In honor of Pride Month, EW looks back at some of daytime TV’s groundbreaking story lines.
People make fun of us."
She was more interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with Dr. Carson.
Donna Pescow as Dr. Lynn Carson on ‘All My Children’.Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
“It was pretty big,” Pescow tells EW.
“The thing I remember most were the fan letters.
They were so extraordinary and would make me cry.
Donna Svennevik/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
People finally felt like there was a representation that fit.”
It was the early days of this being presented in any way."
Head writer Michael Malone wanted it to be Joey, the son of the beloved Viki and Clint Buchanan.
Lou Rocco/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
(Phillippe only spent a year on the show).
At the same time, ABC preferred thatOLTLsurround Billy with mostly tolerant people something the writersdidn’twant to do.
“Michael Malone said, ‘No, we will not do that,'” recalls Passanante.
NBC
“Bianca belonged on the show,” remembers Passanante, who wrote forAMCfrom 2000-01.
“We didn’t want to tell a Billy Douglas story and have her go away.”
“It brought attention to the word sex.”
Greg Rikaart as Leo Stark on NBC’s “Days of Our Lives.".NBC
Fans embraced the nuptials.
“I don’t remember any real apprehension or antagonism towards it.
People loved Erica [Susan Lucci],” continues Passanante.
Sonja Flemming/CBS
“She was such a narcissistic character.
Ultimately, it was Bianca’s message that ‘this is about me and not about you.
This is who I am.
Cassandra James (Terry on ‘General Hospital)’ and Karla Mosley (Maya on ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’).Walt Disney Television/Matt Petit; Cliff Lipson/CBS
Either love me or don’t, I can’t change.’
Erica accepted that.”
“The writers and producers felt it was time,” executive producer Ken Corday tells EW.
The couple is still together on the soap, but the actors only recur.
“Make them sort of run of the mill and center of the road kind of thing.
Rikaart leftDOOLin 2020 and is back onThe Young and the Restlessas Kevin Fisher.
“She said, ‘Did you guys hear they’re going to make someone gay?’
And immediately, in my head, I went, ‘It’s going to be me.'”
What Grimes (and viewers) appreciated the most was how organically the relationship developed.
There was no coming out story; instead, it followed two women who happened to fall in love.
“That’s always been the most beautiful thing about this story,” says Grimes.
It existed without labels.
I really appreciated that at a time where labels could be so restrictive for some people.
Adds Fairbanks, “Our head writer at the time had a daughter who is bisexual.
He wanted to make it something where LGBTQ youth could watch and be like, ‘Oh.Yeah.'”
They want jobs, they want to get promoted.
They want to fall in love.
They have problems, they get sick, they have victories and defeats just like everybody else.”
