Soap - Jodie Dallas

Jodie Dallas (Billy Crystal)
Show: Soap
Year Introduced: 1977

Bio: Jodie Dallas was the son of Mary Campbell, one of the two main characters on the soap opera spoof, Soap. He was introduced as a gay man and identified as a gay man throughout the show's run, but considering his relationships with women, he may be more accurately described as bisexual. In the first season, Jodie had a boyfriend (a professional football player), often wore dresses, and wanted to have a sex change. The character was softened almost to the point of being neutered for later seasons. He later had a relationship and almost married a woman with whom he had a daughter, but she left him at the altar. He then lived with a lesbian, although it was stressed that their relationship was strictly platonic. He never had a relationship with another man for the rest of the series.

Significance: While far from perfect, Jodie was the first gay or bisexual male main character on a television show. He was also the first gay parent on TV. Needless to say, he was a very controversial character for the time.