DeGrassi: The Next Generation - Marco del Rossi

Marco Del Rossi (Adamo Ruggiero)
Show: Degrassi: The Next Generation
Year Introduced: 2002

Bio: We first meet Marco as a student at Degrassi High School.  After trying to date Ellie, Marco realizes he is more attracted to men.  He struggles with his sexual feelings, but eventually accepts that he is gay and begins to date Dylan, though their relationship is on-again-off-again for the next couple of seasons.  He comes out to his mother, but they both agree not to tell his homophobic father until much later. When Marco finally does, his father says he doesn’t want to know about this part of his son.  We later see Marco go off to college and learn to deal with a gambling addiction, relationships, and loneliness.

Significance: Marco was one of the first characters to come out on a show aimed at children and teens. His coming out was handled with a lot of compassion and his character remained central throughout the rest of the time he was on the show.

Marco (left) & boyfriend Dylan