Interview with Sarah Rice from "The Real World: Brooklyn"

AE: Do you think it's something that the producers intended to do with this season from the beginning?
SR: I hope so. When you put eight people together, no matter how intelligent they are or who they are, there's going to be drama and there's going to be fights and arguing. Even in families, people argue and drive each other crazy.

We did some of that, but I really wanted there to be a balance, to show that not all 21, 22, 23-year-olds just go out and party every night. All of us are really career-driven and I think that's what they looked for. People who, regardless of the show, were going to be successful in their own lives because they're just driven people.

The cast of The Real World: Brooklyn

AE: This season you were able to pick your own work, right?
SR: Yes we did. We all pursued our own careers while we were out there.

AE: How did you go about choosing what you wanted to do?
SR: Well, it was what I am in school to do. I happened to come across the center, The Gay and Lesbian Center in New York, and spoke with the people in charge of their programming. They noticed, too, that they were lacking in art programs. They had a few, but they wanted to do more therapy, wanted to get people more talking about their lives. I don't want to put the word therapy on it, but more of an art class where you learn about yourself. They thought I'd be a good fit, so I worked on a curriculum and started an art therapy program there.

It was awesome. It was gay, straight, old people, young people, whatever. It was really a great opportunity to work with a bunch of different people from different backgrounds and do what I plan to do for the rest of my life, or at least for a good part of it.

AE: Do you think this season will be pretty gay?
SR: Well, the funny thing is, I've had a lot of questions about that because of my past, but I know for me, it doesn't really come up as an issue. There was never any animosity or hatred between anybody in the house because of their sexuality. The season is just as gay as it is straight.

I'm with my boyfriend now and I was with him for the whole show. People always want to ask me "Are you bisexual? Are you straight? Are you gay?" I've gotten so many of those questions, and I don't even know myself how to answer that. All I know is I'm in a straight relationship that I'm very happy in, and I never turned down the idea of dating women. I never turned down the idea of dating guys in the past. Women were who I fell in love with before.

But on the internet, they want to say things like "Oh she was a lesbian." But no, I feel like you fall in love with who you love with. If it's a girl, it's a girl. If it's a guy, it's a guy.

AE: Did you ever talk about it on the show?
SR: It was never an issue. Of course people are curious, especially straight guys. Because I would never, ever make out with other girls in front of people. I wouldn't do that, that's not me. If anything, I'll kiss a girl but behind a closed door because I was embarrassed and didn't want other people to watch.

The guys ask "Do you just hook up with girls at party and stuff?" No, I never did that — never ever. That's not me.

AE: So we won't see you in a hot tub making out with your girl roommates when you're drunk?
SR: Definitely not. That's something I don't think I'm sad to give away. I'm in a very monogamous relationship. When you love someone, it's not really that difficult to go three months without doing anything.