Doug Witter's character constantly denied he was gay through most of the show but he finally came to terms with his relationship with Jack in the final episode of the series.
This show was groundbreaking in that it was the first American nighttime drama to have a core character as a homosexual. During the show's run, however, Steven's sexual identity became very muddled, as he became involved mostly with women; a few times, he would have relationships with men.
Lee was a high-camp television producer who was generally well liked and resepcted by the show's other characters, and was a popular character with the show's viewers.
Vicky was a bitchy journalist who became popular cult figure among the show's fans. In the first episode of the series she engaged in a lesbian kiss.
Don was a dependable lawyer widely popular with the show's other characters. He enjoyed several gay relationships over the course of the series, the most enduring with Dudley Butterfield, who was a camp and flighty caterer and fan of old films. In later storylines Dudley straightened-out somewhat, was revealed as bisexual, and later embarked on relationships with women.
All My Children has always been a pioneer in controversial issues, like homosexuality. The first gay character on daytime serials was introduced in 1982, although she never got a love interest. The character of Bianca came out in late 2000, and after a very long time, her mother, Erica Kane, started to accept it. In 2003, ratings rose nearly half a percentage point when news was leaked out that Riegel and Sosnovska were to share daytime's first lesbian kiss. Sosnovska's character's sexuality was subject to interpretation, although she was quoted as saying that "men were for business and women were for pleasure".
Months of story came to a climax in episodes in which Reverend Carpenter, who had been accused of having a seuxal relationship with Billy Douglas, brought the AIDS Quilt to rest on the lawn of the Llanview Church.
First gay story in the show's 40+ year history. Previously paired with Candice Stowe (Nikki Sanderson) and Sarah Louise Platt (Tina O'Brien), Todd became very confused with his sexuality and kissed Sarah Lou's brother Nick; naysayers argue that the storyline was ill-formed and rewrites the character of Todd completely.
The first gay male character on American soaps was seen on, arguably, the most conservative serial. The storyline in question was supposed to involve Hank going through the process of AIDS diagnosis, but the storyline was switched to his lover, Charles, who was not seen for most of the time Hank was on the show. Head writer Douglas Marland was praised for the story and the soap won the 1990 GLAAD Media Award.
Reality-based Series
The following reality TV programs include central LGBT themes or cast members.
Marcellas, while in the house, said right before crying that he was going to "pull a Bunky", as Bunky had become emotional many times throughout the course of Big Brother 2. In a "Where Are They Now?" special, Bunky rebuffed Marcellas, implying that he was much less effeminate that Marcellas, saying that he was not a "cashmere and pearls kind of gay".
Other Programs with notable LGBT themes or characters
Are You Being Served? (implicit homosexuality of senior sales staff member Wilberforce Claiborne Humphries, usually just called "Mr. Humphries", played by John Inman.)
Beavis and Butthead, (where both Beavis and Butthead fairly commonly express romantic interest in a character named "Todd").
About Gay Movies (http://www.aboutgaymovies.info/): Compendium of LGBT-themed movies and television series. With reviews, pictures, wallpapers, forum, glbt filmfestivals, gay movie history, sweepstakes and more
Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Television Characters (http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~wyatt/tv-characters.html): Compendium of English-language LGBT-related television; current as of 2001.
Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual TelevisionCharacters - According to the author David A. Wyatt, "To be listed a character should have appeared in at least three episodes and be explicitly gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans-gendered.
Gay and Lesbian Milestones on TV - Lists occurrences of Gay and Lesbian Characters gathered by the Religious Tolerance Group that have appeared on television beginning from 1972.
The transformations from actress into character are illustrated with before and after shots and, wherever possible, with behind the scenes shots of the makeup process.
Feeds |
Contact