The actor opens up about saying farewell to a character he's played for seven years, the similarities he's had with his Levi Schmitt and how the political climate is villainizing queer people.

"I think it's so beautiful to see two gay men in a loving relationship like this, where they are willing to take huge leaps of faith for one another," Borelli tells PEOPLE

This interview contains spoilers for "If You Leave," the Nov. 14 episode of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy." After eight seasons and more than 130 episodes of "Grey's Anatomy," Dr. Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli) has wrapped up his residency at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

While Grey’s Anatomy character Levi Schmitt has been unapologetically himself through his career at Grey Sloan Memorial, it took actor Jake Borelli more convincing. “I had so much trepidation. I almost said no to Krista [Vernoff,