Shows from before 2000, that acknowledged a character’s gayness openly, and without it needing to be changed. Doesn’t need to be a series regular-- can be a one-off episode.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Phyllis’ brother Ben is gay, and when Phyllis is informed, she says something like “Oh, thank God!” because she thought he was interested in Rhoda.
Soap. Jodie Dallas was gay, and wasn’t shy about letting others know.
Shows from before 2000, that acknowledged a character’s gayness openly, and without it needing to be changed. Doesn’t need to be a series regular-- can be a one-off episode.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Phyllis’ brother Ben is gay, and when Phyllis is informed, she says something like “Oh, thank God!” because she thought he was interested in Rhoda.
Soap. Jodie Dallas was gay, and wasn’t shy about letting others know.
Shows from before 2000, that acknowledged a character’s gayness openly, and without it needing to be changed. Doesn’t need to be a series regular-- can be a one-off episode.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Phyllis’ brother Ben is gay, and when Phyllis is informed, she says something like “Oh, thank God!” because she thought he was interested in Rhoda.
Soap. Jodie Dallas was gay, and wasn’t shy about letting others know.
Shows from before 2000, that acknowledged a character’s gayness openly, and without it needing to be changed. Doesn’t need to be a series regular-- can be a one-off episode.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Phyllis’ brother Ben is gay, and when Phyllis is informed, she says something like “Oh, thank God!” because she thought he was interested in Rhoda.
Soap. Jodie Dallas was gay, and wasn’t shy about letting others know.
The Bob Newhart Show - Mr. Plager, a reoccurring patient of Bob (played by Howard Hessman) comes out.
Will & Grace - Will and Jack.
Sex and the City - Stanford and Anthony.
An American Family - PBS series from 1973 that followed a real family. One of the children, Lance Loud, chose to come out during the show and that led to him becoming an icon in the gay community.
Shows from before 2000, that acknowledged a character’s gayness openly, and without it needing to be changed. Doesn’t need to be a series regular-- can be a one-off episode.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Phyllis’ brother Ben is gay, and when Phyllis is informed, she says something like “Oh, thank God!” because she thought he was interested in Rhoda.
Soap. Jodie Dallas was gay, and wasn’t shy about letting others know.
The Bob Newhart Show - Mr. Plager, a reoccurring patient of Bob (played by Howard Hessman) comes out.
Will & Grace - Will and Jack.
Sex and the City - Stanford and Anthony.
An American Family - PBS series from 1973 that followed a real family. One of the children, Lance Loud, chose to come out during the show and that led to him becoming an icon in the gay community.
Melrose Place - Matt Fielding. The original 1992 series featured a generally positive portrayal of a young gay man. Showed some discrimination he / his partners faced, but the more limited airtime he received was also criticized.
Shows from before 2000, that acknowledged a character’s gayness openly, and without it needing to be changed. Doesn’t need to be a series regular-- can be a one-off episode.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Phyllis’ brother Ben is gay, and when Phyllis is informed, she says something like “Oh, thank God!” because she thought he was interested in Rhoda.
Soap. Jodie Dallas was gay, and wasn’t shy about letting others know.
The Bob Newhart Show - Mr. Plager, a reoccurring patient of Bob (played by Howard Hessman) comes out.
Will & Grace - Will and Jack.
Sex and the City - Stanford and Anthony.
An American Family - PBS series from 1973 that followed a real family. One of the children, Lance Loud, chose to come out during the show and that led to him becoming an icon in the gay community.
Melrose Place - Matt Fielding. The original 1992 series featured a generally positive portrayal of a young gay man. Showed some discrimination he / his partners faced, but the more limited airtime he received was also criticized.
The Hollywood Squares - I realize this wasn’t a scripted show but I’m thinking about how Paul Lynde’s gay jokes about himself were not even really veiled references (things like if asked What’s the most popular fruit in America? answering ‘me!’)
Shows from before 2000, that acknowledged a character’s gayness openly, and without it needing to be changed. Doesn’t need to be a series regular-- can be a one-off episode.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Phyllis’ brother Ben is gay, and when Phyllis is informed, she says something like “Oh, thank God!” because she thought he was interested in Rhoda.
Soap. Jodie Dallas was gay, and wasn’t shy about letting others know.
The Bob Newhart Show - Mr. Plager, a reoccurring patient of Bob (played by Howard Hessman) comes out.
Will & Grace - Will and Jack.
Sex and the City - Stanford and Anthony.
An American Family - PBS series from 1973 that followed a real family. One of the children, Lance Loud, chose to come out during the show and that led to him becoming an icon in the gay community.
Melrose Place - Matt Fielding. The original 1992 series featured a generally positive portrayal of a young gay man. Showed some discrimination he / his partners faced, but the more limited airtime he received was also criticized.
The Hollywood Squares - I realize this wasn’t a scripted show but I’m thinking about how Paul Lynde’s gay jokes about himself were not even really veiled references (things like if asked What’s the most popular fruit in America? answering ‘me!’)
In case that answer isn’t satisfactory (I contemplated including both variety and game shows, too), here’s a more suitable (or bonus) answer:
My So-Called Life - Ricky, Angela’s classmate. It was never talked about but his friends knew, and accepted Ricky’s life choices.
