Gay Characters in Soap Operas

In deeply conservative, strongly Roman Catholic Portugal television soap operas have started featuring sympathetic gay characters.

In the nation’s most-watched show, No One Like You, a subplot revolves around a student’s struggle to come to terms with his sexuality and a crush on his supportive straight best friend.

The Daily Show, which regularly draws over 1.4 million viewers and manages to beat broadcasts of football matches in the ratings, also features an older, openly gay character whose sexuality is accepted by his family and friends.

The youth-oriented soap Strawberries With Sugar meanwhile features a young lesbian who comfortably explores her sexuality while a key subplot in My World concerns a young man who is in a relationship with a woman despite his growing doubts over his sexual orientation.

Gays in soapies ‘will educate’