I'm surprised you were able to have a bf back in 1988. To be considered being gay or looked at being one was taboo. Even back in 1980 the fag/faggot word was used when your considered to be gay. So yeah coming out was not an option in 1988.
I too was excited at Hank being gay on my favorite soap yet as @Khan and I got back and forth on men's beauty....I thought couldn't they have gotten a hunkier Hank?😂 I found Starcher rather unattractive. I pretty much knew Hank was gay by the way Starched portrayed him. It's too bad he was written out and his presence in Oakdale wasn't flushed out more.