Is Zach From 'MAFS' Gay? His Sexualy Gets Qutned on the Show

Contents:

• HERO STAR ZACHARY QUTO COM OUT AS A GAY MAN
• HERO WRER BRYAN FULLER AGA NFIRMS ZACH WAS {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 JENSENAPRIL 23, 2007/9:02 AMBY MICHAEL JENSENAPRIL 23, 2007 / 9:02 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"HERO WRER BRYAN FULLER AGA NFIRMS ZACH WAS GAY","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-04-23T13:02:34.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-04-23T13:02:34.000+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;}HERE ARE SOME QUOT OM THE TERVIEW WH 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;}ON WHETHER MAKG ZACH GAY WAS A PATH THEY WERE ALWAYS GOG TO TAKE:{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 ABSOLUTELY WAS A PATH THAT WE WERE GOG TO TAKE. IN THE FIRST MEETGS WHEN WE WERE STG DOWN AND TALKG ABOUT THE SHOW, ONE OF THE THGS ABOUT THE SHOW THAT TIM SAID THAT HE WANTED ALL THE CHARACTERS TO REPRENT DIFFERENT PEOPLE THE WORLD AND WE HAD AN ASIAN GUY AND AN INDIAN GUY AND. A WHOLE BUNCH OF WHE PEOPLE. HE JT WANTED TO BE A UNED BETON ST. I SAID THAT'S FANTASTIC, BUT IF WE HAVE THIS MANY PEOPLE, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE A GAY CHARACTER. IF YOU WANT TO REPRENT THE WORLD, THAT'S CERTALY A MOGRAPHIC THAT WE NEED TO {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;}ON WHY WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD TO HAVE A GAY CHARACTER ON HERO:{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 HERO IS A SHOW ABOUT PEOPLE EMBRACG WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT THEMSELV, WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT FOR GAY TEENS SEE THEMSELV REFLECTED ON TV BY {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;}ON HIS REACTN TO THE WHOLE BACLE:{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;}I WAS VERY UPSET BY - I WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT AT ALL. THERE WERE TIM I HAD TO AVOID TALKG ABOUT BEE WE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE A NEGATIVE REFLECTN ON THE SHOW. THE SHOW'S BEEN SUCH A POSIVE EXPERIENCE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, WE DIDN'T WANT TO GET HUNG UP ON THE FACT THAT ONE ACTOR'S MANAGEMENT FELT THAT WAS A REER KILLER FOR HIM TO PLAY A HOMOSEXUAL WHICH, AS A GAY MAN, I FOUND CREDIBLY {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;}HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL FALLY SHUT UP CLARIFY THGS FOR ALL THE STRAIGHT BOYS WHO KEEP SISTG ZACH WAS NEVER {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’ STAR THOMAS DEKKER COM OUT AS GAY AFTER BEG OUTED BY SHOWNNER
• ZACHARY QUTO NFIRMS HE IS GAY MAGAZE TERVIEW
• 'HERO' REQUISE GAY BT FRIEND CHARACTER IS MYSTERLY STRAIGHTWASHED
• ZACHARY QUTO: ‘THERE’S A TREMENDO FEAR AROUND OPENLY GAY MEN OUR DTRY’
• ZAC EON GAY? FALLY, HE TELLS ALL TO THE ADVOTE
• "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 PRODUCER SPEAKS OUT ON AXG OF GAY CHARACTER ZACH

HERO STAR ZACHARY QUTO COM OUT AS A GAY MAN

The actor, most known for his role on Hero and playg Spock the first film of the new Star Trek movie anchise, has e out of the closet as a gay man. He hasn't done wh a magaze ver story clarg, "I'm gay, " but…Quto, 34, simply mentns durg a wi-rangg new terview New York discsg his work on Broadway the recent revival of Angels Ameri, the Pulzer Prize wng play about the AIDS epimic, Quto said, "[A]s a gay man, ma me feel like I—there's still so much work to be done. "It's like, you have the legalizatn of gay marriage the state of New York and three months later you have Jamey Romeyer killg himself, yet another gay teenager bullied to takg his own life.

"And, you know, aga, as a gay man, I look at that and say there's a hopelsns that surrounds , " he ntued. "I also ma an gets better vio last year— the wake of the sensels and tragic gay teen suicis that were sweepg the natn at the time. But light of Jamey's ath— beme clear to me an stant that livg a gay life whout publicly acknowledgg —is simply not enough to make any signifint ntributn to the immense work that li ahead on the road to plete equaly.

HERO WRER BRYAN FULLER AGA NFIRMS ZACH WAS {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 JENSENAPRIL 23, 2007/9:02 AMBY MICHAEL JENSENAPRIL 23, 2007 / 9:02 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"HERO WRER BRYAN FULLER AGA NFIRMS ZACH WAS GAY","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-04-23T13:02:34.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-04-23T13:02:34.000+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;}HERE ARE SOME QUOT OM THE TERVIEW WH 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;}ON WHETHER MAKG ZACH GAY WAS A PATH THEY WERE ALWAYS GOG TO TAKE:{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 ABSOLUTELY WAS A PATH THAT WE WERE GOG TO TAKE. IN THE FIRST MEETGS WHEN WE WERE STG DOWN AND TALKG ABOUT THE SHOW, ONE OF THE THGS ABOUT THE SHOW THAT TIM SAID THAT HE WANTED ALL THE CHARACTERS TO REPRENT DIFFERENT PEOPLE THE WORLD AND WE HAD AN ASIAN GUY AND AN INDIAN GUY AND. A WHOLE BUNCH OF WHE PEOPLE. HE JT WANTED TO BE A UNED BETON ST. I SAID THAT'S FANTASTIC, BUT IF WE HAVE THIS MANY PEOPLE, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE A GAY CHARACTER. IF YOU WANT TO REPRENT THE WORLD, THAT'S CERTALY A MOGRAPHIC THAT WE NEED TO {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;}ON WHY WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD TO HAVE A GAY CHARACTER ON HERO:{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 HERO IS A SHOW ABOUT PEOPLE EMBRACG WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT THEMSELV, WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT FOR GAY TEENS SEE THEMSELV REFLECTED ON TV BY {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;}ON HIS REACTN TO THE WHOLE BACLE:{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;}I WAS VERY UPSET BY - I WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT AT ALL. THERE WERE TIM I HAD TO AVOID TALKG ABOUT BEE WE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE A NEGATIVE REFLECTN ON THE SHOW. THE SHOW'S BEEN SUCH A POSIVE EXPERIENCE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE, WE DIDN'T WANT TO GET HUNG UP ON THE FACT THAT ONE ACTOR'S MANAGEMENT FELT THAT WAS A REER KILLER FOR HIM TO PLAY A HOMOSEXUAL WHICH, AS A GAY MAN, I FOUND CREDIBLY {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;}HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL FALLY SHUT UP CLARIFY THGS FOR ALL THE STRAIGHT BOYS WHO KEEP SISTG ZACH WAS NEVER {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

Zach and Claire start talkg about what was said about him at school earlier that day (Jackie implied that he was gay).

At the Hero Q&A at Wizard World Los Angel, was revealed that Thomas Dekker's management "didn't want him to be playg a gay character" for reer reasons.

‘HERO’ STAR THOMAS DEKKER COM OUT AS GAY AFTER BEG OUTED BY SHOWNNER

It was also acknowledged that they'd origally nceived of the Zach character as gay, and that the ambiguy was a rult of an "unfortunate mismunitn. In the bullet, Thomas explas that he has prevly played gay characters (at ag 12, 15, and 17) and that neher he nor his management have ever had a problem wh him playg a gay character.

ZACHARY QUTO NFIRMS HE IS GAY MAGAZE TERVIEW

He also stated that he would like to portray a gay character aga the future wh full knowledge of that characters sexualy so he n give the character the kd of velopment and performance the character would serve. Source: LifetimeArticle ntu below advertisementAt one pot, Mdy will wonr whether Zach is beg unfahful or if he's actually gay.

Here are some quot om the terview wh wh whether makg Zach gay was a path they were always gog to take:It absolutely was a path that we were gog to take. I said that's fantastic, but if we have this many people, then we need to have a gay character. If you want to reprent the world, that's certaly a mographic that we need to why would have been good to have a gay character on Hero:Consirg Hero is a show about people embracg what's special about themselv, would have been great for gay teens see themselv reflected on TV by his reactn to the whole bacle:I was very upset by - I was not happy about at all.

'HERO' REQUISE GAY BT FRIEND CHARACTER IS MYSTERLY STRAIGHTWASHED

The show's been such a posive experience for so many people, we didn't want to get hung up on the fact that one actor's management felt that was a reer killer for him to play a homosexual which, as a gay man, I found credibly sultg.

ZACHARY QUTO: ‘THERE’S A TREMENDO FEAR AROUND OPENLY GAY MEN OUR DTRY’

Hopefully, this will fally shut up clarify thgs for all the straight boys who keep sistg Zach was never gay.

Hero star Thomas Dekker me out as gay on Thursday after beg directly outed by Amerin Gods shownner Bryan Fuller at Outft earlier this month.

ZAC EON GAY? FALLY, HE TELLS ALL TO THE ADVOTE

The actor, who played Zach on the NBC show that end Febary 2010, me out on Instagram wh a statement after his “sexual orientatn once aga me to qutn this week when a proment gay man ed an awards acceptance speech to ‘out’ me.

"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

At the LGBT ftival Outft on July 6, Fuller received the Achievement Award and his acceptance speech spoke about the tim his reer characters were “hetwashed” — that is, changed om homo- to heterosexual.

“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, ” Fuller said an oblique reference to Dekker.

HERO PRODUCER SPEAKS OUT ON AXG OF GAY CHARACTER ZACH

At the time, Dekker hadn’t publicly said he was gay, but had nfirmed the qutns surroundg Hero‘ Zach sexualy a blog post and had told Out magaze that he was open to relatnships wh men and women. My sexual orientatn once aga me to qutn this week when a proment gay man ed an awards acceptance speech to “out” me. If we are to stand strong the gay muny, our missn should be support, not excln; love, not shame.