The History of TV's Gay Teens from "ATWT" to "Queer as Folk"

Greek (2007)

What would happen if, on getting to college, Luke Snyder or Justin Taylor or Marco Del Rossi decided that coming out in high school hadn’t been the greatest idea they’d ever had, and they went back in the closet?

That’s the question teen drama Greek asks about high school frat boy Calvin Owens (Paul James). Audiences don’t even know he’s gay when the pilot begins, although if you’re in the know, you’ll catch him checking out the guys even before you see him sneaking out of another guy's frat house bedroom in the early morning hours.

It’s not until the fourth episode of the series, when his dad pays him a visit at this fraternity house, that we find out that not only was he out in high school, but his family had no problems with him being gay. Calvin had decided he didn’t like being “the gay guy,” and decided not to be open about who he really is when he got to college.

Although he does finally start up a relationship with Heath (Zack Lively), and also comes out to his friend Rusty, who takes it in stride, his secrecy about his sexual orientation creates all kinds of problems for him during the school year. Heath isn’t happy with Calvin’s unwillingness to be seen with him, or take their relationship beyond the bedroom. His female friend, Ashleigh (Amber Stevens) is humiliated when she tries to seduce him and he tells her he’s gay. And when Ashleigh inadvertently outs him to his frat brothers in the season finale, they shun him until he takes off his pledge pin and leaves.

Rumors about next season are that Calvin’s going to find out what losing his place in his fraternity really means to him; it’s hard to believe that it will mean more than his self-respect, which is considerable. Although the idea that Calvin wants to be seen for himself, and believes he can only do that by hiding part of who he is, could be some kind of post-gay thing, it’s more likely that he’s going to find out that being honest about who you really are is more important than he first thought.

And maybe by then Noah will figure that out, too.