Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (October 19, 2007)

YEAH, BUT THEIR FOOD IS STILL LOUSY AND IT RAINS ALL THE TIME
As someone whose job it is to cover how gay and bisexual men are covered in the popular culture, it's sometimes hard not to feel jealous over how gay issues are handled in the U.K. (And that's not even considering the fact they have civil unions.)

That point was driven home this past week when the nominees for Britain's National Television Awards were announced. The best comparison for those in the U.S. would be to the People's Choice Awards as opposed to the Emmys. Like the PCAs, the NTAs are voted on by the general public. And the general public in the U.K. seems to love their gays.

Up for Most Popular Actor is the out Antony Cotton for his role as the gay barman Sean Tully on Coronation Street. Cotton actually won Most Popular Newcomer for the same part back in 2005. Cotton has all sorts of good news of late as his talk show The Antony Cotton Show, after a five week run, did well enough in the ratings to get a second go.

Also nominated for Most Popular Actor is James Sutton who plays gay teen John Paul in sudser Hollyoaks. It was nice to see Sutton (below, right) get nominated for his work on Hollyoaks in a storyline not completely unlike what has unfolded on As the World Turns with Luke and Noah. Sutton truly has been terrific in the part and best of all, he has seemed much more comfortable with the storyline than did his co-star Guy Burnet (below, left) who said some not entirely flattering things about playing gay.

Both Hollyoaks and Coronation Street are up for Most Popular Serial Drama and Graham Norton is also nominated for Most Popular Entertainment Presenter.

And if that's still not enough 'mo loving for you, the soap Emmerdale which also features a gay storyline is up for an award, along with the reality show Any Dream Will Do with John Barrowman as one of the judges, out writer Russel T. Davies' Doctor Who, and even Ugly Betty snagged a nomination.

Voting is open until October 31st!