GH Champions Diversity & Inclusion By Celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride

General Hospital took to social media on June 1 to announce and celebrate Pride Month, which is the month of June in the U.S. and other countries. This is just one more of many actions the team at GH has taken to promote diversity and inclusion. From diverse casting choices and brave storylines the people of Port Charles reflect a mix of backgrounds, races/ethnicities, gender/sexual identities and ages. The GH Instagram post read “Join us as we celebrate #Pride this June. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Click the link in our bio for more resources. @glaad.”

It was nearly 20 years ago, when in 2005, Lucas became GH’s first openly gay character after he came out to Georgie on National Coming Out Day: October 11th. Seven years would go by before an openly gay couple was introduced; Felix and Brad who became embroiled in a love triangle when Lucas made his return to Port Charles.

Those openly gay characters/relationships were followed up in a much shorter interval, when in 2016 Kristina Davis/Corinthos came out as bisexual after she began a same-sex relationship with Professor Parker. Just two years later in 2018, transgender actress Cassandra James originated GH’s fist transgender character, Dr. Terry Randolph.

And, of course, the current prominent and poignant relationship between Alison “Blaze” Rogers and a very pregnant Kristina, which aside from Natalia (Blaze’s controlling mother), everyone in Port Charles appears to be respectful, welcoming and supportive of the couple.

Mentioning GLAAD in the social media post, is important because the organization is “focused on LGBTQ advocacy and cultural change. GLAAD works to ensure fair, accurate, and inclusive representation and creates national and local programs that advance LGBTQ acceptance. Serving as a storyteller, media force, resource, and advocate, GLAAD tackles tough issues and provokes dialogue so that authentic LGBTQ stories are seen, heard, and actualized.”

On the same day, an Instagram post from GLAAD’s President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis read: “At GLAAD, we know that fair and accurate representation in media and journalism have a powerful and measurable effect on the lives of LGBTQ people. While support for LGBTQ equality has reached an all-time high, ally-ship must turn into action. This June, media, content creators, and corporate leaders must lead and respond to hate with undeterred support for the LGBTQ community, including LGBTQ employees, shareholders and consumers and protect all that the LGBTQ movement has accomplished.”

It’s wonderful to see that the GH team pushes the envelope by embracing diversity and inclusion with storylines that address mental health, patient advocacy, substance use disorder and by celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride.

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