Best TV Episodes With "Gay Themes"
It's been a long journey and we've got hurdles yet to jump. But there are a lot of great moments to look back on in the history of LGBT representation in television, here are my favorites.
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- DirectorJohn RichStarsCarroll O'ConnorJean StapletonRob ReinerArchie is irritated at Mike's offbeat friend, who dresses and behaves in a way that leads him to mistakenly conclude he is a homosexual. But Archie soon learns that one of his best friends is gay.It's impossible to believe how ahead of the times this show was. In 2014 we've only just begun overcoming gay stereotypes. In 1971 not only did All In The Family provide us with an articulate, compassionate episode about gay issues only two years after Stonewall and decades before the curve, but they even managed to subvert the gay stereotypes that would inhabit media portrayals to this day, and give a strong, masculine gay character.
- DirectorGil JungerStarsEllen DeGeneresJoely FisherDavid Anthony HigginsEllen's life is changed when she meets Susan, a lesbian whom she surprisingly finds attractive, and wrestles with accepting her sexuality.The episode that rocked the world. Ellen made a stand in 1997 and since then she's become not just an gay icon the world over, but a beloved personality to much of Middle America that otherwise might have been inclined towards bigotry. Her influence will never stop being felt.
- DirectorJames Whitmore Jr.StarsJames Van Der BeekKatie HolmesMichelle WilliamsPressured by two parties, Joey ultimately must choose between her love for Dawson and her new feelings for Pacey who's planning a summer getaway by sailing down the coast on his new boat, 'True Love.' Meanwhile, Grams talks about love and regret with Jen over the departed Henry, and encourages her, with Jack and Andie tagging along, for an all-night drive to Ohio so that Jen can see Henry one last time. They then take Jack to Boston to see Ethan who tells him that he has returned to his boyfriend. Mitch and Gail decide to get remarried and have the ceremony at their house with Dawson as the best man and Joey as the maid of honor. At the end, Dawson encourages Joey to make a move to follow her own path, and she runs off to join Pacey on his boat, leaving Dawson emotionally beaten and alone once again.Dawson's Creek was great in part for its deep, affecting portrayal of Jack McPhee, a lead character who comes out shortly after his introduction to the series in the second season. In this powerful episode, he struggles with the trials of being a teenager in love, and having to deal with being gay on top of that. This episode features the first male-male kiss on Primetime TV, and it culminates in a powerful, heartwarming confrontation with his father. Many scenes I won't soon forget.
- DirectorMike B. AndersonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter Marge befriends John, a gay store owner, Homer worries that his presence will have a negative effect on Bart's sexuality.Icon John Waters lends his voice and likeness to this very special episode in which America's favorite idiot has his knee-jerk prejudices questioned after he befriends a charismatic man who happens to be gay.
- DirectorPaul HoenStarsGabrielle ChristianMandy MusgraveMatt CohenSpencer and Ashley go to the beach while the rest of the school is on lock down. Spencer is also dealing with the fact that she might be a lesbian.This groundbreaking Noggin/Teen Nick series was a decade ahead of the curve for most teen television. In this episode, our two leads ditch school and Ashley gives her newly-questioning friend a poignant tutorial on the ins and outs of gay dating. A really powerful moment for those of us growing up at the time.
- DirectorGary HalvorsonStarsRoseanne BarrJohn GoodmanLaurie MetcalfThanksgiving for the Conners starts on a sour note with the news Dan won't be able to make it home for the holiday. However, Roseanne is thrilled she can afford to have the meal catered instead of spending an entire day in the kitchen. Family squabbles combined with a shocking revelation by Bev nearly ruins the evening. The family must contend with the fact that money does not necessarily buy happiness.In a shocking and revolutionary twist, Roseanne's mother Beverly comes out during one of the show's many infamous Thanksgiving dinners.
- DirectorJames A. ContnerStarsSarah Michelle GellarNicholas BrendonAlyson HanniganOz's return to Sunnydale leads to his incarceration by the Initiative and complicates the relationship between Willow and Tara.Joss Whedon's cult-classic made waves with its sensitive romance between Willow and Tara. In this impressive episode, Willow rejects Oz and embraces Tara, making misogynist heads explode.
- DirectorBrent WoodsRon HughartAnthony LioiStarsSeth MacFarlaneWendy SchaalScott GrimesStan doesn't realize until it's too late that he's befriended a group of gay Republican men.Archetypal bigot Stan Smith writes a play about Abraham Lincoln to bring America back to its roots. Little does he realize, his touching portrayal of Lincoln's bodyguard strikes an intimate chord with the Log Cabin Republicans and he becomes their spokesperson!
- 2005–201422mTV-MA8.6 (391)TV EpisodeDirectorSeung Eun KimBob HathcockStarsRegina KingJohn WitherspoonCedric YarbroughDespite many obvious clues to the contrary, Riley denies that his favorite rapper, Gangstalicious, is gay.In this episode of Aaron McGruder's controversial satire, we delve into homophobic Hip Hop culture and its incongruous double standard where misogyny is used as an excuse to promote sexualized relationships between men. It'd be funnier if it weren't unfortunately so true.
- 2001–201523mTV-PG8.0 (253)TV EpisodeDirectorPhilip EarnshawStarsJamie JohnstonRaymond AblackAislinn PaulAdam's hopes of fitting in are crushed when everyone discovers he is transgender. Anya suspects her mother is having an affair but what she discovers ends up being even worse.Degrassi is known for tackling real life issues, and in this two-part episode we explore the mind and struggles of a transgender teenager.
- DirectorCharles McDougallStarsKevin SpaceyRobin WrightMichael KellyFrank has a library named after him at his old military school and spends time with his old friends. Peter returns to Philadelphia, visits his mother and tries to regain people's support.It was subtle enough to go under the radar for some, but this spectacular high-end drama starring legendary actor Kevin Spacey made a commendable step forward when the show's darkly charismatic star revealed lingering feelings regarding a passionate college romance with his buddy Tim.
- DirectorAlex GravesStarsRob LoweDulé HillAllison JanneyWith the midterm elections coming up, Toby looks for a way to stop hate groups; Charlie and Zoey decide whether to continue their relationship; President Bartlet discovers the egg cream and is concerned about an ultra-right-wing candidate running for school board in his old district in New Hampshire; and Sam is asked to put White House help behind an old friend running for Congress. This episode includes the President's confrontation with a right-wing radio talk show host using a famous list of modern applications of Biblical laws. Oh, yes, and psychics at Cal Tech and the Fermi National Accelerator Lab ...Charismatic US President Josiah Bartlet, played by Martin Sheen, encounters your typical homophobic conservative talk-show host and proceeds to eviscerate her inconsistent adherence to Biblical doctrine. It's pretty great, Bartlet offers to sell his daughter and asks if being a college graduate should result in a better price. What a beautiful scene.
- DirectorErika KaestleStarsBridgit MendlerLeigh-Allyn BakerBradley Steven PerryGabe discovers that PJ is living in the tree-house in the backyard.Disney Channel's hit series takes a daring step when parents Bob and Amy Duncan entertain a lesbian couple during their child's playdate. A first-ever occurrence on a children's network! Hopefully opening the door to much more in the near future.
- DirectorTrey ParkerStarsTrey ParkerMatt StoneMona MarshallCartman takes a photo with Butters' penis in his mouth to prove Butters is gay. He later finds out what the picture really means and freaks out when the photo disappears. Meanwhile, Butters has to go to a special camp to calm his urges.South Park is a show prone to the vicious lampooning of any and all issues, including -- sometimes -- LGBT rights. But on the issue of "pray the gay away" brainwashing camps they took a surprisingly straight-forward approach, expertly underlining the inherent cruelty of these camps, the absurdity of parents who jump to the conclusion that their kid is gay at the drop of a hat, and the counterintuitive nature of putting dozens of gay kids together and expecting to not incite romantic and sexual feelings between them.
- DirectorDavid LeeStarsKelsey GrammerJane LeevesDavid Hyde PierceFrasier's plan to "fix up" Daphne with his new boss goes awry when Frasier learns his secret.Frasier's new boss is a dashing single gay man. In a series of classic sitcom misunderstandings, he gets set up with Daphne but thinks he's on a date with Frasier, and thinks Frasier's whole family is gay! To be honest it would have been a better show if they were. ;)
- DirectorLesli Linka GlatterStarsJeff DanielsEmily MortimerJohn Gallagher Jr.Will discovers that someone has leaked information to Nina Howard, the Genoa team uncovers more leads in the story, and Maggie prepares for the Uganda trip. Meanwhile, Jim takes a stand against Romney's press team.Runner-up: In this episode of Sorkin's latest political drama, a light is shone on the deplorable hypocrisy of conservatives who claim to support the troops, but gleefully boo a gay US serviceman while he is on active duty in Iraq.