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| Recurring Characters (Without an extended plot, or a single episode) |
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| "Party of Five" - Julia Salinger |
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| In 1999, FOX's hit show about a family of five orphans living on their own featured an episode based on middle child Julia Salinger (Neve Campbell) where she became interested in and kissed her lesbian writing teacher. The experimentation was attributed to Jullia's confusion as a result of an abusive relationship with a boyfriend. The episode served to confirm Julia's heterosexuality and is questionable in its portrayal of homosexuality because of its link to man-hating and abuse. It was criticized for supporting the misconception that homosexuality is a "phase" though it was admittedly positive in bringing the issue to millions of viewers of the popular show. Neve Campbell has had lesbian scenes and been in movies that have dealt with homosexuality since, including the movies Wild Things and Three to Tango, though none have been particularly galvinizing to the gay rights movements in that they either exploit lesbian relationships as purely sexual (Wild Things) or deal with homosexuality in terms of mistaken identity and deceit (Three to Tango). |
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| "Once and Again" - Jessie Sammler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A March 2002 episode of ABC's now cancelled series Once and Again starring Sela Ward and Billy Campbell, dealt with the issue of homosexuality on a multi-dimensional level. The episode, entitled "Gay-Straight Alliance," followed one of the two teenaged girls on the show, Grace, as she joined the Gay-Straight Alliance in her High School to get closer to a teacher she has a crush on, but who is rumored to be gay. Moreover, the episode deals with Billy Campbell's character's 14-year-old daughter, Jessie, whose best friend Katie confides in her that she is gay and likes Jessie. Jessie is initially scared away but soon considers her own feelings and they share a kiss that is the only one between two characters this young on TV thus far. Unfortunately, the storyline is never resovled because the show was cancelled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| "One Life to Live" - Billy Douglas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| In 1992, Ryan Phillipe, now a successful film star of such hits as 54 and Cruel Intentions, joined the cast of One Life to Live as 17-year old Billy Douglas, the first noteable gay teen on TV. His storyline was fairly prevalent that summer, and involved a scandal with his confidant Rev. Andrew Carpenter (pictured above) where the Reverand was accused of trying to seduce Douglas. The storyline culminates in the Reverand and Billy visiting the AIDS quilt to pay homage to the Reverand's brother, with a somewhat cliched tie-in to AIDS that was typical in the early 90's. The Billy Douglas character went off to Yale for college and has yet to return to OLTL. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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