Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (October 16, 2009)

Last weekend's Equality March in Washington D.C. got me to thinking about how far we have — and haven't — come in the fight for gay equality. But since AfterElton.com focuses on pop culture, I'm going to look at things through that lens and leave the political analysis for Pam's House Blend, Americablog, Bilerico and the other assorted gay political websites that cover the topic. 

One of the very first times American television addressed the subject of gay men (bisexuality was almost never addressed) was way back in 1954 when the L.A. based tabloid talk show Confidential File presented "Homosexuals and the Problems They Present." Hmm, I'm guessing it wasn't terribly flattering unless it was about how boring straight people looked in comparison to us 'mos.

San Francisco's public TV station did the first ever documentary, The Rejected in 1961 and it wasn't until 1967 that a television show first featured a gay storyline. The show was N.Y.P.D., the episode was titled "Shakedown" and was about gay men being blackmailed. 

The 1970s brought us All in the Family which became the first sitcom to address the issue of homosexuality, followed the next year by the first regularly occurring gay character on The Corner Bar, while That Certain Summer was the first made for-TV-movie involving a gay storyline. The 70s also gave us two more sitcoms with gay characters: Hot l Baltimore which featured a gay couple (and lasted thirteen episodes) and Soap featuring Jodie Dallas (Billy Crystal).

Each one of these generated a fair bit of controversy and backlash.

Things weren't much better in the early 80s as Dynasty did all sorts of unpleasant things to Steven Carrington including having his two lovers murdered or "accidentally" killed, plus having him apparently be straight for a while. The 80s also featured a number of AIDS-themed works including episodes of St. Elsewhere and Midnight Caller, as well as the TV movie An Early Frost. Showtime's Brothers included a gay character, but even by the end of the 80s, gay characters were still so controversial that ABC reportedly lost $1.5 million in advertising when thirtysomething dared to show two men in bed post-coitus.

Things gradually improved throughout the 90s with Northern Exposure's gay wedding and PBS' Tales of the City. 

Tales of the City

There was also Melrose Place and the wonderful season of The Real World in San Francisco with Pedro Zamora. Ellen came out in real life and on her show in 1997, and Will & Grace debuted the following season.

Since then we've had such gay-inclusive shows as Six Feet Under, Oz, Desperate Housewives, Mad Men and Brothers & Sisters to carry the banner for gay inclusion on TV. And of course there is reality television such as Survivor, The Amazing Race and Project Runway which has been very gay inclusive although I think it has a very different kind of impact. 

Obviously things have improved and improved dramatically since L.A. Confidential fifty plus years ago. But how satisfied are you with how things stand today?

When it comes to scripted television, are you happy with gay characters that we have to choose from — Kevin and Scotty on B&S, Calvin on Greek, Marshall on United States of Tara, Marc on Ugly Betty, Kurt on Glee as well the numerous "barely there gay characters" who have a couple of lines an episode? Or maybe you aren't happy, but think this is about as good as things can get for us? Should there be a show somewhere on network or cable television (other than Logo or here!) that is as gay centric as was Queer as Folk? Or are we expecting too much to hope for something like that?

You have thirty minutes to write 750 word essay on the topic. Or you can just take our quick poll!

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