Late (er) in life coming out...which soap characters would be suitable?

[Khan]

Agree.

For example: I could buy Esther (also on Y&R) being a lesbian, since I don't think the show has ever explored her beyond her being Kay's longtime maid and confidante (ONS with Tiny, the Plumber notwithstanding).  And I could buy her gradually developing an unrequited love for Jill.  But if you told me that Jill decided one afternoon to reciprocate Esther's feelings....

 

ETA: Never mind, I forget about Esther's ill-fated relationship with Mark Haining's character.

Edited January 15, 2022 by Khan

[AbcNbc247]

Now that you mention it, I could see a lot of the longtime maids and butlers coming out later in life. 

Vivian on AW

Alice on GH

Nigel on OLTL

[Khan]

Exactly.

But, you're basing that on your feelings toward Michael Damian and not on anything that Bill Bell actually built into the character.  Was MD ever convincing in Danny's relationships with Christine or Phyllis (or Patty or Traci or Lauren)?  No.  However, Bell never intended for us to think it was because Danny was actually gay.

Edited January 15, 2022 by Khan

[titan1978]

I agree that with care this could absolutely work with Alexis.

[Dion]

I agree.

They've basically been hinting at it with Alexis and Harmony for months now. Whether or not GH will actually go there remains to be seen but with care and taken slowly I could see those two together.

[Paul Raven]

The ship has sailed on this one but at some point I could see

Casey Reed (Y&R) as a lesbian.

She had issues with sex and relationships and focused on her career. It would be believable if after a few years away, she would have returned to GC and announced she was gay.

[te.]

Jack, DOOL. After being killed off a bunch of times and having his organs donated, he finally realises that life is too short and opens up an LGBT friendly chicken place in the Horton Town Square.

 

But in all seriousness, I do agree with what a lot of people have said - the difficulty is that you'll inevitable say that the characters previous "love of a lifetime" pairings weren't so true at all. I think it would work best for someone who either has been a constant presence, but never really had much focus with their own storylines or someone whose "straight" pairings have failed and maybe has been more of the buddy/best friend schemer rather than the passionate love of a lifetime thing (Lucas does fit here, as did Sami before the EJ pairing took off).

And don't get me wrong, I like Lucas and Sami and don't necessarily think all soap pairings have to have that intense "love in the afternoon" passion.

Edited January 16, 2022 by te.

[Khan]

Lucas Horton would be a smart choice only if you accept that Bryan Dattilo is irreplaceable, which I do not.

[Khan]

If anything, I'd sooner believe that Sami, as played by Ali Sweeney, was, in fact, a closeted lesbian.

[Soapsuds]

Speaking of...Sami has a gay son and bisexual daughter. Johnny has always come off as fluid.

[MichaelGL]

Todd's former assistant Miss Bigelow/Mona Bigelow on One Life to Live. 

[Vee]

I wasn't into the Labine idea with Holly as I think it was initially described - my understanding is she was supposed to fall for Olivia who wouldn't be into her. I don't need another riff on The Children's Hour with a lonely pining lesbian, especially as strong a character as Holly. Could I buy bisexual Holly today? Absolutely.

Edited January 17, 2022 by Vee

[Paul Raven]

How about Aunt Liz on AW?

Widowed quite young, she never remarried and it seems quite believable that a woman of her generation would deny her sexuality, especially in her original incaranation, when she was depicted as a very unhappy woman.

Later, she was loveable busy body. Perhaps in  her time away from Bay City she had some 'experiences' that changed her somewhat...

Maybe her obsession with other people's love lives was a way of not confronting some truths about herself?

Edited January 17, 2022 by Paul Raven

[DemetriKane]

 

[Gray Bunny]

GL's Holly was my first thought, too. Though I suppose I'm influenced by Maureen Garrett's real-life coming out.