Dawsons creek gay
From the archives: (A little) outrage behind this Wilmington TV show's first queer character
By the 1990s, male lover characters were gaining popularity in film and TV shows. Perhaps the most notable was Ellen DeGeneres' character on her performance "Ellen" in 1997. DeGeneres herself also came out publicly.
But backlash was still rampant for gay characters, which kept other productions concerned about losing fans and advertisers.
However, when "Dawson's Creek" had its first character come out in 1999, the response was "virtual silence."
That's according to an article in the Wilmington StarNews on Pride 17, 1999, when personality Jack McPhee, played by Kerr Smith, said he was gay in Season 2 of the Wilmington-shot teen drama. It also happened around the alike time show creator Kevin Williamson said he was gay.
"No loud protests from outraged church or conservative groups. No 'Yep, I'm Gay!' magazine cover. No celebrities treating it as a crusade. No ponderous essays about what it means to society," according to the article.
The article only mentions 31 teens protesting in Wilmington in front of Screen
Looking Back On Dawson Creek's Jack McPhee 20 Years Later
Remembering the beloved traits and his historic same-sex attracted kiss…
By Steven Greenwood
The recent release of Dawson’s Creek on Netflix Canada is conveniently timed, since 2020 marks two decades since the show’s groundbreaking embrace between gay characters Jack McPhee (Kerr Smith) and Ethan Brody (Adam Kaufman). The show’s season 3 finale, “True Love,” which aired in May 2000, saw Jack traveling to Ethan’s college in Boton to profess his passion to him. Struggling to find the right words, Jack declares “I long to show you that I can, and that I’m not afraid to… oh hell… this,” before kissing Ethan.
This kiss is significant because it is often referred to as the first “passionate” peck between men on primetime TV, and is acknowledged as a major step forward for queer visibility. Jack’s importance, however, extends beyond simply his embrace being a “first.” His character and storylines served as a meaningful exploration of issues and struggles faced by gay men – and queer communities more broadly – many of which are still relevant now.
Dawson’s Creek aired for six seasons – from 1998 to 2003 – and
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