Adrian Anchondo talks timely ‘Law & Order’ about NYC’s gay-targeted attacks & calling Chris Meloni “daddy”
Law & Order franchise has a history of finding inspiration for its cases-of-the-week in real-world news and events. With its latest ripped-from-the-headlines gambit, the Organized Crime spin-off touches on a timely story with an urgent message for the LGBTQ+ community.In the episode, titled “TAG:GEN,” Detective Stabler (Christopher “Zaddy” Meloni) and his task force uncover a deadly robbery scheme targeting gay men in Hell’s Kitchen, one which Sergeant Bell (Danielle Moné Truitt) takes personally as an out lesbian.If that sounds familiar, that’s because L&O is directly referencing the series of reported drugging and robberies in New York City over the past few years, events which have left the queer nightlife scene on edge and resulted in the deaths of two gay men.Queerty favorite Adrian Anchondo also appears in the episode as Det.
Eric Geary, a closeted officer from another police squad, who links up with Stabler and Bell after he finds himself drugged by an unknown assailant.Ahead of “TAG:GEN’s” premiere, we caught up with Anchondo to learn all about what it was like to join Organized Crime for an episode that feels very personal to him.
Yes, it was a lot fun—as the actor reveals, there’s a scene where he gets to set up a Grindr-esque hookup app profile for Meloni—but Anchondo also opens up about the careful work that went into ensuring the procedural drama approached the real-life tragedy with sensitivity and authenticity.*Just before our interview began, we learned that three men had been charged in the drugging murders and robberies in Hell’s Kitchen, so our conversation begins with Anchondo’s reaction to the latest developments:ADRIAN ANCHONDO: It’s crazy to see that article; what crazy timing.
