PRINTA history of LGBT characters
April 24, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Soap (1977-1981)
Billy Crystal played Jodie Dallas on the first TV show to feature an openly gay lead character.
Philadelphia (1993)
Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington made accessible this movie about an HIV-positive gay man and the law firm that fired him.
Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003)
Jack McPhee (Kerr Smith) came out in high school, and story lines developed about his various relationships.
Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
“It was really good in the way it covered violence against LGBT people but trans people specifically,” Prism board member Megan Lee says.
Queer As Folk (2000-2005)
The show changed the way any sexual relationships on TV could be portrayed, GLAAD entertainment media director Damon Romine says.
Frida (2002)
“Frida had a lot of relationships with both men and women, and they didn’t make a big to-do about it,” MU student Jennifer Miller says.
The Wire (2002-2008) “The Wire showed a diverse group of gay characters as far as race and also showed that gay people could be both cops and criminals,” Romine says.
Transamerica (2005) The movie showed the difficulties for a child with a trans parent, but, as Lee says, “it’s not the end of the world.”
Brothers & Sisters (2006-PRESENT)
The character Kevin and his love life share the spotlight, and there are many displays of physical affection, Romine says.
As the World Turns (2007)
The current teenage characters of Luke and Noah had the first kiss between two gay male teens on daytime TV.
