Dynasty- Steven Carrington

Steven Carrington, the character from the very popular and eccentric show Dynasty is notable as one of the earliest Gay characters on Tv in the 80s. Who was played by Al Corley said "what attracted me was playing a gay character ... The only gay television character I knew about at the time was Billy Crystal's gay character Jodie Campbell on ABC's Soap, which was a dark comedy."

With Dynasty becoming one of the 20 highest-rated American prime time series by the end of its second season and eventually rising to #1 in 1985  his life "could have been explored in storylines in which sexuality did not necessarily have to be problematized." However, with the network Broadcast Standards and Practices and pressure from the religious right, e.g., Moral Majority which during the 80's was heavily linked to the Reagans, it was made up the Christian right and the Republican Party.   Walters was forced to take the character from tortured closet case, to 'cured' heterosexual husband, and finally to a vague approximation of gay and proud. The character flops almost as much a dead fish. The character's persistent attempts to 'go straight' and the adamant avoidance of any gay culture or body laungue, painted Dynasty as flawed and 2D the character to many but the series remains a staple of gay iconography despite its primary gay character being hardly a role model of self-acceptance and pride. Along with the character was seen as what could be accepted by society if you were gay, seen as he was timid. Considering how the show so eccentric and over the top, many other characters in the show were so unnecessary at times, but this character was very much watered down; as it's because they wanted to challenge the ideas that many had of the gay community. But due of the right has to put in the idea that the community could be "cured" and should be.

The shows biggest viewers were housewives and gay community, and really has a cult following today. It's felt that without this show other shows like The L Word and Will & Grace, wouldn't have had the ground work to be so successful.