Late last year on As the World Turns, the character of Luke Snyder (Van Hansis) came out as a gay teenager. Gay viewers, used to mostly seeing gay characters in minor plotlines or portrayed as little more than walking billboards for some “issue” (think AIDS or intolerance) wondered if Luke's storyline might be something different.

It turns that was indeed the case, as Luke's storyline has been integral to the show during the past six weeks.

Since Luke's parents learned he was gay, viewers have watched the family struggle to cope with the news. His mother Lily (Martha Byrnes) has had a more difficult time than Luke's father, Holden (Jon Hensley). While Lily still clearly loved her son, she was confused and fearful for his future. She also wondered what she had done wrong--a common sentiment among parents. Holden had suspected the truth for some time, giving him time to adjust to the news and he has been his son's advocate ever since.

Luke himself has struggled with his mother's less than positive reaction as well as his own conflicts over who else to come out to and what his life will be like now. Overall, however, the show's treatment of his sexuality has been positive, realistic, and quite powerful.

As each character has learned the truth about Luke, their reactions have been almost universally positive without being heavy-handed or treacly. Nor has the show shied away from Luke's sexuality. After learning Luke was gay, his cousin asked if he were seeing anyone, and Luke himself used the word “love” in describing his feelings for another boy.

This being a soap opera, complications must ensue. Enter Damian (Paolo Seganti), Luke's biological father. Upon learning his son is gay, Damian feigns acceptance, but is lying. He sets about manipulating events so Luke will attend a “deprogramming” camp to turn him straight. He even tricks Lily into going along with it, leading to tragic results.

This plot may not sound especially promising as the whole idea of “deprogramming camp” reeks of heavy-handed right-wing rhetoric. But the show's fair-minded treatment of the issue is refreshing. Those in charge of ATWT clearly disapprove of such places, making it perfectly clear who the “villains” are in this story.

Mr. Kreeger (the character who works for the deprogramming camp) is accompanied by eerie music as he uncomfortably tries to coerce Luke into going, even using guilt and high pressure tactics (“We don't have much time, the van is waiting outside!”) to get Luke to come along. There is a palpable sense of dread and discomfort in these scenes, especially as Luke hides upstairs and calls his dad for help.

Likewise, Damian is met with the same “dark” treatment; while on the phone with Mr. Kreeger he angrily exclaims, “I want my son straight by the end of the summer!” He also tries to strong-arm Lily into thinking that Luke is “confused” or “going through a phase”, using her fears for her son to manipulate her.

Lily believes this at first, but after she realizes the true nature of the camp, she immediately confronts Damian: “This isn't about self-esteem, it's about brainwashing kids!” and then comes to accept Luke more fully: “My boy is not broken, whether he's gay or not, he's still my son and I love him!”

Later, Damian uses the dirtiest trick in the book when he plays the family card: “… a wedding, grandchildren, isn't that what you want for him? Just wait until he does something he can't take back.” To which Lily defiantly replies, “Like what, fall in love with a boy?”

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