'Hero' Requise Gay Bt Friend Character Is Mysterly Straightwashed

Contents:

• 'HERO' REQUISE GAY BT FRIEND CHARACTER IS MYSTERLY STRAIGHTWASHED
• HERO ACTOR THOMAS DEKKER WAS 'OUTED' AS A GAY MAN BY TV PRODUCER BRYAN FULLER
• "HERO" STRAIGHTENS UP ITS 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 SARAH WARNDECEMBER 11, 2006/12:00 AMBY SARAH WARNDECEMBER 11, 2006 / 12:00 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"HERO\" STRAIGHTENS UP ITS GAY CHARACTER","DATEPUBLISHED":"2006-12-11T05:00:00.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2006-12-11T05:00:00.000+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":"SARAH WARN","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;}HERO LOVERS, HERE IS A MID-SEASON SURPRISE FOR YOU: ZACH IS NOT 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;}AN NBC PUBLICIST TOLD AFTERELTON A PHONE NVERSATN THAT ZACH "IS NOT GAY", THAT WAS SOMETHG THAT WAS "FOR SURE" AND " ALL CERTATY." AFTERELTON NTACTED NBC FOR NFIRMATN AFTER BEG TOLD BY THOMAS DEKKER'S MANAGEMENT (DEKKER PLAYS ZACH), THE CHARACTER OF ZACH IS ABSOLUTELY {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;}FOR THOSE THAT HAVE FOLLOWED THE SHOW CLOSELY AND TAKEN EVEN A CURSORY LOOK AT NBC'S MARKETG EFFORTS AROUND THE SHOW (WHICH HAVE REPEATEDLY SUATED, IMPLIED AND LED MOST VIEWERS TO BELIEVE THAT THE CHARACTER IS GAY), THIS IS TERTG—AND TROUBLG—NEWS. {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;}WHAT DO MEAN WHEN A WORK'S WEBSE PORTRAYS A CHARACTER AS GAY, AND YET THE PUBLICY PARTMENT SUDNLY CLAIMS THAT HE ISN'T? OR WHEN THE SERI CREATOR AND WRER ARE QUOTED AN TERVIEW NDUCTED BEFORE THE SHOW PREMIER THAT THE CHARACTER IS, ED, SUPPOSED TO BE GAY? [ED. NOTE: SEE CREATOR TIM KRG'S RPONSE TO THE NTROVERSY ON THE BLOG.] THAT'S NOT EVEN FACTORG ALL THE LOAD DIALOGUE AND THE CHARACTER'S GAY-IENDLY MYSPACE PAGE (HOW MANY STRAIGHT TEENS LOVE PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DERT, VELVET GOLDME, AND HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH?). IS POSSIBLE FOR A CHARACTER'S VERY SEXUALY TO BE MIS-MARKETED? OR IS THERE A DIFFERENT, MORE DISTURBG SUATN OCCURRG? {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;}WHILE HATS ARE OFF TO DEKKER FOR LANDG THE PLUM LEAD ROLE THE UPG TERMATOR SP-OFF SERI, THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICL (AS ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY), DO MAKE ONE WONR EXACTLY WHERE THE PRSURE TO BURY THE CHARACTER'S GAYNS MIGHT HAVE E OM. {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;}TWO SCENARS SEEM THE MOSTLY LIKELY: FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, NBC SUDNLY SHIED AWAY OM THE IA OF A GAY CHARACTER. OR DEKKER'S MANAGEMENT WANTED ZACH TO BE STRAIGHT. (DEKKER'S MANAGEMENT CLED TO MENT ON THE TOPIC.) {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;}CONSIRG THAT DEKKER HAS NOTABLY PLAYED GAY ON TELEVISN BEFORE – A HILAR TURN AS AN OBSSED GAY TEEN FAN ON THE SHORT-LIVED 90210 SATIRE GROSSE POT – WHY SHOULD THERE BE ANY NCERN ON HIS PART WH PLAYG GAY? INED, SO MANY ACTORS HAVE NOW DONE SO SEEMS HARD TO BELIEVE SHOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR ANY ACTOR. IT'S BEYOND DISHEARTENG TO THK THAT 2006, A PERIPHERAL CHARACTER'S SEXUALY ULD BE SUCH A VOLATILE MATTER FOR STUDS, ACTORS, AND MANAGEMENT – PARTICULARLY WHEN 'S OBVLY NOT AN ISSUE FOR THE SHOW'S FANS. {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 NBC, THE WORK WASN'T ABLE TO EXPLA EXACTLY HOW ZACH GOT “GAYED” THE PROMOTNAL MATERIALS, BUT THEY SUGGT THAT 'S ALL SOME KD OF MISMUNITN. HOWEVER, THE ENTERTAMENT DTRY, WHERE SHOWS, REERS, AND BREAKOUT PHENOMENA ARE BASED ON A MYRIAD OF TERLOCKG, REFULLY-THOUGHT OUT PARTS, “MISMUNITN” N MEAN ANYTHG OM A GENUE “MISTAKE” TO “CHANGE OF MD.” {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;}A FEW THGS ARE CLEAR, AND N BE BACKED UP BY EVINCE OM TERVIEWS WH THE SHOW'S CREATORS AND THE SHOW'S OFFICIAL PUBLICY MATERIALS: ZACH WAS NCEIVED AS A GAY CHARACTER, HE WAS VELOPED AS A GAY CHARACTER, AND AS OF THE NOVEMBER 20TH “HOMEG” EPISO, HE WAS A GAY CHARACTER. AND YET A CISN WAS MA BY SOMEONE – BE STUD EXECS, TALENT MANAGEMENT, OR OTHERWISE – TO “STRAIGHTEN HIM OUT”. TO GET A BETTER IA OF HOW THE CHARACTER OF ZACH – OR PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, PUBLIC PERCEPTN OF ZACH – HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, LET'S PULL A HIRO NAKAMURA AND JUMP BACK 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;}ZACH APPEARS THE SERI' VERY FIRST EPISO AS THE NEWFOUND BT IEND AND ONLY NFIDANTE OF CLAIRE BENT (HAYN PATIERE), A TEXAS CHEERLEAR WHO HAS RECENTLY DISVERED THAT SHE HAS THE ABILY TO REGENERATE STANTLY. WHAT BY ALL RIGHTS SHOULD BE A PERIPHERAL, TWO-DIMENSNAL ROLE (EACH OF THE OTHER “HERO” HAS THEIR OWN RATHER UNREALIZED SIKICKS) MANAG TO BE MORE THAN THAT THANKS NO SMALL PART TO DEKKER. {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;}ZACH IS AN AWKWARD BUT SURPRISGLY SELF-ASSURED KID WHOSE SENSIVY MAK HIS SEXUALY A SUBJECT FOR BATE WH THE OTHER KIDS AT SCHOOL. IN THE FIRST EPISO OF HERO, THERE'S A CRACK ABOUT ZACH GETTG AN ERECTN THE LOCKER ROOM – TYPIL HIGH-SCHOOL GAY-BAG. ZACH DON'T OPERATE WH THE SCHOOL HIERARCHY – HE'S A LOSER WHO HANGS OUT WH A PRETTY CHEERLEAR, AND FOR THAT HE'S LABELED AN {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;}GAY VIEWERS ARE ED TO SEEG UNFORTUNATE, MISUNRSTOOD STRAIGHT BOYS GETTG GAY-BAED BEE THEY DON'T PLAY SPORTS AND HAVG TO SUFFER THE APPARENT DIGNY OF BEG NSIRED HOMOSEXUAL. THIS IS NOTHG NEW; GIVEN IS 2006, 'S ACTUALLY A B TIRED. BUT HERO OPTED TO GO A CIDLY DIFFERENT DIRECTN WH ZACH. A FEW EPISOS LATER, WHEN CLAIRE IS BATG WHAT SHE SHOULD DO ABOUT HER HORRIBLE SECRET, ZACH ASKS HER IF SHE IS PLANNG ON “G OUT” TO HER PARENTS – AS A SUPERHUMAN. INTERTG WORDG FOR A CHARACTER WHOSE SEXUALY IS UNR APPARENTLY VERY PUBLIC SCTY. {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;}THIS HARDLY SERV AS PROOF ZACH IS GAY. AFTER ALL, SUPERHERO ICS (UPON WHICH HERO IS MOLED) HAVE LONG MA THE PARALLEL BETWEEN “OTHERNS” AND HOMOSEXUALY. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE FORM IS SO ATTRACTIVE TO GAY YOUTHS {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 THE NOVEMBER 20TH EPISO OF HERO (TLED “HOMEG”) CLAIRE AND ZACH ARE WALKG THROUGH SCHOOL WHEN A RIVAL CHEERLEAR SAYS SOMETHG ABOUT CLAIRE TAKG THE “GAY-BOY” TO THE HOMEG DANCE, AND THAT MAYBE HE SHOULD BE THE ONE WEARG THE TIARA. CLAIRE PUNCH THE GIRL THE FACE, KNOCKG HER OUT LD. {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;}LATER THE EPISO, ZACH CLIMBS TO CLAIRE'S WDOW TO ENURAGE HER TO GO TO THE HOMEG DANCE, SPE BEG GROUND. WHEN SHE ASKS IF HE WANTS TO BE HER DATE, HE SAYS HE N'T, FOR “LNS OF REASONS”. HE THEN LNCH TO A HEART-TO-HEART THAT IS BOTH ENURAGG TO GAY TEENS AND CREDIBLY TRATG S REFAL TO M. {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 ASKS IF HE N'T BE HER DATE BEE OF WHAT THE OTHER CHEERLEAR SAID, AND ZACH SAYS THAT HE DON'T RE WHAT SHE SAID, THAT HE KNOWS WHO HE IS AND IS PROUD OF . HE'S MORE WORRIED ABOUT CLAIRE, WHO N'T E TO TERMS WH HER OWN “OTHERNS”. HE SAYS, “YOU'VE GOT TO EMBRACE YOUR NER EAK … THE ONLY THG YOU'LL REGRET IS NYG WHO YOU REALLY ARE.” {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 TOOK THAT EXCHANGE AS ZACH'S G OUT. {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;}TECHNILLY, HE NEVER SAYS “I'M GAY”, BUT EVEN NBC'S WEBSE WAS FOOLED BY ALL THE SUBTEXT – S OFFICIAL REP OF THE “HOMEG” EPISO STAT THAT ZACH “STAMMERS WH HIS REPLY, ADMTG THAT HE'S GAY”. AT LEAST DID. NBC RECENTLY EDED THOSE WORDS OUT OF THE TRANSCRIPT. IF THE WORK'S OWN MARKETG EFFORTS N'T GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT, 'S NOT OUTLANDISH TO THK THAT LNS OF VIEWERS MAY HAVE BEEN LED TO THE SAME APPARENTLY ERRONEO NCLN. {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;}FURTHER EVINCE THAT ZACH IS GAY N BE FOUND ON ZACH'S MYSPACE PAGE, WHICH IS PRUMABLY MATAED BY NBC. ZACH'S MYSPACE HANDLE IS “ZACHTOTHEFUTURE,” AND HIS PAGE LISTS HIS ORIENTATN AS “NOT SURE”, HIS FAVORE MOVI AS ROCKY HORROR, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DERT, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, VELVET GOLDME, WHNAIL AND I. HIS BLOG ALSO CLU THE MENTS “I'M STILL NOT TERTED CLAIRE, TST 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;}ZACH'S MYSPACE PAGE ALSO FEATUR A LARGE NUMBER OF GAY AND GAY-IENDLY PEERS THAT ZACH HAS HIS WORK – MANY OF WHOM APPEAR TO BE ACTUAL MYSPACE ERS WHO WEIGH WH SUPPORTIVE MENTS AFTER 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;}COMMENTS LIKE “JT KNOW THAT YOU ARE SPECIAL, TOO!”, “THERE ARE MORS GOG AROUND THAT YOU'RE GAY. THAT'S SO OL! I'M ALL FOR THAT!”, AND “IT'S 2006 – PEOPLE DON'T RE ABOUT THIS KDA STUFF ANYMORE” ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT'S TERTG TO NOTE THAT THERE'S NOT ONE ROGATORY OR POTENTIALLY GAY-BASHG MENT ON THE SE – ALTHOUGH OF URSE THE MENTS ULD BE MONORED BY THE SHOW'S PUBLICY PARTMENT. {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 IS SIGNIFINT THAT NBC PUBLICISTS HAVE CID TO TICKLE VIEWERS GAYDAR VIA THE TER. THE E OF MYSPACE, AN IMMENSELY POPULAR SE FOR TEENAGERS, FOR A TEEN CHARACTER'S PERSONAL BLOG IS A POTED TARGETG OF YOUNG VIEWERS. TEENS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN ANYONE TO CHECK OUT ZACH'S BLOG AND SEE BOTH HIS ALG WH HIS SEXUALY AND THE SUPPORT THAT HE'S FOUND THROUGH HIS ONLE BUDDI. AND FOR A GAY TEEN GOG THROUGH A SIAR PROCS, THAT ULD BE ENORMOLY VALIDATG. {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 THE WORK-SPONSORED MYSPACE PAGE ISN'T WHERE THE DISCSN ENDS. MSAGE BOARDS HAVE BEEN DISCSG ZACH'S SEXUALY AND HIS RELATNSHIP WH CLAIRE FOR MONTHS. {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 OF THIS BEGS A QUTN: IF THE CHARACTER WAS NEVER GAY THE FIRST PLACE, WHERE DID ALL THE SUATNS, HTS, AND OUTRIGHT CLARATNS OF HIS GAYNS E OM? IN TERVIEWS THAT TOOK PLACE PRR TO THE SERI' PREMIERE, CREATOR TIM KRG AND OPENLY GAY WRER BRYAN FULLER EXPLICLY STATED THAT ZACH'S CHARACTER WAS TEND TO BE GAY (A FACT THAT WOULD BE REVEALED LATER THE SEASON) BUT THAT NBC WORK EXECUTIV SEEMED RISTANT TO THE IA. {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;}KRG NOTED AN TERVIEW WH OUT MAGAZE BY MATTHEW BREEN THAT, “'S ALWAYS BEEN A BATTLE WH WORKS ON THAT SORT OF THG. THERE'S A SUBVERSIVENS THAT YOU'RE FORCED TO THK ABOUT THE THGS WH. YOU TRY TO E THROUGH A SI DOOR.” IN THIS SE, LOOKS AS THOUGH EVEN THE SI DOOR HAS BEEN BARRED – AN TERTG THG TO HAPPEN ON THE WORK THAT DID SO WELL WH WILL & GRACE JT A FEW YEARS BACK. {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 NOTHG NEW FOR A TELEVISN SHOW TO LEAD VIEWERS ALONG WH MISDIRECTN AND RED HERRGS ORR TO KEEP THEM TUNG . BUT G A CHARACTER'S POTENTIAL SEXUALY – PARTICULARLY A TEEN CHARACTER – FLIRTS WH EXPLOATN. IS ADVISABLE TO ENGAGE THE VTED TERTS OF YOUNG GAY PEOPLE AT AN EXTREMELY VOLATILE AND NFG TIME OF THEIR LIV AND THEN REVEAL THAT THEY HAD BEEN INTIFYG WH SOMEONE WHO WASN'T GAY AFTER ALL, BUT MERELY A MARKETG GIMMICK? {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;}LIKEWISE, FOR A SPRAWLG GENRE SHOW NOT TO FEATURE A GAY CHARACTER IS NO BIG AL – FACT, 'S THE NORM. LACK OF REPRENTATN ISN'T THE ISSUE HERE (OR, AT LEAST, NOT THE SPECIFIC ISSUE). {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;}WHAT'S TROUBLG IS THE FACT THAT A CHARACTER APPARENTLY NCEIVED AS GAY (AS EXPLICLY STATED BY THE CREATOR AND WRER, ALTHOUGH THEY NOTED THAT THEY HADN'T DISCSED THE IA WH THE ACTOR PLAYG ZACH AT THE TIME), WRTEN AS GAY (HIS REPEATEDLY BEG LLED GAY AND NEVER NYG , AS WELL AS HIS POTED LACK OF TERT CLAIRE, ARE AMONG MANY LS-THAN-SUBTLE SUGGTNS), AND PROMOTED AS GAY (BOTH ON NBC'S WEBSE AND THE FAKE MYSPACE PAGE FOR THE CHARACTER) HAS SEEMGLY AND SUDNLY BEEN FORCED BACK TO THE CLOSET. {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;}THE NTRADICTNS LEAD ONE TO WONR HOW EXACTLY THE CHARACTER OF ZACH WENT OM PROUD GAY TEEN TO SUDNLY STRAIGHT. GIVEN DEKKER'S LIKELY EX OM THE SHOW FOR HIS NEW GIG (AND NSIRG WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM THE MID-SEASON FALE), ZACH MIGHT SOON BE A MOOT POT ANYWAY, GAY OR STRAIGHT. WATCHG A CHARACTER'S SEXUALY BEE THE SUALTY OF A MARKETG MISTAKE IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT THE IA THAT ZACH'S -GAYG MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE RULT OF A LCULATED CISN IS MORE THAN SIMPLY DISAPPOTG, PARTICULARLY FOR A CHARACTER THAT GAY TEENS ULD SO EASILY INTIFY WH. {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;}WHATEVER THE REASON—NBC'S ANXIETY OVER PORTRAYG AN OUT GAY TEEN OR FEAR ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE ROLE ON DEKKER'S FUTURE—THE MANNER WHICH THE SEXUALY OF ZACH'S CHARACTER HAS BEEN HANDLED BOTH ON THE SHOW AND THE PUBLICY MATERIALS IS SENSIVE AT BT, EXPLOATIVE AT WORST. VIEWERS ARE ED TO LOSG BELOVED CHARACTERS TO THE VILLAS ON THE SHOWS – 'S PART OF THEIR DRAMA. {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 'S A SHAME THAT HELPG A GAY TEEN CHARACTER HOLD ON TO HIS SEXUALY WAS APPARENTLY ONE FEAT THAT THE HERO ULDN'T MANAGE. {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
• HERO LOS ANOTHER GAY CHARACTER?{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 BRIAN JUERGENSJULY 25, 2007/8:56 AMBY BRIAN JUERGENSJULY 25, 2007 / 8:56 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"HERO LOS ANOTHER GAY CHARACTER?","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-07-25T12:56:50.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-07-25T12:56:50.000+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":"BRIAN JUERGENS","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;}IT'S KD OF FUNNY THAT OUR MA PAGE ARTICLE TODAY IS AN TERVIEW WH PARTHENON, THE GAY GUY ON THIS SEASON'S WHO WANTS TO BE A SUPERHERO (THERE'S ALSO A LBIAN THE BUNCH). BEE SEEMS THAT THE TUBE'S BIGGT SUPERHERO EFFORT, NBC'S HERO, HAS LOST A GAY CHARACTER FOR THE SEND {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;}THIS TIME S CLAIRE'S MUCH-HYPED LBIAN CHEERLEAR IEND WHO HAS REPORTEDLY DROPPED (MUCH-HYPED AFTER THE BACLE THAT WAS THE -GAYG OF ZACH, CLAIRE'S PREV NFIDANT). APPARENTLY THE ACTRS HIRED TO PLAY THE ROLE, LYNDSY FONSE, HAS NABBED A SERI REGULAR GIG ON DPERATE HOEWIV, SO HER CHARACTER HAS BEEN WRTEN OUT AFTER JT ONE {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;}I KNOW THIS IS A PLETELY DIFFERENT SUATN THAN WHAT HAPPENED WH ZACH, BUT REALLY -- WHAT IS UP WH THIS SHOW AND S GAY BUTTERFGERS? I'LL ADM I HELD ON AFTER THE ZACH SUATN BEE I LOVED THE SHOW, BUT THAT WRETCHED SEASON FALE WAS THE LAST STRAW FOR ME, AND THIS NEWS CERTALY ISN'T ENTICEMENT TO E BACK. MAYBE THIS SEASON WILL BE REVEALED THAT CLAIRE'S POWER IS ACTUALLY THAT SHE REPELS 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;}IN RELATED NEWS, 'S ALSO BEG REPORTED THAT HLY HOT-100'D ZACHARY QUTO (SYLAR) MAY PLAY SPOCK JJ ABRAMS'S NEW STAR TREK MOVIE. QUTO OF URSE PLAYED TORI SPELLG'S GAY SIKICK ON SO NOTOR. IN SE YOU MISSED , HERE'S THE HILAR (AND APPROPRIATELY STEAMY) EX-GAY SNA {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;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

'HERO' REQUISE GAY BT FRIEND CHARACTER IS MYSTERLY STRAIGHTWASHED

Explor the fascatg se of the character of Zach om NBC's h drama, Hero: The bt iend and nfidante to the seri' pivotal cheerlear character Claire, Zach (actor Thomas Dekker) was nceived by the show's creators to be a gay teenager.

And while Zach never once uttered the words "I'm gay, " up until the "Homeg" episo that aired Nov. (The episo featur the cheerlear punchg out another girl who lled Zach a "gay boy, " and later featur a scene which Zach ref to acpany Claire to the homeg "for a ln different reasons, " then segug to a madngly vague speech about embracg one's otherns.

) AfterElton reports the official Hero webse even summarized the exchange by sayg "Zach stammers wh his reply, admtg that he's gay, " words which then went mysterly missg om the onle rep. An NBC publicist told AfterElton a phone nversatn that Zach "is not gay", that was somethg that was "for sure" and " all certaty.

HERO ACTOR THOMAS DEKKER WAS 'OUTED' AS A GAY MAN BY TV PRODUCER BRYAN FULLER

" AfterElton ntacted NBC for nfirmatn after beg told by Thomas Dekker's management (Dekker plays Zach), the character of Zach is absolutely scenars seem the mostly likely: for unknown reasons, NBC sudnly shied away om the ia of a gay character.

" Jt how or why the "behd the scen" plitns manifted themselv he do not say, though we'd utn agast too quickly hurlg accatns at the work of havg toyed wh the self-teem of the show's gay youth fanbase by danglg a hottie imbued wh all the prophecied Signs of The Gay ont of them, only to lloly yank him away om their team at the very last moment.

Perhaps NBC felt that wh everythg they have already done for The Gays wh Will & Grace and sister-work Bravo's all-fabulo realy programmg schle, they fally had a chance wh the character of Zach to validate the existence of an even more disenachised youth subgroup: straight, male, Priscilla, Queen of the Dert Straightens Up Its Gay Character [ via Towleroad]ZachToTheFuture [MySpace]Hero []. Image source, Getty ImagHero actor Thomas Dekker has e out as gay after a producer he'd worked wh directly revealed his Fuller, who worked wh him on Hero, was acceptg an award at an LGBT ftival LA when he spoke about the said one manager hadn't wanted Thomas Dekker to be a gay character on Hero, which people lked to actor posted on Instagram after the ftival, thankg Bryan Fuller for givg him an opportuny to e wrote: "It is an odd suatn, I thank him bee prents a prime opportuny for me to publicly say that I am ed a man who proudly lov other men. "In his acceptance speech for the Achievement Award at the LGBT ftival Outft last Thursday, Bryan Fuller spoke about tim his reer when characters were changed om gay to straight, somethg known as "hetwashg" his speech he said: "I had a brief stt on Hero where the gay character was hetwashed after the actor's management threatened to pull him om the show if he - the character, not the actor - were gay.

"HERO" STRAIGHTENS UP ITS 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 SARAH WARNDECEMBER 11, 2006/12:00 AMBY SARAH WARNDECEMBER 11, 2006 / 12:00 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"HERO\" STRAIGHTENS UP ITS GAY CHARACTER","DATEPUBLISHED":"2006-12-11T05:00:00.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2006-12-11T05:00:00.000+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":"SARAH WARN","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;}HERO LOVERS, HERE IS A MID-SEASON SURPRISE FOR YOU: ZACH IS NOT 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;}AN NBC PUBLICIST TOLD AFTERELTON A PHONE NVERSATN THAT ZACH "IS NOT GAY", THAT WAS SOMETHG THAT WAS "FOR SURE" AND " ALL CERTATY." AFTERELTON NTACTED NBC FOR NFIRMATN AFTER BEG TOLD BY THOMAS DEKKER'S MANAGEMENT (DEKKER PLAYS ZACH), THE CHARACTER OF ZACH IS ABSOLUTELY {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;}FOR THOSE THAT HAVE FOLLOWED THE SHOW CLOSELY AND TAKEN EVEN A CURSORY LOOK AT NBC'S MARKETG EFFORTS AROUND THE SHOW (WHICH HAVE REPEATEDLY SUATED, IMPLIED AND LED MOST VIEWERS TO BELIEVE THAT THE CHARACTER IS GAY), THIS IS TERTG—AND TROUBLG—NEWS. {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;}WHAT DO MEAN WHEN A WORK'S WEBSE PORTRAYS A CHARACTER AS GAY, AND YET THE PUBLICY PARTMENT SUDNLY CLAIMS THAT HE ISN'T? OR WHEN THE SERI CREATOR AND WRER ARE QUOTED AN TERVIEW NDUCTED BEFORE THE SHOW PREMIER THAT THE CHARACTER IS, ED, SUPPOSED TO BE GAY? [ED. NOTE: SEE CREATOR TIM KRG'S RPONSE TO THE NTROVERSY ON THE BLOG.] THAT'S NOT EVEN FACTORG ALL THE LOAD DIALOGUE AND THE CHARACTER'S GAY-IENDLY MYSPACE PAGE (HOW MANY STRAIGHT TEENS LOVE PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DERT, VELVET GOLDME, AND HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH?). IS POSSIBLE FOR A CHARACTER'S VERY SEXUALY TO BE MIS-MARKETED? OR IS THERE A DIFFERENT, MORE DISTURBG SUATN OCCURRG? {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;}WHILE HATS ARE OFF TO DEKKER FOR LANDG THE PLUM LEAD ROLE THE UPG TERMATOR SP-OFF SERI, THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICL (AS ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY), DO MAKE ONE WONR EXACTLY WHERE THE PRSURE TO BURY THE CHARACTER'S GAYNS MIGHT HAVE E OM. {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;}TWO SCENARS SEEM THE MOSTLY LIKELY: FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, NBC SUDNLY SHIED AWAY OM THE IA OF A GAY CHARACTER. OR DEKKER'S MANAGEMENT WANTED ZACH TO BE STRAIGHT. (DEKKER'S MANAGEMENT CLED TO MENT ON THE TOPIC.) {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;}CONSIRG THAT DEKKER HAS NOTABLY PLAYED GAY ON TELEVISN BEFORE – A HILAR TURN AS AN OBSSED GAY TEEN FAN ON THE SHORT-LIVED 90210 SATIRE GROSSE POT – WHY SHOULD THERE BE ANY NCERN ON HIS PART WH PLAYG GAY? INED, SO MANY ACTORS HAVE NOW DONE SO SEEMS HARD TO BELIEVE SHOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR ANY ACTOR. IT'S BEYOND DISHEARTENG TO THK THAT 2006, A PERIPHERAL CHARACTER'S SEXUALY ULD BE SUCH A VOLATILE MATTER FOR STUDS, ACTORS, AND MANAGEMENT – PARTICULARLY WHEN 'S OBVLY NOT AN ISSUE FOR THE SHOW'S FANS. {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 NBC, THE WORK WASN'T ABLE TO EXPLA EXACTLY HOW ZACH GOT “GAYED” THE PROMOTNAL MATERIALS, BUT THEY SUGGT THAT 'S ALL SOME KD OF MISMUNITN. HOWEVER, THE ENTERTAMENT DTRY, WHERE SHOWS, REERS, AND BREAKOUT PHENOMENA ARE BASED ON A MYRIAD OF TERLOCKG, REFULLY-THOUGHT OUT PARTS, “MISMUNITN” N MEAN ANYTHG OM A GENUE “MISTAKE” TO “CHANGE OF MD.” {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;}A FEW THGS ARE CLEAR, AND N BE BACKED UP BY EVINCE OM TERVIEWS WH THE SHOW'S CREATORS AND THE SHOW'S OFFICIAL PUBLICY MATERIALS: ZACH WAS NCEIVED AS A GAY CHARACTER, HE WAS VELOPED AS A GAY CHARACTER, AND AS OF THE NOVEMBER 20TH “HOMEG” EPISO, HE WAS A GAY CHARACTER. AND YET A CISN WAS MA BY SOMEONE – BE STUD EXECS, TALENT MANAGEMENT, OR OTHERWISE – TO “STRAIGHTEN HIM OUT”. TO GET A BETTER IA OF HOW THE CHARACTER OF ZACH – OR PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, PUBLIC PERCEPTN OF ZACH – HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, LET'S PULL A HIRO NAKAMURA AND JUMP BACK 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;}ZACH APPEARS THE SERI' VERY FIRST EPISO AS THE NEWFOUND BT IEND AND ONLY NFIDANTE OF CLAIRE BENT (HAYN PATIERE), A TEXAS CHEERLEAR WHO HAS RECENTLY DISVERED THAT SHE HAS THE ABILY TO REGENERATE STANTLY. WHAT BY ALL RIGHTS SHOULD BE A PERIPHERAL, TWO-DIMENSNAL ROLE (EACH OF THE OTHER “HERO” HAS THEIR OWN RATHER UNREALIZED SIKICKS) MANAG TO BE MORE THAN THAT THANKS NO SMALL PART TO DEKKER. {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;}ZACH IS AN AWKWARD BUT SURPRISGLY SELF-ASSURED KID WHOSE SENSIVY MAK HIS SEXUALY A SUBJECT FOR BATE WH THE OTHER KIDS AT SCHOOL. IN THE FIRST EPISO OF HERO, THERE'S A CRACK ABOUT ZACH GETTG AN ERECTN THE LOCKER ROOM – TYPIL HIGH-SCHOOL GAY-BAG. ZACH DON'T OPERATE WH THE SCHOOL HIERARCHY – HE'S A LOSER WHO HANGS OUT WH A PRETTY CHEERLEAR, AND FOR THAT HE'S LABELED AN {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;}GAY VIEWERS ARE ED TO SEEG UNFORTUNATE, MISUNRSTOOD STRAIGHT BOYS GETTG GAY-BAED BEE THEY DON'T PLAY SPORTS AND HAVG TO SUFFER THE APPARENT DIGNY OF BEG NSIRED HOMOSEXUAL. THIS IS NOTHG NEW; GIVEN IS 2006, 'S ACTUALLY A B TIRED. BUT HERO OPTED TO GO A CIDLY DIFFERENT DIRECTN WH ZACH. A FEW EPISOS LATER, WHEN CLAIRE IS BATG WHAT SHE SHOULD DO ABOUT HER HORRIBLE SECRET, ZACH ASKS HER IF SHE IS PLANNG ON “G OUT” TO HER PARENTS – AS A SUPERHUMAN. INTERTG WORDG FOR A CHARACTER WHOSE SEXUALY IS UNR APPARENTLY VERY PUBLIC SCTY. {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;}THIS HARDLY SERV AS PROOF ZACH IS GAY. AFTER ALL, SUPERHERO ICS (UPON WHICH HERO IS MOLED) HAVE LONG MA THE PARALLEL BETWEEN “OTHERNS” AND HOMOSEXUALY. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE FORM IS SO ATTRACTIVE TO GAY YOUTHS {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 THE NOVEMBER 20TH EPISO OF HERO (TLED “HOMEG”) CLAIRE AND ZACH ARE WALKG THROUGH SCHOOL WHEN A RIVAL CHEERLEAR SAYS SOMETHG ABOUT CLAIRE TAKG THE “GAY-BOY” TO THE HOMEG DANCE, AND THAT MAYBE HE SHOULD BE THE ONE WEARG THE TIARA. CLAIRE PUNCH THE GIRL THE FACE, KNOCKG HER OUT LD. {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;}LATER THE EPISO, ZACH CLIMBS TO CLAIRE'S WDOW TO ENURAGE HER TO GO TO THE HOMEG DANCE, SPE BEG GROUND. WHEN SHE ASKS IF HE WANTS TO BE HER DATE, HE SAYS HE N'T, FOR “LNS OF REASONS”. HE THEN LNCH TO A HEART-TO-HEART THAT IS BOTH ENURAGG TO GAY TEENS AND CREDIBLY TRATG S REFAL TO M. {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 ASKS IF HE N'T BE HER DATE BEE OF WHAT THE OTHER CHEERLEAR SAID, AND ZACH SAYS THAT HE DON'T RE WHAT SHE SAID, THAT HE KNOWS WHO HE IS AND IS PROUD OF . HE'S MORE WORRIED ABOUT CLAIRE, WHO N'T E TO TERMS WH HER OWN “OTHERNS”. HE SAYS, “YOU'VE GOT TO EMBRACE YOUR NER EAK … THE ONLY THG YOU'LL REGRET IS NYG WHO YOU REALLY ARE.” {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 TOOK THAT EXCHANGE AS ZACH'S G OUT. {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;}TECHNILLY, HE NEVER SAYS “I'M GAY”, BUT EVEN NBC'S WEBSE WAS FOOLED BY ALL THE SUBTEXT – S OFFICIAL REP OF THE “HOMEG” EPISO STAT THAT ZACH “STAMMERS WH HIS REPLY, ADMTG THAT HE'S GAY”. AT LEAST DID. NBC RECENTLY EDED THOSE WORDS OUT OF THE TRANSCRIPT. IF THE WORK'S OWN MARKETG EFFORTS N'T GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT, 'S NOT OUTLANDISH TO THK THAT LNS OF VIEWERS MAY HAVE BEEN LED TO THE SAME APPARENTLY ERRONEO NCLN. {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;}FURTHER EVINCE THAT ZACH IS GAY N BE FOUND ON ZACH'S MYSPACE PAGE, WHICH IS PRUMABLY MATAED BY NBC. ZACH'S MYSPACE HANDLE IS “ZACHTOTHEFUTURE,” AND HIS PAGE LISTS HIS ORIENTATN AS “NOT SURE”, HIS FAVORE MOVI AS ROCKY HORROR, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DERT, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, VELVET GOLDME, WHNAIL AND I. HIS BLOG ALSO CLU THE MENTS “I'M STILL NOT TERTED CLAIRE, TST 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;}ZACH'S MYSPACE PAGE ALSO FEATUR A LARGE NUMBER OF GAY AND GAY-IENDLY PEERS THAT ZACH HAS HIS WORK – MANY OF WHOM APPEAR TO BE ACTUAL MYSPACE ERS WHO WEIGH WH SUPPORTIVE MENTS AFTER 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;}COMMENTS LIKE “JT KNOW THAT YOU ARE SPECIAL, TOO!”, “THERE ARE MORS GOG AROUND THAT YOU'RE GAY. THAT'S SO OL! I'M ALL FOR THAT!”, AND “IT'S 2006 – PEOPLE DON'T RE ABOUT THIS KDA STUFF ANYMORE” ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT'S TERTG TO NOTE THAT THERE'S NOT ONE ROGATORY OR POTENTIALLY GAY-BASHG MENT ON THE SE – ALTHOUGH OF URSE THE MENTS ULD BE MONORED BY THE SHOW'S PUBLICY PARTMENT. {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 IS SIGNIFINT THAT NBC PUBLICISTS HAVE CID TO TICKLE VIEWERS GAYDAR VIA THE TER. THE E OF MYSPACE, AN IMMENSELY POPULAR SE FOR TEENAGERS, FOR A TEEN CHARACTER'S PERSONAL BLOG IS A POTED TARGETG OF YOUNG VIEWERS. TEENS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN ANYONE TO CHECK OUT ZACH'S BLOG AND SEE BOTH HIS ALG WH HIS SEXUALY AND THE SUPPORT THAT HE'S FOUND THROUGH HIS ONLE BUDDI. AND FOR A GAY TEEN GOG THROUGH A SIAR PROCS, THAT ULD BE ENORMOLY VALIDATG. {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 THE WORK-SPONSORED MYSPACE PAGE ISN'T WHERE THE DISCSN ENDS. MSAGE BOARDS HAVE BEEN DISCSG ZACH'S SEXUALY AND HIS RELATNSHIP WH CLAIRE FOR MONTHS. {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 OF THIS BEGS A QUTN: IF THE CHARACTER WAS NEVER GAY THE FIRST PLACE, WHERE DID ALL THE SUATNS, HTS, AND OUTRIGHT CLARATNS OF HIS GAYNS E OM? IN TERVIEWS THAT TOOK PLACE PRR TO THE SERI' PREMIERE, CREATOR TIM KRG AND OPENLY GAY WRER BRYAN FULLER EXPLICLY STATED THAT ZACH'S CHARACTER WAS TEND TO BE GAY (A FACT THAT WOULD BE REVEALED LATER THE SEASON) BUT THAT NBC WORK EXECUTIV SEEMED RISTANT TO THE IA. {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;}KRG NOTED AN TERVIEW WH OUT MAGAZE BY MATTHEW BREEN THAT, “'S ALWAYS BEEN A BATTLE WH WORKS ON THAT SORT OF THG. THERE'S A SUBVERSIVENS THAT YOU'RE FORCED TO THK ABOUT THE THGS WH. YOU TRY TO E THROUGH A SI DOOR.” IN THIS SE, LOOKS AS THOUGH EVEN THE SI DOOR HAS BEEN BARRED – AN TERTG THG TO HAPPEN ON THE WORK THAT DID SO WELL WH WILL & GRACE JT A FEW YEARS BACK. {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 NOTHG NEW FOR A TELEVISN SHOW TO LEAD VIEWERS ALONG WH MISDIRECTN AND RED HERRGS ORR TO KEEP THEM TUNG . BUT G A CHARACTER'S POTENTIAL SEXUALY – PARTICULARLY A TEEN CHARACTER – FLIRTS WH EXPLOATN. IS ADVISABLE TO ENGAGE THE VTED TERTS OF YOUNG GAY PEOPLE AT AN EXTREMELY VOLATILE AND NFG TIME OF THEIR LIV AND THEN REVEAL THAT THEY HAD BEEN INTIFYG WH SOMEONE WHO WASN'T GAY AFTER ALL, BUT MERELY A MARKETG GIMMICK? {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;}LIKEWISE, FOR A SPRAWLG GENRE SHOW NOT TO FEATURE A GAY CHARACTER IS NO BIG AL – FACT, 'S THE NORM. LACK OF REPRENTATN ISN'T THE ISSUE HERE (OR, AT LEAST, NOT THE SPECIFIC ISSUE). {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;}WHAT'S TROUBLG IS THE FACT THAT A CHARACTER APPARENTLY NCEIVED AS GAY (AS EXPLICLY STATED BY THE CREATOR AND WRER, ALTHOUGH THEY NOTED THAT THEY HADN'T DISCSED THE IA WH THE ACTOR PLAYG ZACH AT THE TIME), WRTEN AS GAY (HIS REPEATEDLY BEG LLED GAY AND NEVER NYG , AS WELL AS HIS POTED LACK OF TERT CLAIRE, ARE AMONG MANY LS-THAN-SUBTLE SUGGTNS), AND PROMOTED AS GAY (BOTH ON NBC'S WEBSE AND THE FAKE MYSPACE PAGE FOR THE CHARACTER) HAS SEEMGLY AND SUDNLY BEEN FORCED BACK TO THE CLOSET. {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;}THE NTRADICTNS LEAD ONE TO WONR HOW EXACTLY THE CHARACTER OF ZACH WENT OM PROUD GAY TEEN TO SUDNLY STRAIGHT. GIVEN DEKKER'S LIKELY EX OM THE SHOW FOR HIS NEW GIG (AND NSIRG WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM THE MID-SEASON FALE), ZACH MIGHT SOON BE A MOOT POT ANYWAY, GAY OR STRAIGHT. WATCHG A CHARACTER'S SEXUALY BEE THE SUALTY OF A MARKETG MISTAKE IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT THE IA THAT ZACH'S -GAYG MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE RULT OF A LCULATED CISN IS MORE THAN SIMPLY DISAPPOTG, PARTICULARLY FOR A CHARACTER THAT GAY TEENS ULD SO EASILY INTIFY WH. {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;}WHATEVER THE REASON—NBC'S ANXIETY OVER PORTRAYG AN OUT GAY TEEN OR FEAR ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE ROLE ON DEKKER'S FUTURE—THE MANNER WHICH THE SEXUALY OF ZACH'S CHARACTER HAS BEEN HANDLED BOTH ON THE SHOW AND THE PUBLICY MATERIALS IS SENSIVE AT BT, EXPLOATIVE AT WORST. VIEWERS ARE ED TO LOSG BELOVED CHARACTERS TO THE VILLAS ON THE SHOWS – 'S PART OF THEIR DRAMA. {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 'S A SHAME THAT HELPG A GAY TEEN CHARACTER HOLD ON TO HIS SEXUALY WAS APPARENTLY ONE FEAT THAT THE HERO ULDN'T MANAGE. {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

"The character beme straight and the actor me out as gay. "Image source, NBC UniversalImage ptn, Hayn Patiere played Claire Ben Hero alongsi Thomas Dekker as ZachThomas Dekker played Zach on the NBC show Hero, which ran until Febary hadn't publicly said he was gay at the time, but has recently nfirmed his sexualy Out statement on Instagram reads: "My sexual orientatn once aga me to qutn this week when a proment gay man ed an awards acceptance speech to 'out' me.

"I'm gay". Claire’s iend Zach (played by Thomas Dekker) was origally planned to reveal he was gay durg season 1.

HERO LOS ANOTHER GAY CHARACTER?{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 BRIAN JUERGENSJULY 25, 2007/8:56 AMBY BRIAN JUERGENSJULY 25, 2007 / 8:56 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"HERO LOS ANOTHER GAY CHARACTER?","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-07-25T12:56:50.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-07-25T12:56:50.000+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":"BRIAN JUERGENS","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;}IT'S KD OF FUNNY THAT OUR MA PAGE ARTICLE TODAY IS AN TERVIEW WH PARTHENON, THE GAY GUY ON THIS SEASON'S WHO WANTS TO BE A SUPERHERO (THERE'S ALSO A LBIAN THE BUNCH). BEE SEEMS THAT THE TUBE'S BIGGT SUPERHERO EFFORT, NBC'S HERO, HAS LOST A GAY CHARACTER FOR THE SEND {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;}THIS TIME S CLAIRE'S MUCH-HYPED LBIAN CHEERLEAR IEND WHO HAS REPORTEDLY DROPPED (MUCH-HYPED AFTER THE BACLE THAT WAS THE -GAYG OF ZACH, CLAIRE'S PREV NFIDANT). APPARENTLY THE ACTRS HIRED TO PLAY THE ROLE, LYNDSY FONSE, HAS NABBED A SERI REGULAR GIG ON DPERATE HOEWIV, SO HER CHARACTER HAS BEEN WRTEN OUT AFTER JT ONE {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;}I KNOW THIS IS A PLETELY DIFFERENT SUATN THAN WHAT HAPPENED WH ZACH, BUT REALLY -- WHAT IS UP WH THIS SHOW AND S GAY BUTTERFGERS? I'LL ADM I HELD ON AFTER THE ZACH SUATN BEE I LOVED THE SHOW, BUT THAT WRETCHED SEASON FALE WAS THE LAST STRAW FOR ME, AND THIS NEWS CERTALY ISN'T ENTICEMENT TO E BACK. MAYBE THIS SEASON WILL BE REVEALED THAT CLAIRE'S POWER IS ACTUALLY THAT SHE REPELS 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;}IN RELATED NEWS, 'S ALSO BEG REPORTED THAT HLY HOT-100'D ZACHARY QUTO (SYLAR) MAY PLAY SPOCK JJ ABRAMS'S NEW STAR TREK MOVIE. QUTO OF URSE PLAYED TORI SPELLG'S GAY SIKICK ON SO NOTOR. IN SE YOU MISSED , HERE'S THE HILAR (AND APPROPRIATELY STEAMY) EX-GAY SNA {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;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

The ncern was that this change his onscreen character would affect his actg reer (he had played three gay rol the past). Durg his acceptance speech, he spoke about var tim om his reer when characters were changed om beg gay to heterosexual, or “hetwashed”. Fuller said, "I had a brief stt on Hero where the gay character was 'hetwashed' after the actor's management threatened to pull him om the show if he— the character, not the actor— were gay.

The character beme straight and the actor me out as gay. The actor qutn was prevly mentned former Hero star Thomas Dekker (who played Zach), who had yet to e out publicly as gay.

Hero lovers, here is a mid-season surprise for you: Zach is not gay. " AfterElton ntacted NBC for nfirmatn after beg told by Thomas Dekker's management (Dekker plays Zach), the character of Zach is absolutely those that have followed the show closely and taken even a cursory look at NBC's marketg efforts around the show (which have repeatedly suated, implied and led most viewers to believe that the character is gay), this is tertg—and troublg—news.