When Jake Borelli landed the role of Dr. Levi Schmitt on Greys Anatomy , he hoped his performance would inspire others. What the actor didnt expect, however, was to feel inspired himself.

The 27-year-old first joined the cast of the smash ABC series last year in what he assumed would be a two-episode spot, but became a mainstay of the show as his character was expanded over the course of Season 14. Nearly a year later, hes part of Season 15s most buzzed -about plotline and a series first: a romance between two gay male doctors.

Like other Shonda Rimes-created shows, Greys Anatomy has never skimped on the sex, and the relationship between the endearingly awkward Schmitt aka Glasses and Dr. Nico Kim (played by Alex Landi ) is no exception thus far. The tension between the two began to simmer with stolen glances and a literal wink early in Season 15 and exploded with a steamy elevator kiss in the Nov. 1 episode, Flowers Grow Out of My Grave. The Nov. 15 midseason finale, Blowin in the Wind, found them escaping a windstorm for an ambulance rendezvous.

Borelli, meanwhile, used his characters journey as an opportunity to acknowledge his real-life sexuality in an impeccably timed Instagram post. As a gay guy myself, tonights episode was so special to me, he wrote on Instagram, just moments after Flowers Grow Out of My Grave aired. To all of you who feel like little Levis out there, know that I do too, that you are seen, and that were all in this together.