I chatted up "Grey's Anatomy" star T.R. Knight Saturday night at the GLAAD Media Awards in Hollywood and wondered how much his life has change since a year ago when he was given one of the most heart-felt standing ovations in the history of the event.

"That was embarrassing," T.R. said.

But it shouldn't have been. People, myself included, we applauding him for his grace under fire. For matter-of-factly coming out after former co-star Isaiah Washington used the f-bomb, referring to T.R., during an on-set squirmish with Patrick Dempsey.

So how has his life changed since a year ago?

"In many ways that I'm still trying to figure out I guess," T.R. said. "The obvious change is I'm seeing somebody now, that's different from last year."

He was referring to boyfriend Mark Cornelsen who was standing patiently nearby as T.R. did press before the awards. There have been lots of photos of the couple popping up on various sites and I wondered if this was a pain in the neck: "Most of the time you're not aware that people are taking photos when they do unless they're obvious and being very stinky about it."

A few pesky photogs aree nothing though compared to the good that has come of his higher profile as an openly gay television star: "I've been lucky to have been invited to lend my voice in support of organizations that I believe in and IK look forward to doing that more. I want to concentrate on helping illicit change. I look outward a lot more."