Out on TV

[blue_lotus13]

I'm trying to put together an article and I need some help. I'm trying to think of all the instances when someone came out on television. So far I've thought of-

1. Ricky came out to someone on "My So Called Life" (If I recall correctly)
2. Ellen came out on "Ellen"
3. Snake's brother came out on "Degrassi Junior High"
4. David came out in the first season of "Six Feet Under"
5. Marco came out in "Degrassi Next Generation"
6. Justin "came out" by bringing Brian to his prom on Queer as Folk (although everyone seems to be "out" on that show the majority of the time. Perhaps they live in Gayopolis. Not that I'm condemning being out, it's just that a lot of people I know are not always out with everyone, especially if they live in a conservative area. Is Pittsburgh conservative?)

If you can think of any other instances where someone came out, please list them for me below. Thanks!

Comments

[mizrobot]

Didn't Dorothy have a son that came out on Golden Girls? Or her ex-husband or something? Should I be embarrased for remembering that? It stuck with me because it's how I learned what "gay" meant.

[mizrobot]

oh, it was Blanche's brother.

Oh duh, what about Friends, Ross's exwife Carol?

[mizrobot]

oh and Dr. Kerry Weaver on ER! (sorry, I keep finding info on the internet. this is fun.)

[morag-gunn.livejournal.com]

Todd is about to come out of the closet on Coronation Street, which means he already did in England because we're six months behind in Canada.

[astronautical.livejournal.com]

I learned from the Dynasty tv movie that someone came out on that show during the first season, but was shoved back in the closet?

and also, apparently the blond on law and order was a lesbian, and no one remembers her coming out -- it came up because she was fired, and she said "is this because I'm a lesbian?" and all my friends who watch law and order were like "you're a lesbian? since when?" I don't think that counts coming out.

[astronautical.livejournal.com]

this article: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_1999_April_27/ai_54492601 reminded me about all the gay wb characters! jack on dawson's creek, willow on buffy, there's a lesbian story line on the oc this week! and also I think they're getting closer to one on one tree hill.

[angharad.livejournal.com]

Also in Buffy, there was that football player who Xander outed who later got killed.

[zoje-george.livejournal.com]

No, that counts as a joke we're running right into the ground. SO glad that actress has left the series.

[kickarse.livejournal.com]

This is tough! Here's a website with some stuff: http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_medi.htm

I can think of a lot of American soaps with gay-coming-outs, (including one with Ryan Philippe), but not sure how relevant those are.

[kylegirl.livejournal.com]

I think "Soap" has the distinction of being the first US primetime series with a gay regular character, but I'm not sure if Jodie Dallas came out on the show or if he was already out when the show started.

And while I've been trying to find out I've discovered that OMG it's out on DVD!

[zoje-george.livejournal.com]

Yes, it does have that distinction. Jodie was already "out" BUT he had to say he was gay a lot of times. Also, I think it was the first time a show featured a custody battle with a gay parent. Jodie's ex (a random one night stand), if I recall correctly, won custody of the kid, but ended up giving her over to Jodie.

On the tv series "Alice" there was one episode in which she had a crush on a football player, the episode ended with him telling her he was gay. It was VERY shocking for its time. I remember this episode in particular because I was watching with my grandparents and asked my grandmother what "gay" was. Surprisingly enough, she explained it without judgment: "It's when two people of the same gender are sexually attracted to and love each other."

Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. Oh wait, they were just crossdressers.

[brdgt.livejournal.com]

For reality tv, there's lot of "coming outs" on the Real World.

And Survivor had two lesbians this season :)

[suhl.livejournal.com]

There's the guy Jack and Will help come out on Will and Grace. And there's a flashback episode of Will's actual coming out.

There was a lot of coming out on Roseanne, including her mother, IIRC.

Debbie on Mad About You

Samantha "came out" on Sex and the City, I guess... really she just had one lesbian relationship and then went back to men.

There was a male student on Boston Public who the vice-principal found making out with another boy.

[amy-pi.livejournal.com]

There's the guy Jack and Will help come out on Will and Grace

That guy was Barry, someone's cousin of something.

[oyvavoy.livejournal.com]

i think there was also an episode where Jack had to come out to his mom on Will and Grace!

[monkeyhouse.livejournal.com]

dawson's creek, what was his name, Jack?
i kept waiting for dawson's coming-out party, but alas, it never happened.

[zoje-george.livejournal.com]

Oh! I thought of another one: Det. Dietrich came out in the last couple of years on "Barney Miller."

[elizawrites.livejournal.com]

Serena Southerlyn came out last week on Law and Order.

[arwenoid.livejournal.com]

some of the earlier ones not already mentioned include:
- Marcy's cousin on Married with Children (I mention this because it was funny as hell. I love that stupid show. The look on Al's face was too priceless.)
- Edith's cousin (posthumously outed) on All in the Family (episode won an emmy in '79. There's a trend here -- Archie is probably one of my favorite physical actors. His look at the "moment of realization" is just too good for words.)

For a ton more information about lesbians at least (I did a project on lesbians in entertainment last year) try this site: http://afterellen.com/. Apparently there is a "brother" site, http://www.afterelton.com/

while not necessarily coming-out moments, this might help: http://www.afterellen.com/TV/Timeline-TV.html

[oyvavoy.livejournal.com]

trying to think of ones not mentioned yet...

1. Noel's brother Ryan came out on Felicity.

2. Shannon (played by Grace Park) came out on CBC's Edgemont.

3. Does Jack Tripper on Three's Company count as coming out?

4. On 90210: The College Years, a frat brother of Steve Sanders came out.

5. On Southpark, I believe Mr. Harrison finally came out.