All hell broke loose when Billy announced he was gay!

Clint and Viki�s marriage ran into serious turbulence when Viki took interest in Reverend Andrew Carpenter�s father Sloan, a retired Army General, who was writing a biographical book, �Lord of the Banner� about the late Victor Lord. Upon Sloan�s being diagnosed with Hodgkin�s Disease, he came to Llanview to make peace with Andrew. Due to Sloan�s gruff, overbearing ways, father and son had been estranged for years. Adding more turmoil to their relationship was Sloan�s refusal to accept the fact that his late son, William, was gay and died of AIDS. The reconciliation would have to wait because Sloan continued to deny the truth about William.

Reverend Carpenter proved to be a trusted advisor to a seventeen year old Billy Douglas. Billy was gay and he agonized over whether or not to tell his parents. Billy came to rely on both of them. One day in the rectory of St. James Church, a distraught Billy came to Andrew once again for help. The trusting minister placed a comforting hand on the boy�s shoulder. Just then, troubled Marty Saybrooke peered in the door. For weeks, Marty had been trying to seduce Andrew, but he had gently spurned her overt advances. Jealous and angry to see Andrew expressing warmth and care for someone other than her, Marty spitefully went to Billy�s parents, Walter and Virginia Douglas, and proceeded to tell a vindictive lie that the pastor was trying to seduce their son! Startled, Billy�s parents were temporarily relieved when upon confronting their son, he adamantly denied the allegation. However, when they later caught the good Reverend hugging Billy to console him, they became livid. The Douglas� went to the archdiocese to file a formal complaint against Andrew for misconduct.

The charges against Reverend Carpenter spread through Llanview like wildfire! Though he denied any wrongdoing, Andrew�claiming a basic right to privacy�refused to publicly reveal his sexual preference. Massive homophobia ensued, and a vicious war of hate divided the citizens of Llanview. Through it all, Andrew held his head high; even sustaining a brutal beating from a homophobic bigot, all the while proudly refusing to quit his post. Cassie Callison, who was now dating Andrew, began receiving hate letters. Meanwhile, Clint and Viki�s disagreeing on Clint�s stance of not wanting sixteen year old Joey to maintain his friendship with Billy added another level of contention to their already trouble relationship.