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In the latest episode of the show, Vito makes a decision that will dramatically impact his life, possibly those of his fellow mobsters. Vito appears irritated and sullen at the wedding of the daughter of New York crime boss Johnny "Sack" Sacramoni. He gathers his trophy wife and their two children and hastily exits the celebration in the middle of dinner.

His wife complains to their surprised table mates, “He's always like this at weddings.” On the surface, it's an innocuous comment that reiterates Vito's typical “tough guy” behavior. But for the viewers who know his secret, it's a window into his tormented psyche. Of course weddings might be upsetting to a closeted married gay man.

Later that same night, Vito goes out to a gay bar and is seen dancing in full leather gear with another man. Unbeknownst to him, two of his mob colleagues are there making their regular “pick up” (a “protection” fee) at the same bar.

Vito and his dance partner run smack into the two astounded, then revolted, mobsters. With eerie calm, Vito tells them, “It's a joke!” but the men don't buy it. They storm out of the bar as Vito begs for them not to tell anyone.

His dance partner is confused by the interaction, and encourages Vito to ignore them. He clearly has no idea that Vito's livelihood—and most likely his life—have now been put in jeopardy. For a moment, it seems possible that Vito could attack or kill the gay man he was just flirting with.

But instead Vito leaves the bar and checks into a motel with only a gym bag and his gun. He calls another mobster--Silvio--clearly checking to see if he has been told about the bar incident. When it's clear that Silvio doesn't know anything about it, Vito sits on the bed smoking and contemplating his gun.

Vito has become a more important character this season and has attempted to maneuver himself into a greater position of power.This higher profile could make him more vulnerable to attack.

But he's already been proven to be a brutal, long-haul player who seems an unlikely candidate for suicide. Given his character development up to this point, it seems more likely that he will hunt down and kill the men who could out him.

In the constructed world of The Sopranos there would not be room for Vito's homosexuality, so the desperation of his situation seems plausible. But his storyline is more complex than what we typically find with gay characters in television. Yes, his is a struggle with sexual identity and he is primarily afraid of being exposed. But his role as an important member of the syndicate, his aggressive and violent nature, and his characterization as a tough survivor set him apart.

Despite the hints at suicide, Vito is more likely to kill others than himself. And in the context of The Sopranos, killing the men who saw him at the bar is a viable form of self-defense.

Vegas odds makers have Vito marked as the most likely Sopranos character to next be “whacked” this season, specifically because of his gay secret. But if Vito is killed it won't be because HBO simply played by the most obvious numbers and killed off the token gay character. Vito lives by the gun and is likely to die by it, as are the heterosexual characters on the show.

Regardless of how or if he goes, Vito Spatafore will probably be discussed in depth by viewers and critics alike, and considered a lively and complicated addition to the gay TV canon. It's doubtful that the same will be said of the less-crucial character of Kyle, despite Everwood's noble intentions.

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