But even with advance notice, Andrew's outing on last night's episode of the hit ABC drama was a welcome development in gay visibility on primetime network TV. It also made Desperate Housewives one of the few network TV series ever to air a gay kiss.

In episode 15 ("Impossible"), housewife Susan (Teri Hatcher) finds Andrew making out in the pool with teen gardener Justin (Ryan Carnes, who also stars in the new indie gay comedy Eating Out). The boys, who are naked and kissing in a dark corner of the pool, duck under the water when Susan initially mistakes them for her daughter and her boyfriend; when they can't hold their breath any longer and are forced to surface. Susan realizes her mistake and stares at the two boys in surprise, while Andrew blurts out "I'm not gay!"

New character Justin is revealed to be gay earlier in the episode, when he admits to his employer, Gabrielle (Eva Longoria), that he tried to sleep with her because he's afraid he might be gay. "I've been fooling around with a buddy," Justin tells her, which is "no big deal," except lately, he's started to develop real feelings for his friend. "My buddy and I have been messing around for awhile, and this whole time I kept telling myself it didn't really mean anything, you know? Guess I've just been kidding myself, huh."

Gabrielle responds that "we're all in denial about something," but commends him for "finally facing the truth." Then she kisses him passionately on the way out, and when he admits it didn't do anything for him, she pats him on the cheek and pronounces, "Yep, definitely gay!"

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