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Pride Month: Memorable LGBT Characters Through the Years – Photo Gallery
June is Pride month around the world and in major cities in the U.S.
For the soaps; daytime and primetime, over the years, we’ve seen an evolution from having no LGBT characters, to more inclusion and representation of the gay community on your favorite shows. However, there is still far more representation that is clearly needed.
While several daytime and primetime dramas have given us coming out stories, love stories, same-sex weddings, and more, some have anchored their characters into the core drama of their respective shows, but others have tread lightly.
Check out our gallery below of these moving and memorable characters played by actors who made them come to life that have represented the rainbow flag, and some clunkers that flatlined along the way.
Let us know who your favorite LGBT character has been through the years, and which were the major flops. Comment below. (Note: click on any photo to enlarge the gallery slideshow. or watch as in the post with our captions)
Photo Credits: JPI, ABC, CW
FIRST OFF : just how cute are Eden Reigel and Elizabeth Hendrickson !!! knock me out with that killer smile (s) and laugh. dag! HOT
2ndly: Crystal Chappell; doing, ANY THING. she’s the definition of SUPERLATIVE. this is natural sexuality bar none… smolder
for top draw : WOOF ! Noah and Luke … per the caption… thee “IT” coupledom… Oakdale Magic… MAGIC
I was watching All My Children !!!! Devon McFadden and Lynn Carson… OKAY I remember watching … keeping these feelings hidden… YES YES YES… just a big shout out… “ALL MY CHILDREN” my first soap to pull me in
I’m SOOOOO “happy” @Days of OUR Lives… sans Paul i’m more sorry that we won’t be seeing his bond with John Black. there’s so much joy in watching Drake Hogestyn bring it for his sons (Paul and Brady).
this journey in Salem… w/Sonny , Paul, Will, Derrick.. I agree tho with @soaphound… let’s just keep THIS happy couple, once they find their way back to each other, Will AND Sonny
this show is on all cylinders. LOL.. giddy heart how can it be that DAYS is the best
Felix my man : he’s – so – adorable.. LOVING his scenes as Mike, caretaker.. AND his scenes with Stella. THANK YOU @GH for giving Marc Samuel, work. thank you !
My favorite character was Luke Snyder on ATWT. Van Hansis was phenomenal in that role. If ATWT had continued, I would have loved to see how the character of Dr. Reid Oliver would have progressed. Eric Sheffer Stevens was exceptional as Reid.
It gets no better than Crystal Chappell and Jessica Leccia. These ladies have great chemistry in every pairing… Olivia and Natalia (Guiding Light), Gina and Ani (VenicetheSeries), Nico and Ivy (The Grove the Series), Lainey and Eva (A Million Happy Nows / 1 Million Happy Nows). Hopefully, that list will keep going for many years ! <3 <3
Absolutely the best are Ashley Jones & Lexi Ainsworth on GH ad Parker & Kristina. Perfect story, Kristina falls in love with her amazingly gorgeous Professor, played by sensual, flawless beauty Ashley Jones. Their chemistry was off the charts & as as could be. You never realized they were acting!
Absolutely the best are Ashley Jones & Lexi Ainsworth on GH as Parker & Kristina. Perfect story, Kristina falls in love with her amazingly gorgeous Professor, played by sensual, flawless beauty Ashley Jones. Their chemistry was off the charts & as HOT as could be!! You never realized they were acting!
Love love love Kristina and Parker (Pristina) on GH. Great storyline about Kristina discovering her sexuality along with killer chemistry between Lexi and Ashley.
Thanks for including Pristina. I love this couple and want them back on GH. The chemistry between Ashley and Lexi is .
Hands down Ashley Jones and Lexi Ainsworth as Parker and Kristina on general hospital has been my all time favorite LGBT character. They’re totally a breathe of fresh air to me and so many other Pristina Fans. They have been phenomenal in their roles. Luv ^em!
General Hospitals ♡PRISTINA♡The Amazing AshleyJones & Lexi Ainsworth nailing an Amazing S/L.It’s so realistic and helping so many in today’s world with today’s realities. These 2 ladies believed enough in this S/L to take it on. Phenomoninal. They have a WorldWideFandom. We will keep our voices heard we believe in them support and love them.Their chemistry and connection is so real.Age,race,religion,gender does not matter. Love is love.No person has the right to judge what’s right or wrong in another person’s life. We need to stick together and support one another. There’s enough hate in this world!
They were all special and riveting in their own way but they couldn’t hold a Candle to the UK when it comes to Same Sex Love. The First Same Sex Kiss took place on a UK Soap called Brookside where Beth fell in love with fellow classmate Margaret and almost had an affair with her Professor. On Emmerdale Zoe Tate got Married in a Blessing to her Girlfriend Emma Nightingale. Things didn’t work out, but Zoe was quite the “Playa” who had a diversified set of Girlfriends. From a Lorry aka Garbage Truck Driver, Nanny, Sales Representative, Hairdresser, Interior Decorator to her own Brother’s Wife, she did it all. Sadly Leah Bracknell who played Zoe Tate 1989-2005 is battling Lung Cancer in Real Life. On Hollyoaks Steve “Ste” Hayes who is HIV Positive is a Father to Two Kids who along with his Husband in real life Had Twins through a Surrogate. On Coronation Street there is a Couple named Kate & Rana (Indian & Muslim) who are together and Rana’s Family disowned her. The UK Fans loved Otalia and it’s great that we see Same Sex Love shown in a positive light but we still have a long way to go.
Eastenders had the first gay kiss on a UK soap in 1987, between Michael Cashman’s Colin and Gary Hailes’ Barry. Brooksides’s first lesbian kiss was in 1994 (apparently that was the first pre-watershed, ie. daytime, gay kiss in UK soaps).
My favorite characters have been Bianca and Reese. Bette and Tina. Kat and Adena. Vivian and Aster. Willow, Tara and Kennedy. Dana and Lara. And of course, Parker and Kristina. Who unfortunately, are still stuck off-screen in Oregon. General Hospital really, really needs to bring them back. It’s been way too long and we miss them terribly.
Favorite gay couple is ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Oliver and Kyle whose storyline was sadly cut too short.
Favorite lesbian character is Bianca Montgomery (who sadly never had a single well written romance during her entire run).
I loved Oliver and Kyle. Their story was so sweet. It was great watching them grow as individuals and as a couple. I was so disappointed when they disappeared from Llanview.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For bringing attention and respect to this diverse community. This feature and slideshow are indeed a trip down memory lane. I had no idea there were so many gay characters on soaps (or I clearly have forgotten some of them). It’s not to the point of oversaturation, however.
For the record, more people know someone who is gay than they do someone who is a mob boss! So the relatable factor is built in. Writing for a gay character should be just another unique character with his or her own traits. I think that a gay storyline is only as strong as the writers and actors. It can be entertaining and sometimes enlightening. With plotlines utilizing gay people, I suggest avoiding the trap of being preachy or showcasing stereotypes. Just as in the straight community, there is an inherent diversity in the gay community. All kinds of people, with dreams and aspirations, trying to make a living, trying to connect. We are all more alike than we realize…
So what you’re saying is….. they need to write for a gay mob boss??
Obviously it won’t be Sonny Corinthos, since he’s clearly the most hetero man in Port Charles. But Brad Cooper (or whatever his last name is) is apparently a descendant of the Chinese mafia boss from the “Asian quarter” storyline of the mid 80s. What if Brad got bored with being a rarely seen lab tech and decided to embrace his Grandpa Wu’s legacy??
Doubt it would happen, and Lucas would probably dump his ass if it did, but at least that would be a first for daytime (as far as I know)
Thanks for your reply, Satan. You gave me quite the chuckle today! 🙂
I once did a fan fiction story in honor of the same sex soap couples who I loved but didn’t make it. I was absolutely taken by Bianca Montgomery and Frankie/Maggie Stone on All My Children, Kyle Lewis and Oliver Fish on One Life To Live, Will Horton and Sonny on Days Of Our Lives, and now Parker Forsythe and Kristina Davis on General Hospital.
CUT TOO SHORT : @GH for firing/letting go; Lexi Ainsworth AND Ashley Jones. this was so promising.
Lexi booked other work. She wasn’t on contract and was not fired. Without Kristina, there was no need for Parker.
What about Katherine Chancellor and Joann Curtis on Y&R in 1977?
Major props to you for including some of the early storylines and characters from way back: Lynn, and then later Michael, on All My Children, and Billy on One Life to Live, and especially Hank on As the World Turns. But one quibble: yes, you covered the Dynasty reboot–but nothing on Steven in the original Dynasty? That was such a seminal event in television history: a major character on a highly rated nighttime soap who was gay, came out to his family, had same-sex relationships, and even won over his bigoted father eventually. His story over the years was handled in a very uneven way, I’ll grant, and eventually he was consigned to life with no romantic relationship at all (while everyone else around him was boinking like bunnies–this was Dynasty, after all–which made his celibacy all the more glaring and, well, silly, really), but still, Steven was gay, in the era of the Moral Majority and the bigoted backlash against the gay community using AIDS as the excuse, and that was such a triumph (major, major gratitude and admiration to everyone involved–it cannot have been easy), and he was such a pioneer, that I’m really surprised you left him out.
Yes, the backlash against Steven on the original Dynasty. Al Corley left the role because he didn’t like that they were moving away from the gay storyline. It didn’t work as Steven and Claudia were a tremendously boring couple.
My favorite was definitely Oliver and Kyle #OLTL miss Landview very much !!
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The Bold and the Beautiful celebrated this week in style! What else would you expect from the soap opera who celebrated its 39th anniversary on Monday, March 23 and at the same time dropped a huge surprise to fans worldwide.
The soap opera launched its new streaming app BBTV which allows viewers to watch over 9,000 episodes and counting of their favorite moments and stories throughout almost four decades, plus first-time content including: cast auditions for their roles, and first up is legacy series star, Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke Logan Forrester), all this along with B&B specials, interviews with the actors, bloopers, and so much more.
To kick things into high gear, and to celebrate their achievements, cast members past and present gathered for the BBTV launch party on Thursday, March 26 in the stunning former party villa of none other than Bette Davis inside Wheelhouse LA’s estate property in West Hollywood, California. Check out some of the red carpet arrivals for this exceptionally well-put together event!
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Ridge Forrester is that you? Two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Thorsten Kaye!
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Dylan is taking B&B by storm, thanks to Sydney Bullock’s portrayal!
Photo: HutchinsPhoto.com
Six-time Daytime Emmy winner, Heather Tom (Katie) always dazzles.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Lisa Yamada’s appearances this week caused quite a stir! Is Luna back and alive, or was she just hanging out with her old pals?
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
B&B’s Annika Noelle (Hope) and hubby actor, John Patrick Amedori hit the carpet.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Denise Richards (ex-Shauna) returns to celebrate with her former cast members.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Electra! (Laneya Grace).
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Newcomer, Brayan Nicoletti is already making waves on-screen as R.J. Forrester.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Don Diamont (Bill) and his wife, Cindy Ambuehl taking in the night.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Original series star, John McCook (Eric Forrester) with his wife, Laurette Spang-McCook.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
A very pregnant Ashleigh Brewer (Ivy) joined her pals for the launch party.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Christian Weissman gave us a Remy sighting twice this week!
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Amber is back! Well, at least on the red carpet, and it’s always good to see Adrienne Frantz.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
The always stunning Jennifer Gareis (Donna).
Photo: JPI
Great to see three-time Daytime Emmy winner, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy)!
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Gavin Anderson (real-life boyfriend of Christian Weissman) joins Lisa Yamada and Christian for a moment with the paparazzi.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Darin Brooks (ex-Wyatt) was amongst those celebrating with the cast? Is Wyatt set for a return?
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Crew Morrow making a name for himself on The Bold and the Beautiful as Will Spencer.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
What would The Bold and the Beautiful be without the perils and loves of Brooke Logan Forrester played by soap’s most popular star worldwide, Katherine Kelly Lang?
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Three-time Daytime Emmy winner, Scott Clifton (Liam) arrives for the launch and anniversary party.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Recurring guest star, Morgan Fairchild (Dottie) with B&B’s long running series executive producer and head writer, Brad Bell.
Let us know via the comment section below, who dazzled to you on the BBTV launch party red carpet, and who were you most happy to see? Share your picks and your thoughts via the comment section below. And be on the lookout for the Michael Fairman Channel’s interviews with the cast from the party in the coming days.
News
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Marks 39th Anniversary with On Set Celebration Plus a Lisa Yamada Sighting (PHOTOS)
This week, The Bold and the Beautiful is celebrating their 39th anniversary on the air, having debuted back on March 23, 1987. Here we are heading into what will be next year the series fourth decade, and the lives and loves of the fashionable Forrester, Spencer and Logan families are still at the core of the storytelling of this half-hour soap.
On Monday, several of the cast and behind the scenes creatives marked the occasion with an on set cake-cutting and some words from series executive producer, Brad Bell which included, “My dad (the late William J. Bell) always called it the ultimate collaboration and its true, so cheers to us!” Also on Monday as Bell shared, Bold and the Beautiful announced the launch of their new streaming app and digital platform BBTV (BoldandBeautiful.com)
B&B fans around the world have seen a few photos circulating of late that none other than Daytime Emmy-winner, Lisa Yamada (ex-Luna Nowaza) was present at the celebration as was her good friend in real-life and storyline friend, Christian Weissman (Remy).
Photo: JPI
The two sightings raised the question, if Luna is back taping all-new episodes of the soap and did not die, or could she be appearing as a dream/nightmare where she is haunting Dylan (Sydney Bullock), since it was the former school teacher-turned-Forrester creations employee, who ran her down? O,r was she just paying the show a visit on its anniversary? Viewers were previously told by Brad Bell that Luna is dead. But this is the soaps, and no one is ever really dead, are they?
Taking part in the festivities also were cast members: John McCook (Eric), Thorsten Kaye (Ridge), Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke), Don Diamont (Bill), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy), Jennifer Gareis (Donna), Rebecca Budig (Taylor), Harrison Cone (Deke) Laneya Grace (Electra) and Brayan Nicoletti (R.J.) as well as series director, Cindy Popp.
Now below. take a look at a few of the snaps from B&B’s 39th anniversary on set gathering.
Photo: JPI
Five of the leading stars of The Bold and the Beautiful: Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, Don Diamont, Thorsten Kaye, Katherine Kelly Lang, John McCook pictured with Brad Bell.
Photo: JPI
Frenemies by day, good besties off set: Sydney Bullock and Laneya Grace.
Photo: JPI
LUNA? Is that you? Lisa Yamada and Christian Weissman made a return to the set of the CBS soap opera in time for the anniversary. Raising the question, were they back taping all-new episodes, or just visiting stay tuned! The troublemaking twosome pictured her with Katherine Kelly Lang, Brayan Nicoletti, Harrison Cone and Jacqueline MacInnes Wood.
Photo: JPI
Cast, crew, creatives celebrate B&B 39!
So, what do you think of the Lisa Yamada sighting? Do you think she may have appeared in an upcoming episode? What about Christian Weissman? Happy to see many of your favorites marking the 39th anniversary of the daytime drama series? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
The Bold and the Beautiful is set to unveil their new R.J. Forrester the week of January 12, when Brayan Nicoletti takes over the role of Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Ridge’s (Thorsten Kaye) son.
Over the years, R.J. had been played by several actors, but Joshua Hoffman was the last to take on the role. At the time in 2023, R.J. was romantically involved with then goody-goody, Luna Nozawa (Lisa Yamada), before she turned into a murdering psychopath.
Things fell apart between the two after Luna slept with Zende (Delon de Metz) after mixing Poppy’s (Romy Park) magic mints and alcohol. At the time, it appeared Zende took advantage of an out of it, Luna but the story flipped much later, that she arranged the whole thing.
Photo: JPI
The last time anyone saw R.J. on the B&B canvas was back in October of 2024 at a Forrester Creations meeting about continuing the Hope for the Future line, or not. Enter actor Brayan Nicoletti as the new R.J. as 2026 begins and as previewed by The Bold and the Beautiful’s executive producer and head writer, Brad Bell, in his winter preview, viewers should looks for R.J. and Will (Crew Morrow) to have a young rivalry that also brings in Electra (Laneya Grace) and Miss Dylan (Sydney Bullock).
Nicoletti has previously been seen in the 2024 film, Woodbridge and the short, No Boys Allowed. The Bold and the Beautiful marks his first soap opera role. Now below, check out a few more first look snaps of Brayan as the new R.J.
Photo: JPI
Brooke and Ridge hug it out when R.J. returns home.
Photo: JPI
R.J. gets to know Electra Forrester.
So, are you looking forward to seeing Brayan Nicoletti as he joins The Bold and the Beautiful on-screen next week as the new R.J.? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Has Dylan’s Mystery Caller/Stalker Been Revealed to Be an Alive Luna Nozawa?
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nick Confesses His Drug Problem to Victor; Joshua Morrow, Mark Grossman, Eric Braeden Bring the Newman Bond
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside
DAYS Stephen Nichols Remembers Drake Hogestyn as the ‘Most Vital, Enthusiastic, Committed Man I Ever Knew’ Ahead of the PanCan PurpleStride Walk
DAYS Stephen Nichols and Co-Stars Walk in Honor of Drake Hogestyn at PanCan PurpleStride LA, ‘I Felt Him With Us’
Brandon Barash Granted Restraining Order Against ‘General Hospital’s’ Kirsten Storms
‘Days of Our Lives’ Rob Scott Wilson Talks ‘Turning Heel’ as Necktie Killer, Ben Weston
Paige Herschell Marks One-Year as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jacinda Bracken
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Has Dylan’s Mystery Caller/Stalker Been Revealed to Be an Alive Luna Nozawa?
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nick Confesses His Drug Problem to Victor; Joshua Morrow, Mark Grossman, Eric Braeden Bring the Newman Bond
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus Talks Humble Beginnings, Test and Albert, WrestleMania 22 with Mickie James, Current Women’s Roster (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair
Judith Light Talks Her Role in ‘The Terror: The Devil In Silver’ Dropping on AMC+ with Co-Star ‘Downton Abbey’ Alum, Dan Stevens
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