Gay characters and romanc on soap operas: Which are the bt? [POLL] - GoldDerby

Contents:

• 10 GAY, BISEXUAL & QUEER SOAP OPERA STARS WHO ARE OUT — & OUTSTANDG
• GENERAL HOSPAL: NIGHT SHIFT’S MATTER-OF-FACT GAY {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY MICHAEL JENSENSEPTEMBER 22, 2008/11:12 PMBY MICHAEL JENSENSEPTEMBER 22, 2008 / 11:12 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"GENERAL HOSPAL: NIGHT SHIFT’S MATTER-OF-FACT GAY ROMANCE","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-09-23T03:12:55.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-09-23T03:12:55.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"MICHAEL JENSEN","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ADAM GRIM, CHAD ALLEN (PHOTO CRED: SOAPNET/GETTY IMAG/DAVID LIVGSTON) {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN GENERAL HOSPAL: NIGHT SHIFT CID TO CLU A GAY CHARACTER AS WELL AS A GAY ROMANCE THEIR SEND SEASON, THEY ALSO CID THEY DIDN’T WANT THE STORYLE TO REVOLVE AROUND G OUT, HOMOPHOBIA, OR STGGL OVER SELF-ACCEPTANCE. IT WAS A GOOD LL ON THEIR PART AS NEHER CHAD ALLEN NOR ADAM GRIM WERE TERTED PLAYG THOSE SORTS OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND THE SOAP SERI HAS LARGELY LIVERED ON THAT PROMISE. DR. KYLE JULIAN, PLAYED BY GRIM, IS AN TERN AT PORT CHARL GENERAL HOSPAL AND WHILE HE FAC MANY ISSU – LONG HOURS, DIFFICULT PATIENTS, AND A TROUBLOME RELATNSHIP WH HIS BROTHER – KYLE’S SEXUAL ORIENTATN ISN’T ONE OF HIS PROBLEMS. WHICH ISN’T TOO SAY ’S HIDN AWAY OR PLETELY TROUBLE-EE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INED, OM KYLE’S VERY FIRST EPISO, HIS SEXUALY IS SOMETHG HANDLED VERY MATTER-OF-FACTLY, A TOPIC THAT UP AS NATURALLY AS ANY OTHER ASPECT OF HIS PERSONALY. NOT ONLY IS HIS BEG GAY NOT AN ISSUE FOR HIMSELF, ’S ALSO NOT ONE FOR HIS -WORKERS OR HIS IENDS, ALTHOUGH HIS PARENTS AREN'T QUE PERFECT WHEN TO THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT AS IS TE WH HIS IENDS, FAY, AND -WORKERS WHO ARE SGLE, KYLE’S DATG STAT IS A EQUENT TOPIC OF NVERSATN, PECIALLY WH CLAIRE (CARRIE SOUTHWORTH), HIS FELLOW TERN AND BT IEND. ON BOTH THE TELEVISN EPISOS, AS WELL AS ON SPECIAL WEBISOS SOLELY ABOUT KYLE AND CLAIRE, KYLE DISCS GUYS, NOTIC GUYS AND ON TONIGHT’S EPISO, STARTS TO FALL FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CLAIRE (CARRIE SOUTHWORTH) AND KYLE (ADAM GRIM){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALL GH:NS PICTUR URTY OF SOAPNET UNLS OTHERWISE NOTED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT CHARACTER IS NAMED ERIC WHLOW AND HE FDS HIMSELF GENERAL HOSPAL AWAG A LIVER TRANSPLANT. BUT ERIC ISN’T JT ANY PATIENT WH A SER ILLNS AS DITED BY THE ACTOR PLAYG THE PART: OUT GAY-FAVE CHAD ALLEN WHO HAS JOED THE SERI FOR A FOUR EPISO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} NDUCTED EXCLIVE ONSET TERVIEWS WH BOTH ALLEN AND GRIM ON ALLEN’S LAST DAY OF FILMG. INTERTGLY, THE TERVIEWS WERE JT PRR TO THE CHARACTERS FIRST KISS AND BOTH MEN WERE STUME. FOR GRIM THAT MEANT SURGIL SCBS WHILE ALLEN WAS RATHER DISTRACTGLY WEARG ONLY A TANK-TOP AND PAJAMA BOTTOMS MAKG THE ALREADY ATTRACTIVE ACTOR JT THAT MUCH MORE DISTRACTG TO TERVIEW. FOR THE RERD, NEHER ACTOR SEEMED TO THK THEIR IMPENDG KISS A PARTICULARLY BIG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MANY VIEWERS MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO SEE ALLEN, A VETERAN OF WORK TV SERI, THEATRIL MOVI, AND STAGE TAKG ON A SOAP OPERA ROLE. REGARDG THAT ALLEN SAID, “I HAVE TO ADM WHEN THEY LLED AND ASKED ME ABOUT GOG ON, I WAS UNSURE. I DIDN’T KNOW THE SHOW. I HAD NEVER DONE SOAPS BEFORE. I DIDN’T KNOW IF I’D WANT TO. I DIDN’T KNOW IF I’D LIKE . I TALKED TO SRI RAO [GH’S HEADWRER] WHO’S REALLY MTED TO PRENTG THIS RELATNSHIP BETWEEN KYLE AND ERIC JT LIKE EVERY OTHER RELATNSHIP THEY’VE PRENTED ON THIS SHOW. SO HE SAID HE WAS REALLY ADAMANT BE AN ADULT RELATNSHIP.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT WAS THE SAME FACTOR THAT ENTICED GRIM TO TAKE ON THE PART OF DR. KYLE JULIAN. GRIM TOLD , “ONE OF THE GREATT THGS THAT ATTRACTED ME [TO THE PART] IS APPROACHG THE [ROLE AS A] DOCTOR, A BROTHER, A PERSON WHO HAS THGS GOG ON HIS LIFE. A STUNT OF LIFE MOVG ON WHO HAPPENS TO BE GAY. NOT A GAY MAN FACG THIS CHALLENGE AND THE WHOLE STORYLE FOLLOWS THAT. I’M FDG NEW IENDS A NEW CY, LEARNG TO BE A DOCTOR, AND I’M GAY. IT’S NOT THE FOREONT. IT’S NOT WHAT DRIV .”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT GH:NS HEADWRER RAO TEND. HIMSELF AN OUT GAY MAN, RAO TOLD HE ADD THE CHARACTER OF KYLE TO THE SHOW BEE “GENERAL HOSPAL HAS BEEN ON THE AIR OVER FORTY FIVE YEARS. IT’S A LANDMARK SOAP OPERA, ’S PART OF TELEVISN HISTORY AND HAS NEVER HAD A SIGNIFINT GAY LEADG CHARACTER. I FELT WAS ABOUT DAMNED WELL TIME.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOW DID SRI THK ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF KYLE WHEN HE SAT DOWN TO WRE HIM? “I REALLY WANTED KYLE TO BE A WELL-ROUND CHARACTER,” SAID RAO. “I DIDN’T WANT TO TELL THE “ANGST-RIDN, NFLICTED GAY MAN” STORY BEE I FEEL, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT STORY TO TELL, WE’RE BEYOND THAT. IT ISN’T PELLG TO ME AS A WRER OR AS A VIEWER. I WANTED TO TELL AN TERTG STORY ABOUT A MAN WHO IS ALG WH HIS REER AND HIS RELATNSHIP WH HIS BROTHER [PLAYED BY ETHAN RAS, PICTURED RIGHT] AND HIS IEND AND HIS LOVE TERT AND WHO JT HAPPENS TO BE GAY.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CHAD ALLEN EXPLAED THAT HE LIKED THE ROLE OF ERIC BEE THAT CHARACTER WAS WRTEN THE SAME FASHN. ALLEN SAID HE’S “…A MATURE GAY GUY. NOT SOMEONE STGGLG WH HIS SEXUALY. OR WH PARENTS WHO DON’T LIKE HIM. WHAT I SENTIALLY HEARD WAS A GUY LIKE ME, WHO HAS GOOD HEALTHY DOSE OF ACCEPTANCE. WHO HAD A REAL LIFE AND I REALLY LIKED THAT IA. I WAS EXCED ABOUT THE IA WE ULD BRG A RELATNSHIP LIKE THAT TO THE SOAP DIENCE WHO HASN’T HAD A LOT OF THAT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ASKED ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF ERIC, ALLEN EXPLAED, “HE IS HIS EARLY 30’S, HE’S A TEACHER. HE LOV WHAT HE DO. HE HAS CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER, BUT NOT OM DRKG. IF HE DON’T GET A LIVER SOON, HE’LL DIE. HE’S A TOUGH SPOT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THGS AREN’T ALL DOOM AND GLOOM FOR ERIC. SAID ALLEN, “WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HIM IS THAT HE ISN’T OBSSED WH DYG. HE’S RELATIVELY GOOD TERMS WH THAT JT AS HE’S RELATIVELY GOOD TERMS WH WHO HE IS AS A PERSON. SO HE GETS TO BE PRENT HIS LIFE SO WHEN HE MEETS KYLE THERE ARE TOMATIC SPARKS THAT LIGHT UP AND HE ENJOYS THAT. IF HE’S GOG TO BE THE HOSPAL, AT LEAST HE GETS TO ENJOY THIS FEELG OF GETTG TO KNOW SOMEBODY.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OFTEN A STANDARD STAPLE OF STORYTELLG FOR GAY CHARACTERS IS THE TRANGED FAY. SUCH WON’T BE THE SE FOR ERIC. “THE VERY FIRST EPISO YOU MEET MY FAY,” SAID ALLEN. “MY PARENTS AND I HAVE A FANTASTIC RELATNSHIP. THEY LOVE ME. THIS EPISO MY MOTHER MAK A REFERENCE TO ‘OH, I ALWAYS WANTED MY SON TO MEET A GOOD DOCTOR.’ MOM’S EXCED ABOUT HER SON FDG A HAPPY RELATNSHIP WH A SUCCSFUL MAN AND THAT IS SOMETHG WE HAVEN’T SEEN A LOT OF. I THK THAT IS THE TERTG PLACE WERE GETTG TO. WHEN YOU MEET MY STRAIGHT SISTER, SHE IS THE ONE OUTSI OF HER FAY BEE OF SOME NEGATIVE CHOIC SHE’S MA. SHE’S BEEN OTED BY THE FAY AND THAT HAS TO HEAL.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALLEN ALSO APPRECIATED THAT ERIC AND KYLE’S RELATNSHIP ISN’T ONE THAT IS IMMEDIATELY NSUMMATED. “THEY REALLY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER,” SAID ALLEN. “THEY DON’T JT JUMP TO BED. THIS IS EPISO THREE AND WE’RE JT HAVG OUR FIRST KISS. KYLE IS A GOOD DOCTOR; HE WORRI ABOUT NOT CROSSG ANY APPROPRIATE BOUNDARI.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALLEN’S PECIALLY GLAD ABOUT THAT AS HE FEELS GAY VIEWERS DON’T OFTEN GET TO SEE THEMSELV PORTRAYED A ROMANTIC LIGHT. SAID ALLEN ABOUT THE UPLE, “WE REALLY GET THE OPPORTUNY TO EXPLORE SOMETHG THAT I THK GETS A LTLE B LOST THIS MORN ROMANCE AND THAT IS THAT LONGG. WHEN I FELL LOVE WH MY [REAL LIFE] PARTNER WE HAD A LONG PERD OF ROMANCE AND LONGG THAT DIDN’T CULMATE QUICKLY SEXUAL GRATIFITN OR ANY OF THOSE THGS. THAT IS KD OF WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THE TWO CHARACTERS AND THAT I THK IS WHAT MAK POSSIBLE THAT THEY REALLY ULD FALL LOVE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT’S THAT IA OF TWO MEN FALLG LOVE THAT ALLEN FDS SO REHG ABOUT GENERAL HOSPAL AS THERE ISN’T REALLY TOO MUCH ELSE UNUAL ABOUT KYLE AND ERIC. SAID ALLEN, “ANG LEE WHO DIRECTED BROKEBACK MOUNTA, THEY WERE ALWAYS ASKG HIM WHY HE WANTED TO TELL THAT STORY. HE KEPT SAYG WAS SUCH A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OM WHICH TO TELL A LOVE STORY THAT HADN’T BEEN OVERDONE. AND THAT IS THE WAY I FEEL. NOTHG REALLY NOVEL IS HAPPENG BETWEEN KYLE AND I. WE’RE TWO PEOPLE WHO E TOGETHER AND FD AN TENSE AMOUNT OF ATTRACTN AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND HELP EACH OTHER AND MAYBE HEAL EACH OTHER. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TWO PEOPLE FALL LOVE. WHAT ’S TERTG IS THE PERSPECTIVE OM WHICH WE GET TO TELL THAT STORY. THAT IS TWO MEN.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE OF ALLEN’S PASSNS THE DAYS, NOT JT AS AN ACTOR, BUT AS A PRODUCER, IS TELLG THOSE SORTS OF REAL STORI ABOUT GAY MEN. “I THK AS SOMEBODY WHO REALLY R ABOUT GAY STORYTELLG AND REALLY R ABOUT THE WAY WE ARE REPRENTED THE MEDIA. [WE’VE HAD] THE PROGRSN OF OUR OWN STORI BEG TOLD OM THE TIME WHEN WE WERE REALLY DARK, PRSG CHARACTERS TO BEG THE SI KICK FUNNY GUY WHO DIDN’T HAVE MUCH PTH TO THE AIDS DRAMAS OF THE 80S AND EARLY 90’S. NOW WE ARE REALLY TURNG A PAGE TERMS ON THE KD OF STORI WE N TELL WHICH ARE TLY NOT SO MUCH ANYMORE ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE GAY BUT ARE TELLG REALLY HUMAN DRAMAS WH CHARACTERS WHO HAPPEN TO BE GAY. AND THAT IS EXCG FOR ME.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BILL CRYSTAL ON SOAP, TOM HANKS PHILALPHIA, SEAN HAY ON WILL & {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GRIM ECHO THAT SENTIMENT. “I FEEL LIKE THE PAST SOMETIM GAY CHARACTERS WERE PRENTED AS THAT BEG THE DRIVG FORCE EVERYTHG THEY CI. AND THE GAY MEN THAT ARE MY IENDS MY LIFE, ’S NOT LIKE THAT. WE S DOWN AND TALK ABOUT BS AND THIS AND THIS AND EVENTUALLY RELATNSHIPS ALSO E UP NVERSATN.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GRIM, WHO IS STRAIGHT (A FACT NOT MENTNED IALLY BY HIM, BUT EARLIER BY ALLEN) THKS THAT APPROACH TO PLAYG THE CHARACTER AS NOT STEREOTYPILLY GAY IS ONE OF THE REASONS HE WON THE ROLE. “I THK ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF MY DN THAT THEY LIKED THE BT IS THAT I WASN’T PLAYG THAT HE WAS GAY. THAT WAS HOW I APPROACHED , THAT’S HOW I APPROACH EVERY SCENE. I PLAY THE SCENE AND EVERYTHG ELSE FALLS PLACE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVEN THOUGH ALLEN IS ONLY CURRENTLY SIGNED ON FOR FOUR EPISOS, MIGHT THERE BE A FUTURE FOR ERIC AND KYLE – ASSUMG ERIC GETS THAT LIVER TRANSPLANT? SAID ALLEN, “ALL DITNS ARE SO FAR THAT THE GUYS ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND HAVE A GENUE AFFECTN AND IS SAFE TO SAY THAT IF ERIC MAK THROUGH THIS, I DON’T SEE WHY THERE ISN’T A REAL SHOT OF THEIR MAKG .”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DO THAT MEAN ALLEN WOULD BE TERTED G BACK ON THE SHOW AS ERIC? “I WOULD,” HE SAID. “IT PENDS ON MY SCHLE AND SOME OTHER THGS I HAVE GOG ON.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF WORKG ON A SOAP, ALLEN ADMS TO HAVG HAD SOME TREPIDATN ABOUT . “I DID ONLY BEE I LIVED WH HEATHER TOM FOR YEARS AND I ED TO WATCH HER GET THE SCRIPTS LIVERED EVERY DAY AND HEARD HER PLATS. AS A THEATER ACTOR THAT DIDN’T SOUND THAT APPEALG.” THEN ALLEN ADD, “I LOVE HERE. I LOVE THE EXPERIENCE. I LOVE MAKG TELEVISN THIS WAY.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALLEN IS ALSO REVELG PLAYG A GAY CHARACTER, SOMETHG HE ONLY FIRST HAD THE CHANCE TO DO FOUR YEARS AGO. PLAYG GAY WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE REASON ALLEN JOED GH:NS. “I ACTUALLY WAS TALKED TO ABOUT JOG ANOTHER SOAP AT THE SAME TIME, BUT WAS PLAYG A STRAIGHT CHARACTER, WHICH WAS TERTG. BUT THIS SEEMED THE MOST TERTG CHARACTER AND THE MOST TERTG PROJECT FOR ME TO WORK ON. SO I SAID I’LL GIVE A SHOT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALLEN SAID PEOPLE OFTEN HAVE THE MISTAKEN IMPRSN HE’S PLAYED MORE GAY CHARACTERS THAN HE HAS. “PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME ARE YOU SICK OF PLAYG GAY CHARACTERS? I’M LIKE MY GOD! I’M JT STARTG. I HAVE ONLY HAD A HANDFUL OF THEM. THERE IS SO MUCH I WANT TO DO. THOUGH THAT ISN’T ALL THAT I WANT TO DO OR ALL THAT I DO. IT IS STILL THE MOST EXCG.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GENERAL HOSPAL: NIGHT SHIFT AIRS TUDAYS AT 11 PM ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

10 GAY, BISEXUAL & QUEER SOAP OPERA STARS WHO ARE OUT — & OUTSTANDG

Visibily is everythg for the LGBTQ muny and 2022 we’re seeg more of daytime, om The Young and the Rtls‘s same sex weddg May between lovebirds Tsa (Ca Fairbanks) and Mariah (Camryn Grim), to the villao Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) on Days of Our Liv who jt happens to be gay. On ABC’s General Hospal, there have been several gay characters, but the stg of Cassandra Jam as Terry Randolph broke new ground sce she was the first trans actor to play a trans character daytime televisn.

Dpe the shows dippg their to the water wh queer characters and storyl the 1990s — like Ryan Phillippe as groundbreakg gay teen Billy Douglas on “One Life to Live” om 1992 to 1993 — the show shied away om romance for s queer characters until the 21st century. As the dghter of Eri Kane (San Lucci), was the first time such an important legacy character was wrten to be gay.

GENERAL HOSPAL: NIGHT SHIFT’S MATTER-OF-FACT GAY {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY MICHAEL JENSENSEPTEMBER 22, 2008/11:12 PMBY MICHAEL JENSENSEPTEMBER 22, 2008 / 11:12 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"GENERAL HOSPAL: NIGHT SHIFT’S MATTER-OF-FACT GAY ROMANCE","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-09-23T03:12:55.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-09-23T03:12:55.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"MICHAEL JENSEN","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ADAM GRIM, CHAD ALLEN (PHOTO CRED: SOAPNET/GETTY IMAG/DAVID LIVGSTON) {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN GENERAL HOSPAL: NIGHT SHIFT CID TO CLU A GAY CHARACTER AS WELL AS A GAY ROMANCE THEIR SEND SEASON, THEY ALSO CID THEY DIDN’T WANT THE STORYLE TO REVOLVE AROUND G OUT, HOMOPHOBIA, OR STGGL OVER SELF-ACCEPTANCE. IT WAS A GOOD LL ON THEIR PART AS NEHER CHAD ALLEN NOR ADAM GRIM WERE TERTED PLAYG THOSE SORTS OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND THE SOAP SERI HAS LARGELY LIVERED ON THAT PROMISE. DR. KYLE JULIAN, PLAYED BY GRIM, IS AN TERN AT PORT CHARL GENERAL HOSPAL AND WHILE HE FAC MANY ISSU – LONG HOURS, DIFFICULT PATIENTS, AND A TROUBLOME RELATNSHIP WH HIS BROTHER – KYLE’S SEXUAL ORIENTATN ISN’T ONE OF HIS PROBLEMS. WHICH ISN’T TOO SAY ’S HIDN AWAY OR PLETELY TROUBLE-EE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INED, OM KYLE’S VERY FIRST EPISO, HIS SEXUALY IS SOMETHG HANDLED VERY MATTER-OF-FACTLY, A TOPIC THAT UP AS NATURALLY AS ANY OTHER ASPECT OF HIS PERSONALY. NOT ONLY IS HIS BEG GAY NOT AN ISSUE FOR HIMSELF, ’S ALSO NOT ONE FOR HIS -WORKERS OR HIS IENDS, ALTHOUGH HIS PARENTS AREN'T QUE PERFECT WHEN TO THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT AS IS TE WH HIS IENDS, FAY, AND -WORKERS WHO ARE SGLE, KYLE’S DATG STAT IS A EQUENT TOPIC OF NVERSATN, PECIALLY WH CLAIRE (CARRIE SOUTHWORTH), HIS FELLOW TERN AND BT IEND. ON BOTH THE TELEVISN EPISOS, AS WELL AS ON SPECIAL WEBISOS SOLELY ABOUT KYLE AND CLAIRE, KYLE DISCS GUYS, NOTIC GUYS AND ON TONIGHT’S EPISO, STARTS TO FALL FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CLAIRE (CARRIE SOUTHWORTH) AND KYLE (ADAM GRIM){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALL GH:NS PICTUR URTY OF SOAPNET UNLS OTHERWISE NOTED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT CHARACTER IS NAMED ERIC WHLOW AND HE FDS HIMSELF GENERAL HOSPAL AWAG A LIVER TRANSPLANT. BUT ERIC ISN’T JT ANY PATIENT WH A SER ILLNS AS DITED BY THE ACTOR PLAYG THE PART: OUT GAY-FAVE CHAD ALLEN WHO HAS JOED THE SERI FOR A FOUR EPISO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} NDUCTED EXCLIVE ONSET TERVIEWS WH BOTH ALLEN AND GRIM ON ALLEN’S LAST DAY OF FILMG. INTERTGLY, THE TERVIEWS WERE JT PRR TO THE CHARACTERS FIRST KISS AND BOTH MEN WERE STUME. FOR GRIM THAT MEANT SURGIL SCBS WHILE ALLEN WAS RATHER DISTRACTGLY WEARG ONLY A TANK-TOP AND PAJAMA BOTTOMS MAKG THE ALREADY ATTRACTIVE ACTOR JT THAT MUCH MORE DISTRACTG TO TERVIEW. FOR THE RERD, NEHER ACTOR SEEMED TO THK THEIR IMPENDG KISS A PARTICULARLY BIG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MANY VIEWERS MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO SEE ALLEN, A VETERAN OF WORK TV SERI, THEATRIL MOVI, AND STAGE TAKG ON A SOAP OPERA ROLE. REGARDG THAT ALLEN SAID, “I HAVE TO ADM WHEN THEY LLED AND ASKED ME ABOUT GOG ON, I WAS UNSURE. I DIDN’T KNOW THE SHOW. I HAD NEVER DONE SOAPS BEFORE. I DIDN’T KNOW IF I’D WANT TO. I DIDN’T KNOW IF I’D LIKE . I TALKED TO SRI RAO [GH’S HEADWRER] WHO’S REALLY MTED TO PRENTG THIS RELATNSHIP BETWEEN KYLE AND ERIC JT LIKE EVERY OTHER RELATNSHIP THEY’VE PRENTED ON THIS SHOW. SO HE SAID HE WAS REALLY ADAMANT BE AN ADULT RELATNSHIP.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT WAS THE SAME FACTOR THAT ENTICED GRIM TO TAKE ON THE PART OF DR. KYLE JULIAN. GRIM TOLD , “ONE OF THE GREATT THGS THAT ATTRACTED ME [TO THE PART] IS APPROACHG THE [ROLE AS A] DOCTOR, A BROTHER, A PERSON WHO HAS THGS GOG ON HIS LIFE. A STUNT OF LIFE MOVG ON WHO HAPPENS TO BE GAY. NOT A GAY MAN FACG THIS CHALLENGE AND THE WHOLE STORYLE FOLLOWS THAT. I’M FDG NEW IENDS A NEW CY, LEARNG TO BE A DOCTOR, AND I’M GAY. IT’S NOT THE FOREONT. IT’S NOT WHAT DRIV .”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT GH:NS HEADWRER RAO TEND. HIMSELF AN OUT GAY MAN, RAO TOLD HE ADD THE CHARACTER OF KYLE TO THE SHOW BEE “GENERAL HOSPAL HAS BEEN ON THE AIR OVER FORTY FIVE YEARS. IT’S A LANDMARK SOAP OPERA, ’S PART OF TELEVISN HISTORY AND HAS NEVER HAD A SIGNIFINT GAY LEADG CHARACTER. I FELT WAS ABOUT DAMNED WELL TIME.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOW DID SRI THK ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF KYLE WHEN HE SAT DOWN TO WRE HIM? “I REALLY WANTED KYLE TO BE A WELL-ROUND CHARACTER,” SAID RAO. “I DIDN’T WANT TO TELL THE “ANGST-RIDN, NFLICTED GAY MAN” STORY BEE I FEEL, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT STORY TO TELL, WE’RE BEYOND THAT. IT ISN’T PELLG TO ME AS A WRER OR AS A VIEWER. I WANTED TO TELL AN TERTG STORY ABOUT A MAN WHO IS ALG WH HIS REER AND HIS RELATNSHIP WH HIS BROTHER [PLAYED BY ETHAN RAS, PICTURED RIGHT] AND HIS IEND AND HIS LOVE TERT AND WHO JT HAPPENS TO BE GAY.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CHAD ALLEN EXPLAED THAT HE LIKED THE ROLE OF ERIC BEE THAT CHARACTER WAS WRTEN THE SAME FASHN. ALLEN SAID HE’S “…A MATURE GAY GUY. NOT SOMEONE STGGLG WH HIS SEXUALY. OR WH PARENTS WHO DON’T LIKE HIM. WHAT I SENTIALLY HEARD WAS A GUY LIKE ME, WHO HAS GOOD HEALTHY DOSE OF ACCEPTANCE. WHO HAD A REAL LIFE AND I REALLY LIKED THAT IA. I WAS EXCED ABOUT THE IA WE ULD BRG A RELATNSHIP LIKE THAT TO THE SOAP DIENCE WHO HASN’T HAD A LOT OF THAT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ASKED ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF ERIC, ALLEN EXPLAED, “HE IS HIS EARLY 30’S, HE’S A TEACHER. HE LOV WHAT HE DO. HE HAS CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER, BUT NOT OM DRKG. IF HE DON’T GET A LIVER SOON, HE’LL DIE. HE’S A TOUGH SPOT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THGS AREN’T ALL DOOM AND GLOOM FOR ERIC. SAID ALLEN, “WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HIM IS THAT HE ISN’T OBSSED WH DYG. HE’S RELATIVELY GOOD TERMS WH THAT JT AS HE’S RELATIVELY GOOD TERMS WH WHO HE IS AS A PERSON. SO HE GETS TO BE PRENT HIS LIFE SO WHEN HE MEETS KYLE THERE ARE TOMATIC SPARKS THAT LIGHT UP AND HE ENJOYS THAT. IF HE’S GOG TO BE THE HOSPAL, AT LEAST HE GETS TO ENJOY THIS FEELG OF GETTG TO KNOW SOMEBODY.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OFTEN A STANDARD STAPLE OF STORYTELLG FOR GAY CHARACTERS IS THE TRANGED FAY. SUCH WON’T BE THE SE FOR ERIC. “THE VERY FIRST EPISO YOU MEET MY FAY,” SAID ALLEN. “MY PARENTS AND I HAVE A FANTASTIC RELATNSHIP. THEY LOVE ME. THIS EPISO MY MOTHER MAK A REFERENCE TO ‘OH, I ALWAYS WANTED MY SON TO MEET A GOOD DOCTOR.’ MOM’S EXCED ABOUT HER SON FDG A HAPPY RELATNSHIP WH A SUCCSFUL MAN AND THAT IS SOMETHG WE HAVEN’T SEEN A LOT OF. I THK THAT IS THE TERTG PLACE WERE GETTG TO. WHEN YOU MEET MY STRAIGHT SISTER, SHE IS THE ONE OUTSI OF HER FAY BEE OF SOME NEGATIVE CHOIC SHE’S MA. SHE’S BEEN OTED BY THE FAY AND THAT HAS TO HEAL.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALLEN ALSO APPRECIATED THAT ERIC AND KYLE’S RELATNSHIP ISN’T ONE THAT IS IMMEDIATELY NSUMMATED. “THEY REALLY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER,” SAID ALLEN. “THEY DON’T JT JUMP TO BED. THIS IS EPISO THREE AND WE’RE JT HAVG OUR FIRST KISS. KYLE IS A GOOD DOCTOR; HE WORRI ABOUT NOT CROSSG ANY APPROPRIATE BOUNDARI.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALLEN’S PECIALLY GLAD ABOUT THAT AS HE FEELS GAY VIEWERS DON’T OFTEN GET TO SEE THEMSELV PORTRAYED A ROMANTIC LIGHT. SAID ALLEN ABOUT THE UPLE, “WE REALLY GET THE OPPORTUNY TO EXPLORE SOMETHG THAT I THK GETS A LTLE B LOST THIS MORN ROMANCE AND THAT IS THAT LONGG. WHEN I FELL LOVE WH MY [REAL LIFE] PARTNER WE HAD A LONG PERD OF ROMANCE AND LONGG THAT DIDN’T CULMATE QUICKLY SEXUAL GRATIFITN OR ANY OF THOSE THGS. THAT IS KD OF WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THE TWO CHARACTERS AND THAT I THK IS WHAT MAK POSSIBLE THAT THEY REALLY ULD FALL LOVE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT’S THAT IA OF TWO MEN FALLG LOVE THAT ALLEN FDS SO REHG ABOUT GENERAL HOSPAL AS THERE ISN’T REALLY TOO MUCH ELSE UNUAL ABOUT KYLE AND ERIC. SAID ALLEN, “ANG LEE WHO DIRECTED BROKEBACK MOUNTA, THEY WERE ALWAYS ASKG HIM WHY HE WANTED TO TELL THAT STORY. HE KEPT SAYG WAS SUCH A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OM WHICH TO TELL A LOVE STORY THAT HADN’T BEEN OVERDONE. AND THAT IS THE WAY I FEEL. NOTHG REALLY NOVEL IS HAPPENG BETWEEN KYLE AND I. WE’RE TWO PEOPLE WHO E TOGETHER AND FD AN TENSE AMOUNT OF ATTRACTN AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND HELP EACH OTHER AND MAYBE HEAL EACH OTHER. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TWO PEOPLE FALL LOVE. WHAT ’S TERTG IS THE PERSPECTIVE OM WHICH WE GET TO TELL THAT STORY. THAT IS TWO MEN.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE OF ALLEN’S PASSNS THE DAYS, NOT JT AS AN ACTOR, BUT AS A PRODUCER, IS TELLG THOSE SORTS OF REAL STORI ABOUT GAY MEN. “I THK AS SOMEBODY WHO REALLY R ABOUT GAY STORYTELLG AND REALLY R ABOUT THE WAY WE ARE REPRENTED THE MEDIA. [WE’VE HAD] THE PROGRSN OF OUR OWN STORI BEG TOLD OM THE TIME WHEN WE WERE REALLY DARK, PRSG CHARACTERS TO BEG THE SI KICK FUNNY GUY WHO DIDN’T HAVE MUCH PTH TO THE AIDS DRAMAS OF THE 80S AND EARLY 90’S. NOW WE ARE REALLY TURNG A PAGE TERMS ON THE KD OF STORI WE N TELL WHICH ARE TLY NOT SO MUCH ANYMORE ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE GAY BUT ARE TELLG REALLY HUMAN DRAMAS WH CHARACTERS WHO HAPPEN TO BE GAY. AND THAT IS EXCG FOR ME.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BILL CRYSTAL ON SOAP, TOM HANKS PHILALPHIA, SEAN HAY ON WILL & {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GRIM ECHO THAT SENTIMENT. “I FEEL LIKE THE PAST SOMETIM GAY CHARACTERS WERE PRENTED AS THAT BEG THE DRIVG FORCE EVERYTHG THEY CI. AND THE GAY MEN THAT ARE MY IENDS MY LIFE, ’S NOT LIKE THAT. WE S DOWN AND TALK ABOUT BS AND THIS AND THIS AND EVENTUALLY RELATNSHIPS ALSO E UP NVERSATN.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GRIM, WHO IS STRAIGHT (A FACT NOT MENTNED IALLY BY HIM, BUT EARLIER BY ALLEN) THKS THAT APPROACH TO PLAYG THE CHARACTER AS NOT STEREOTYPILLY GAY IS ONE OF THE REASONS HE WON THE ROLE. “I THK ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF MY DN THAT THEY LIKED THE BT IS THAT I WASN’T PLAYG THAT HE WAS GAY. THAT WAS HOW I APPROACHED , THAT’S HOW I APPROACH EVERY SCENE. I PLAY THE SCENE AND EVERYTHG ELSE FALLS PLACE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVEN THOUGH ALLEN IS ONLY CURRENTLY SIGNED ON FOR FOUR EPISOS, MIGHT THERE BE A FUTURE FOR ERIC AND KYLE – ASSUMG ERIC GETS THAT LIVER TRANSPLANT? SAID ALLEN, “ALL DITNS ARE SO FAR THAT THE GUYS ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND HAVE A GENUE AFFECTN AND IS SAFE TO SAY THAT IF ERIC MAK THROUGH THIS, I DON’T SEE WHY THERE ISN’T A REAL SHOT OF THEIR MAKG .”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DO THAT MEAN ALLEN WOULD BE TERTED G BACK ON THE SHOW AS ERIC? “I WOULD,” HE SAID. “IT PENDS ON MY SCHLE AND SOME OTHER THGS I HAVE GOG ON.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF WORKG ON A SOAP, ALLEN ADMS TO HAVG HAD SOME TREPIDATN ABOUT . “I DID ONLY BEE I LIVED WH HEATHER TOM FOR YEARS AND I ED TO WATCH HER GET THE SCRIPTS LIVERED EVERY DAY AND HEARD HER PLATS. AS A THEATER ACTOR THAT DIDN’T SOUND THAT APPEALG.” THEN ALLEN ADD, “I LOVE HERE. I LOVE THE EXPERIENCE. I LOVE MAKG TELEVISN THIS WAY.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALLEN IS ALSO REVELG PLAYG A GAY CHARACTER, SOMETHG HE ONLY FIRST HAD THE CHANCE TO DO FOUR YEARS AGO. PLAYG GAY WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE REASON ALLEN JOED GH:NS. “I ACTUALLY WAS TALKED TO ABOUT JOG ANOTHER SOAP AT THE SAME TIME, BUT WAS PLAYG A STRAIGHT CHARACTER, WHICH WAS TERTG. BUT THIS SEEMED THE MOST TERTG CHARACTER AND THE MOST TERTG PROJECT FOR ME TO WORK ON. SO I SAID I’LL GIVE A SHOT.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALLEN SAID PEOPLE OFTEN HAVE THE MISTAKEN IMPRSN HE’S PLAYED MORE GAY CHARACTERS THAN HE HAS. “PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME ARE YOU SICK OF PLAYG GAY CHARACTERS? I’M LIKE MY GOD! I’M JT STARTG. I HAVE ONLY HAD A HANDFUL OF THEM. THERE IS SO MUCH I WANT TO DO. THOUGH THAT ISN’T ALL THAT I WANT TO DO OR ALL THAT I DO. IT IS STILL THE MOST EXCG.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GENERAL HOSPAL: NIGHT SHIFT AIRS TUDAYS AT 11 PM ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Other shows the first of the 21st century troduced gay characters, wh mixed rults. On “General Hospal, ” Lus Jon (then played by Ben Hogtyn), the adopted son of Bobbie Spencer (Jackie Zeman) and Tony Jon (Brad Mle) me out as gay, but he didn’t get much romance before he was wrten off the show 2006; the character returned to the nvas played by Ryan Carn 2013.