The character is expendable. I don't care what race you or anyone else is. The character can go byebye very easily. And she is. And I have no sympathy because the character sucks.

Forget about the character, "DAYS" still needs a black heroine in order to compete with

"Y&R". In fact, the whole need for a black heroine on Y&R came from the huge ratings success

of AMC with Jesse and Angie decades ago when millions of black viewers drove AMC to #1.

It forced that time slop to reach out for black viewers every since.

Now look at today's ratings.

It only takes 50,000 to 100,000 viewers to make ratings go UP or go DOWN---right King?

If DAYS is smart, they will get a black heroine back on their canvas quick and in a hurry,

because "Y&R" ratings are consistently going up and with the new JILL/Katherine storyline,

they're going for blood.

The "character" is damaged, but every KEY DEMOGRAPHIC is crucial and they

could have done a LOT with Lexie.

It's a double-standard.

Women can be gay in this society, because, to many people, the thought of two women together is beautiful, instead of something that takes away their womanhood or feminine qualities.

Men who are gay, on the other hand, are seen as being emasculated if they come out of the closet or confess their love for a man. Men are supposed to be seen as virile, strong, masculine. In a lot of communities(and ESPECIALLY the black community) gay men are often seen as women...they are stereotypically weak and shunned by social groups who deem it inappropriate or unacceptable.

Personally, I hope they don't go through with the Chad storyline. I just really don't trust Jimmy Reilly to keep his Conservative Catholicism out of this storyline. He will exploit this for some sort of didactic, anti-gay message instead of just telling this story with all the angles considered, including his own.

But what do I expect from a lousy SANTA BARBARA ripoff?

Here you go again with "Jimmy Reilly"'s alleged "Conservative Catholicism." I don't know if you saw Friday's episode, but while it may have been conservative, how Fr. Lonigan handled Simone and Rae, it certainly wasn't anti-gay. I have yet to see one anti-gay message on the show. Okay, I'll concede there was a negative side to the character of Charlie, but since then? Haven't seen much of any of this "anti-gay" propaganda. Examples, please!

First of all, LESBIAN stories are far better received and less controversial than GAY MEN stories

in daytime or in any field of entertainment across the board.

We love and accept K.D. Lang, Melissa Etheridge, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell---but you don't see

gay men being as celebrated or presented as often as Lesbians are in the media.

Madonna had an OPEN lesbian relationship with Sandra Bernhardt and it didn't affect her career

one bit. The public still supported her. LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO Ricky Martin, however, when the

public discovered he was gay---he's in nowhere'sVille.

Soaps would rather do a lesbian storyline than a "gay man" story because it gets lets reaction.

And what do you mean black church groups don't know what to expect??

WHY OH WHY are you all so blatantly IGNORANT about the black "demographic"????

This may come as a HUGE shock to you, but Black and Hispanic viewers of PASSIONS almost outnumber WHITES!!!

NBC is already getting letters from Black CHURCH PEOPLE warning them not to involve any "black man" in a Brokeback Mountain type of story on any soap opera---they're hearing about the "rumors" from the Internet (YES, Black CHRISTIANS actually read the internet just like the rest of us). There are also rumors in black magazines about Charles Divins. Tons of teenaged girls were ALREADY UPSET by rumors that he might be gay.

Have any of you ever read JET magazine or any other black magazines????

Do any of you have a clue as to what a makes a BLACK MALE ACTOR into a major star??? (Hint: millions of Black female fans supporting their careers)

Do any you realize that a White GAY actor has much less at stake than a Black MALE who is perceived as either "Gay" or "exclusively in love with white women" in the Black Community????

Do any of you know the GRIEF Charles Divins gets for being so "mixed looking" in the black community when the TOP MALES are tall, dark chocolate and handsome in that demographic????

GEESH!

This is just like people claiming that LEXIE leaving DAYS doesn't really matter, because her character is "expendable" and not that important.

But if we could POLL the "black demographic" that supports DAYS--what do you all think they would say??? And what happens to DAYS if a huge chunk of that demographic switches over to "Young and the Restless" where there's a Black HEROINE featured more prominately?????

But no, I can't get anybody to see that. The assumption is that Black viewers/Communities see everything the same way that white people do and that's just not the case.

If he wants the kind of Black Women Following that Denzel Washington and Jamie Foxx enjoy

"career-wise" then he has a LOT to worry about. In the Black Community, just like the White one, it's the WOMEN who spend the most on movies, entertainment and can "make you a star".

Though other races of women may like Charles Divins as well, White Women are not very likely to join

together in huge numbers and make him a heartthrob or a box office star. He needs his own

community to do this.

On top of all this is the perception by many in the "Black Community" that a very light skinned male

is not as "down/real/masculine" as the traditional Paul Robeson, Denzel Washington type. Harry Belafonte

is one of the few who broke the mold, but there have been VERY FEW.

So with the rumors in black magazines already hinting that he might be gay, and with the stigma of being

"gay" added to his Mixed Race looks, it's not a WIN/WIN for becoming a successful MALE STAR in the black

community.

Just the facts folks. Stuff you obviously aren't thinking about.

DANG, Erica, you're really going to town telling off all us ignorant folk!! :lol:

Anyway, yes, I finally see where you're coming from. Obviously -- or no, if you didn't know -- I don't read Jet or any other magazine that may cater to a black demographic. I had no idea they talk about soaps or Divins in those magazines. I guess it makes sense though, since there are far fewer black stars in TV and film.

Had NO idea Divins' sexuality was coming into question.

Had no idea of any of this.

I did, however, know that being gay and male is especially taboo in the black community. I guess I didn't realize how that would make an incredible story on "Passions" but could hurt Divins in real life, since some people can't separate acting from reality.

Good points all around.

I still want the story to push forward. If not with Divins and a black man, than with the less controversial white counterpart. Make Ethan on the 'down low.' THAT'LL show Gwen and theresa!!

I just want this story. It's a really good story, and perfectly in keeping with "Passions"' need to shock.

Here you go again with "Jimmy Reilly"'s alleged "Conservative Catholicism." I don't know if you saw Friday's episode, but while it may have been conservative, how Fr. Lonigan handled Simone and Rae, it certainly wasn't anti-gay. I have yet to see one anti-gay message on the show. Okay, I'll concede there was a negative side to the character of Charlie, but since then? Haven't seen much of any of this "anti-gay" propaganda. Examples, please!

DANG, Erica, you're really going to town telling off all us ignorant folk!! :lol:

Anyway, yes, I finally see where you're coming from. Obviously -- or no, if you didn't know -- I don't read Jet or any other magazine that may cater to a black demographic. I had no idea they talk about soaps or Divins in those magazines. I guess it makes sense though, since there are far fewer black stars in TV and film.

Had NO idea Divins' sexuality was coming into question.

Had no idea of any of this.

I did, however, know that being gay and male is especially taboo in the black community. I guess I didn't realize how that would make an incredible story on "Passions" but could hurt Divins in real life, since some people can't separate acting from reality.

Good points all around.

I still want the story to push forward. If not with Divins and a black man, than with the less controversial white counterpart. Make Ethan on the 'down low.' THAT'LL show Gwen and theresa!!

I just want this story. It's a really good story, and perfectly in keeping with "Passions"' need to shock.

I want them to do the story, too. WITH DIVINS. It's a great story, everything's in place and we

really need a storyline like this.

ATWT is baling out on the Luke story. Someone has to take it a bit further so that these stories

become more accepted.

Forget about the character, "DAYS" still needs a black heroine in order to compete with

"Y&R". In fact, the whole need for a black heroine on Y&R came from the huge ratings success

of AMC with Jesse and Angie decades ago when millions of black viewers drove AMC to #1.

It forced that time slop to reach out for black viewers every since.

Now look at today's ratings.

It only takes 50,000 to 100,000 viewers to make ratings go UP or go DOWN---right King?

If DAYS is smart, they will get a black heroine back on their canvas quick and in a hurry,

because "Y&R" ratings are consistently going up and with the new JILL/Katherine storyline,

they're going for blood.

The "character" is damaged, but every KEY DEMOGRAPHIC is crucial and they

could have done a LOT with Lexie.

This, I agree with. I've said it once and I'll say it again. Renee Jones' axing is the most shocking firing to date on that show because, since there are so few blacks, and the ones that are on the show are ALL tied to her -- expect perhaps for TEK -- if you fire her, you could easily write out Abe, Theo and Celeste. Heck, even TEK, now that he's been fired from the Salem PD. That leaves "Days" with no blacks. Heck, even if only Lexie were killed/written off, blacks still would have no sweet moments between Abe and a special someone to look forward to. NO romance for the blacks. Just 'cop shop' and Celeste's visions. I'm sure they want more than that. Lexie's the best. Not JUST because Jones looks something like Janet Jackson who has a huge fanbase, but because she's a woman and a mother and, heck, a vet, who, as A DIMERA, can have incredible stories written for her.

If he wants the kind of Black Women Following that Denzel Washington and Jamie Foxx enjoy

"career-wise" then he has a LOT to worry about.

Oh, please. Putting Divins in the same category as those actors is like comparing a beat up trash can to a BMW. After PSNS, it's not like he's gonna have too many acting choices available to him anyway, and I'm not saying this for any other reason than the plain fact that he can't act for crap.

Oh, please. Putting Divins in the same category as those actors is like comparing a beat up trash can to a BMW. After PSNS, it's not like he's gonna have too many acting choices available to him anyway, and I'm not saying this for any other reason than the plain fact that he can't act for crap.

In the black community, I would imagine that great stardom also is found on the UPN lineup sitcoms "All of Us," "Half & Half," "the Parkers," "One on One," and "Girlfriends" etc etc...and now that job, in part, has come on the shoulders of the CW, it seems. Divins already has been on "G," right? So I could see him getting in primetime on one of those shows. Look at JESSE METCALFE...!!

I don't get why black women would only be watching DAYS just to see Renee Jones on the backburner for about 13 out of the 15 years or however long she's been on. They are just watching DAYS on the off-chance Lexie is shown?

First of all, LESBIAN stories are far better received and less controversial than GAY MEN stories

in daytime or in any field of entertainment across the board.

We love and accept K.D. Lang, Melissa Etheridge, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell---but you don't see

gay men being as celebrated or presented as often as Lesbians are in the media.

Madonna had an OPEN lesbian relationship with Sandra Bernhardt and it didn't affect her career

one bit. The public still supported her. LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO Ricky Martin, however, when the

public discovered he was gay---he's in nowhere'sVille.

Soaps would rather do a lesbian storyline than a "gay man" story because it gets lets reaction.

And what do you mean black church groups don't know what to expect??

WHY OH WHY are you all so blatantly IGNORANT about the black "demographic"????

This may come as a HUGE shock to you, but Black and Hispanic viewers of PASSIONS almost outnumber WHITES!!!

NBC is already getting letters from Black CHURCH PEOPLE warning them not to involve any "black man" in a Brokeback Mountain type of story on any soap opera---they're hearing about the "rumors" from the Internet (YES, Black CHRISTIANS actually read the internet just like the rest of us). There are also rumors in black magazines about Charles Divins. Tons of teenaged girls were ALREADY UPSET by rumors that he might be gay.

Have any of you ever read JET magazine or any other black magazines????

Do any of you have a clue as to what a makes a BLACK MALE ACTOR into a major star??? (Hint: millions of Black female fans supporting their careers)

Do any you realize that a White GAY actor has much less at stake than a Black MALE who is perceived as either "Gay" or "exclusively in love with white women" in the Black Community????

Do any of you know the GRIEF Charles Divins gets for being so "mixed looking" in the black community when the TOP MALES are tall, dark chocolate and handsome in that demographic????

GEESH!

This is just like people claiming that LEXIE leaving DAYS doesn't really matter, because her character is "expendable" and not that important.

But if we could POLL the "black demographic" that supports DAYS--what do you all think they would say??? And what happens to DAYS if a huge chunk of that demographic switches over to "Young and the Restless" where there's a Black HEROINE featured more prominately?????

But no, I can't get anybody to see that. The assumption is that Black viewers/Communities see everything the same way that white people do and that's just not the case.

If he wants the kind of Black Women Following that Denzel Washington and Jamie Foxx enjoy

"career-wise" then he has a LOT to worry about. In the Black Community, just like the White one, it's the WOMEN who spend the most on movies, entertainment and can "make you a star".

Though other races of women may like Charles Divins as well, White Women are not very likely to join

together in huge numbers and make him a heartthrob or a box office star. He needs his own

community to do this.

On top of all this is the perception by many in the "Black Community" that a very light skinned male

is not as "down/real/masculine" as the traditional Paul Robeson, Denzel Washington type. Harry Belafonte

is one of the few who broke the mold, but there have been VERY FEW.

So with the rumors in black magazines already hinting that he might be gay, and with the stigma of being

"gay" added to his Mixed Race looks, it's not a WIN/WIN for becoming a successful MALE STAR in the black

community.

Just the facts folks. Stuff you obviously aren't thinking about.

But I thought that Charles Divins was of "mixed" race. I thought I heard somewhere that he had one white parent and one black parent. He certainly looks it. I know full-blooded blacks can be light-skinned but there's something about him that's a little more unique looking.

Here you go again with "Jimmy Reilly"'s alleged "Conservative Catholicism." I don't know if you saw Friday's episode, but while it may have been conservative, how Fr. Lonigan handled Simone and Rae, it certainly wasn't anti-gay. I have yet to see one anti-gay message on the show. Okay, I'll concede there was a negative side to the character of Charlie, but since then? Haven't seen much of any of this "anti-gay" propaganda. Examples, please!

DANG, Erica, you're really going to town telling off all us ignorant folk!! :lol:

Anyway, yes, I finally see where you're coming from. Obviously -- or no, if you didn't know -- I don't read Jet or any other magazine that may cater to a black demographic. I had no idea they talk about soaps or Divins in those magazines. I guess it makes sense though, since there are far fewer black stars in TV and film.

Had NO idea Divins' sexuality was coming into question.

Had no idea of any of this.

I did, however, know that being gay and male is especially taboo in the black community. I guess I didn't realize how that would make an incredible story on "Passions" but could hurt Divins in real life, since some people can't separate acting from reality.

Good points all around.

I still want the story to push forward. If not with Divins and a black man, than with the less controversial white counterpart. Make Ethan on the 'down low.' THAT'LL show Gwen and theresa!!

I just want this story. It's a really good story, and perfectly in keeping with "Passions"' need to shock.

So now people are speculating that Charles himself is gay because he may want to play a gay/bi character? People don't quit, do they? And it's certainly HIS BUSINESS if he was. Nevertheless, the storyline should push forward WITH CHARLES DIVINS as the star. Like someone said, everything's already in place and ready to go.

I don't get why black women would only be watching DAYS just to see Renee Jones on the backburner for about 13 out of the 15 years or however long she's been on. They are just watching DAYS on the off-chance Lexie is shown?

I don't. But I can't speak for all Black women. But I do think it's fair to say that as a Black viewer, it's nice to see characters on shows who are also Black (and written intelligently). This is a rarity in daytime television.

I would definitely agree, Daphne, but I don't see why they would tune out if there are no black characters, like is being implied/said by Gabe.

I don't think there are any characters on daytime that I can relate to. I still watch.

EricaKane4Life....I used to be a huge fan of yours........but you are now on my last nerve.

When were you elected representative of the African American community???

So according to you, every black woman thinks the same.....and are all homophobic.

Wow....you are amazing. You think you know everything, but you really sound pompous when you make it seem like you are in the know about everything........even the thoughts of a whole race that you are not even a part of.

Hey, why get mad at Erica? Almost all of the things he said can be backed up by research. I've read several articles about "down low" in the black community and I don't have to be black to know how this phenomenon is viewed by people people of color. Thanks to scholars and researchers who do the work for people like Erica and me, yes, we can speak about his subject.

Getting off just the black part of it, and onto the male/male thing. This has been discussed on a talk show before, and based on what little research I did for a psychology paper years ago for college I can see why.

For the general publish, there is one thing that comes into play for male/male gay relationship that does not enter thier minds in a lesbian relationship - the word is SODOMY. And with Sodomy comes AIDS in their minds, and they cannot get beyond that. And that is what makes the difference in how things are accepted.

Also they feel that the average woman can be in love with another woman and not have sex with her. But they percieve that a man cannot do that. For a man sex and love go hand in hand. And that is basically the truth. The average is not going to stay in a relationship long without sex.

And that brings them back to sodomy. That unfortunately is all the average person sees when they think of a male homosexual. Sad that they cannot see beyond that.

When were you elected representative of the African American community???

Getting off just the black part of it, and onto the male/male thing. This has been discussed on a talk show before, and based on what little research I did for a psychology paper years ago for college I can see why.

For the general publish, there is one thing that comes into play for male/male gay relationship that does not enter thier minds in a lesbian relationship - the word is SODOMY. And with Sodomy comes AIDS in their minds, and they cannot get beyond that. And that is what makes the difference in how things are accepted.

Also they feel that the average woman can be in love with another woman and not have sex with her. But they percieve that a man cannot do that. For a man sex and love go hand in hand. And that is basically the truth. The average is not going to stay in a relationship long without sex.

And that brings them back to sodomy. That unfortunately is all the average person sees when they think of a male homosexual. Sad that they cannot see beyond that.

I don't know, Steve. Isn't that the GREAT thing about his storyline? The chance that we CAN see some Chad-on-Jared (or whomever) ACTION? I should hope you aren't saying we should be anti-sodomy!