In his first interview since the show aired, PEOPLE.com spoke with Connor Paolo, 17, who plays Eric and asked him about portraying a gay teenager on television.

How does it feel to be playing a gay character on a popular TV show?
I'm an actor and it's a part. Being gay is nothing but another way to live your life. It's just who he is.

A lot of gay teens will be excited to see someone gay on the show. Are you ready for that?
I guess it's a possibility that fans could take Eric's coming into his own as a source of inspiration. He does it with a degree of gentility and self-respect. He doesn't make apologies for who he is.

Here is a clip from last night's shoiw when Eric comes out in front of everyone:

Did the fact that he tried to kill himself earlier have anything to do with being gay?
As the actor portraying Eric, I don't believe that I tried to commit suicide because of that. Eric is 14 so his decision to be gay could be permanent. It might not be. It's about finding yourself. At the moment, this is who he sees himself as ... that's very empowering.

How will the other characters react to the news? Everyone okay with it?
Each character has their own reaction. It does seem to create a rift between me and Jenny. Chuck steps up as big brother though.

So this brings out the nicer side of Chuck?
Eric's relationship with Chuck is a vehicle for seeing that he does have a good side. He can be a good person when duty calls. Chuck seems to really care about Eric. It's a time when Eric feels very alone. Chuck does not push him away as many other people are inclined to do. Eric gets to have a good time with Chuck. Most people have been coddling him because they think he's a suicide risk, Chuck is totally open to let Eric enjoy his life rather than try to preserve it.

When did you find out your character was gay?
I was told about a month ago. Two of the producers explained the situation. It seemed like a good thing. Up to this point, I've had a volatile role on the show. Sometimes, I'm there. Sometimes, I'm not. It's the producers giving me more screen time and a chance to prove myself as an actor -- so I wanted to make sure I delivered.

What helped you prepare for this episode?
I feel like I know Eric better than most people so I drew on my knowledge of the character. I did have some conversations with Stephanie [Savage, the executive producer] and Joe [Lazarov, also a producer] working out the ins and outs of how this developed.