeply into. People are going to learn a lot.
WTC: Would you say "Girl/Girl Scene" is turning into a form of advocacy?
Tucky Williams: My show has always been a form of advocacy for young gay women. It's always going to be that way. This is a different kind of advocacy now. The show portrays it honestly and in an educating manner. To see my character deal with this and go through the strugglesthat's what going to help people.
WCT: What do you hope to accomplish?
Tucky Williams: My goal with this is to inspire other people, especially young gay girls. That's who I get mail from the most. People sending me messages saying I helped them in coming out. It's really incredible. I want to be the voice for girls like me who are not represented on TV. I've never felt I was being represented as a gay woman, and I really hope to accomplish this in my show. Season two is beautiful and sexy and you're going go nuts over it. It really is Sex in the City with lesbians.
To watch episodes of "Girl/Girl Scene" and learn more, visit www.GirlGirlScene.com .