Rodiney Santiago: ‘The A-List’ Atlanta Interview

Now that the ‘A-List: New York‘ Season 2 is in full swing, we thought we’d revisit our interview with former Atlantan Rodiney Santiago…

You lived in Atlanta for a while. How did the gay capital of the south compare to New York City?

Yes, I lived in Atlanta to study English for 6 months and for me the gay community was very similar. It is a big community with a lot of pool parties during the summer and big fun charity events during the winter.

I enjoyed meeting new people and love how you can travel to any city in the USA and meet so many unique individuals in the gay community. I have made many friends and learned a lot about myself, and look forward to traveling the country meeting more people.

What are some of your favorite places to go in NYC?

Since I have only been in NYC for a 4 months, I really don’t have a favorite place yet. Every time I go out in NYC, I find something new that I like just as much as the last. It is such a big city, and it is going to take me some time to pick my favorites.

Currently I use the gym in my apartment building to workout. Some weekend I go to Fire Island to stay with friends or The Hamptons. It is a nice getaway from the busy city, always a good brunch and fresh air.

What were some of your favorite places to go in Atlanta?

In Atlanta I like to go to my friend’s homes to make dinners together. With a big Brazilian population I was able to connect with other Brazilians and even make some of my favorite food from Brazil with them. In Marietta there is a lot of Brazilian places to eat and shop, and so I would sometimes go up there too.

During the summer I liked the pool parties and walking around Piedmont Park, sometimes stopping at Blake’s for a drink. I worked out at LA Fitness near the Georgia Tech Campus. Everything was very convenient for me since I lived in the Midtown area of Atlanta.

How does Brazil’s gay culture to differ from America’s?

Brazilians are not as open as Americans about homosexuality. I think it is because it has such a large Catholic population. This makes Brazilian gay people more closeted. However, I think with time it is slowly getting better. We are a fun people that like to celebrate our culture and life.

With time I am noticing that gay people are becoming a lot more accepted than they were in the past. While America also seems to be conservative, I believe gay people here are very lucky that they have the right to be as open as they want to be. It is a very wonderful thing to have that equality and freedom.

How did the other cast members handle your accent?

It didn’t seem to be a big deal, but sometimes it is hard for me to pronounce some words and production couldn’t figure them out. But, if I slow down and repeat it tends to help. I have learned to try to relax about this, because that is the only way I will truly be able to learn the language, without fear.

Some people compare your show to a gay version of the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta.’ It even has the same producers.

Yes. It is similar, but with all guys it is a little different. But, yes… relationships are relationships, so it is very similar.