Australian soap opera Home and Away will be celebrating it’s 30th anniversary in 2018 and there are suggestions that the show might be getting it’s first out and proud character.
While gay characters have appeared in every other soap opera around the world the Australian show has had a notable lack of LGBTI people over its three decades.
The last time the show touched on queer topics was back in 2009 when Charlie (Esther Anderson) and Joey (Kate Bell) were supposed to have a same-sex relationship, but network executives ended up editing out a kissing scene that was filmed between the characters. The character of Charlie then went on to have heterosexual relationships during the remainder of her time of the show.
Rival soap opera Neighbours has had several gay characters in its regular cast, but Home and Away has only had fleeting inclusions of LGBTI people.
Back in early December TV critic Andrew Mercardo noted on Twitter that Home and Away still lacked diversity by having no gay characters. Cast member Shane Withington sent him back a message saying “Watch This Space”.
Let’s hope Home and Away writes in some queer residents in Summer Bay before the show finishes it’s thirtieth year.
OIP Staff
Source: TV Tonight
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