EastEnders
The show features a large number of gay, lesbian and bisexual characters, including Colin Russell (played by Michael Cashman), Barry Clark,[1] Simon Raymond, Tony Hills,[2] Sonia Fowler, Naomi Julien,[3] Tina Carter, Tosh Mackintosh,[4] Ben Mitchell and Paul Coker.[5] Kyle Slater, a transgender character played by Riley Carter Millington, was introduced in 2015.[6]
In 1987 EastEnders showed the first ever gay kiss in a UK soap, much to the outrage of the viewing public.[7] A small kiss on the forehead, given to Barry from Colin, received a record number of complaints from angry viewers. In addition, the right-wing British press reacted with fury.[8] In January 1989, there was further uproar at the time for broadcasting the first mouth-to-mouth kiss between two gay men on British television [9].
In November 2017 it was awarded the Jackie Forster Gay Times Honour (Impact in Music, TV, Film & Entertainment).[10]
References
- ↑ Caroline Frost, "30 Years Today, First Gay Character Appeared In ‘EastEnders’. Things Have Changed". Huffington Post UK 5 August 2016.
- ↑ "Coming out on screen", BBC News, 2 December 1998.
- ↑ Katherine Knowles, "211 complaints to BBC over gay EastEnders storyline, but do the public care?", Pink News 28 March 2006
- ↑ Ryan Love, "EastEnders LGBT domestic abuse plot praised following Tina, Tosh clash" Digital Spy, 28 October 2014.
- ↑ Neela Debnath, "EastEnders gay kiss: Ben Mitchell actor Harry Reid upset by homophobia" Daily Express 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "EastEnders casts transgender actor in transgender role on UK television", Newsbeat, 9 October 2015
- ↑ "EastEnders star turned MEP to hold gay marriage", Pinknews.co.uk.
- ↑ Rupert Smith, EastEnders: 20 years in Albert Square BBC Books, 2005.
- ↑ Colin (Michael Cashman) and Guido (Nicholas Donovan) kissed in an episode shown on 24 January 1989
- ↑ "EastEnders is the recipient of the Jackie Forster Gay Times Honour", Gay Times, 18 November 2017.
