Clips: ONE LIFE TO LIVE - 6/18/1992 - Billy (Ryan Phillippe) comes out to best friend

[@UnionAdvocate]

I was a 16 year old closeted high school student the summer of ‘92. I watched this soap every day that summer knowing I was like Billy. I’d say seeing a “gay” kid like me on tv saved me from a worse outcome. It wasn’t easy back then.

[@zandrokos]

i was the same age. this storyline was huge to me. i had grown up watching soaps with my grandmother and kind of got addicted to them. i couldnt comprehend the idea of coming out back then. i miss one life to live so much. soaps did so much to advance public opinion on social issues. it humanized what many considered inhuman. soaps are sadly a lost art form.

[@CharlieGV]

It was easy back then, imagine how hard it was in the 80's. 70's...Being gay was bsasically a death sentence!

[@UnionAdvocate]

@@CharlieGV It was not easy at all in the early 90s. In fact, I had a junior write in my senior year yearbook in ‘94 “you’re free now”.

[@MohammedAli-hl4mr]

@@CharlieGVsomething not being a death sentence doesn’t make it easy

[@Netwerked]

@@MohammedAli-hl4mrI think he means the 90’s were relatively easy compared to the 70’s and 80’s. While we wouldn’t say that the 90’s were easy, they were easier than earlier decades.

[@personaldove]

They were originally going to make Joey and Billy a couple on the show. But the Network had its limit. Proud of Ryan Phillipe for making history.

[@arianapuzzo7827]

It's 'funny' because by thinking they were playing it safe, they actually did something else that's extremely important. Not enough media shows how queer and straight men can be friends without the straight guy bursting into flames. And I'd like to think this gave a lot of hope to young boys that their guy friends might respect them.

[@ricirish]

Well, I think another show got there first and OLTL was 2nd? Didn't Shawn Cassidy come out first on General Hospital?

[@Spook1234-e8i]

No, SC as Dusty Walker wasn't gay. As far as I know All My Children introduced the first gay character in 1982 played by Donna Pescow.

[@JonMacintosh-eh3rt]

I think the best was Luke and Noah on As the World Turns.

[@afritimm]

@@Spook1234-e8i There was a gay couple in the mid 70s on Mary Hartman Mary Hartman. All in the family had a cameo by a gay character.

[@TheAngelmuse]

This story did such excellent service to so many scared, hidden gay teens. Saved lives even - I know, I was there.

[@zakkxx1]

Kudos to him for playing that role in such a tough climate back then. He was a heartrob so it’s good he didn’t feel like he would be detrimental to his career. Great actor who has always been charming.

[@stevencapsuto873]

I remember him being interviewed on local TV at the time. Accepting this role was especially daring since, back then, he was a student at a conservative Christian high school (a Baptist academy in Delaware).

[@Dolphinboi]

It would’ve been even more impactful if they had LGBTQ teen characters that weren’t white. There’s a reason why they make most LGBTQ characters white

[@RazorFriendly]

@@Dolphinboi Impactful how? Unless you’re referring to the completely homophobic and bigoted attitudes in the black community towards gays being shown exactly as it is.

[@Dolphinboi]

@@ljones436 You’re white and don’t even have the balls to @ me. Sit down

[@Dolphinboi]

@@ljones436 you are white. You aren’t apart of this conversation about diversity

[@ElectricSpokes]

I turned 16 on June 3 in 1992 This show… this moment… blew my mind. I was raised in an over the top religious family that had dark secrets. I was just 16. I knew I was gay, I knew early on. But hid it. I was tormented by it. I was devastated that I was gay. As time went on and I processed my sexuality, I wanted to tell others. But was I ever scared. I knew what my family would do, they would “cast me out” as they say in church. I had a massive crush on my friend, Thomas. I adored him so much. He asked me in private if I was gay… I denied it and hated myself for it. Few weeks later, we were at a sleep over…Thomas opened that door again regarding asking about my sexual orientation, telling me “I’d try stuff with a guy if he wanted to”. That was him telling me something. It felt like it was an olive branch… What did I do? Nothing! I just simply could not get the words out of my mouth that “I’m gay”. Well, we continued to be good friends. Eventually… my parents, my family found out. I didn’t speak the words, what they saw said everything. I was… caught being sexual with my neighbor who was my age. Unfortunately… for me, there wasn’t any excuse I could make… I had my tree trunk fully planted for my parents to see, who were not supposed to be home. Of course I quickly jumped up naked at full mast. Covering myself. My companion ran out of the house. My parents didn’t speak a word, they just looked at me like I I killed their ideal son, the boy they had in their heads, the boy I wasn’t. I wasn’t even allowed to see shows like this, I saw them at friend’s houses or other places. I was just 16 and so far my best friend tried to show some compassion and support, then my parents caught me in the act. The next day… I was told to pack what I can and leave. This is gods will they say. We prayed all night and god spoke to us, you’re not able to be here as long as you are possessed by demons. Their actual words. They said please tell us what we say is a phase, were you experimenting? What you were doing, it’s not gods way. Please my dear boy…. Tell us you’re not… that way. Then this moment on this show popped in my head. I knew if I give affirmation I’m gay, I’m done. If I denied I’m gay, I’m going to die inside. Keep in mind, my middle brother passed away not long before this so our family was already fragmented. I knew the pain of losing a loved one. It hurts. At that moment, I had to decide, lose my family and die inside… or deny it, say I was experimenting and I didn’t like it (really loved it). And I’ll pray for forgiveness. These words were at the tip of my tongue. I tried saying the words but nothing was said. Then I closed my eyes, thought about my lost brother, and my life and thought about this moment… then like a sternly spoken phrase with absolute certainty… mom, dad, I love you… I love my brother, I miss Charles (my brother who past away) but I can’t hurt anymore. Then I said it. I’m gay. F ck it felt good to tell my parents. But that moment of elation turned to a crushing ache on my soul. They spoke… get out of here. Leave. I balled my eyes out. I begged for understanding. My cat came up to my as I sat balling on the chair. Jumped in my lap and was rubbing me purring seemingly to calm me. Only made it worse. I said good bye to my beloved cat. Grabbed my bag and with a cold sharp slam of the door I was kicked out. I made my way to my hiding spot under an overpass tucked between pilots where no one could see me. I’d hide there and do… teen boy stuff in private. I cried and cried. I stayed there for a couple days. Didn’t eat. Didn’t do anything. Just broke. Lost my family. After two nights, I crawled out from that bridge, gathered myself, and stuck out my thumb. And with that I was a homeless gay kid like so many before and after me. I grew up. Went to university. Got a masters. I do good. One thing church life helped with was being honest, don’t steal, do drugs or drink. I attribute being able to avoid those pitfalls to my church upbringing. As for being gay…. Took a while but I realized this is how I was made and I knew mistakes are not made in the creation of human life. I embraced myself and did good. My dad died two years later. Mom two more years later. My best friend was brainwashed that I was a monster so he stopped speaking to me.

[@jayace92]

I'm sorry to hear what you went through. I hope you are in a better place in life now and found people who love you as you are. As a bi guy who is a bit younger, I can sympathize with some of the struggles gay guys deal with. Overall, we're in a more gay-friendly environment than we were decades ago, but there are still people with unaccepting parents.

[@ehxjsjd4553]

You are stronger than I am. I couldn't even imagine this. Your comment genuinely brought a tear to my eye. I really hope you are doing better now days. Not just financially, but mentally too. You never deserved any of that, no one does.

[@talastra]

I really hate that we have to be put through struggles like this. Life is already hard enough without additional burdens. Even when the situation isn't riddled with judgment, it can be so hard to come to terms with one's sexuality. I could never go back into the closet; life is unbearable; I'm not really sure how I survived to get out, but I did. And so did you. I'm really glad for that. But it sucks so much that you (we) have to go through such anguish.

[@SCruz-wi3wd]

Thank you for sharing this, I had to run away myself and life is really hard right now but I made the right decision. My parents have called me similar things. You can let them go but it doesn’t stop hurting. I believe in every queer kid put in this position, we got this😤

[@talastra]

@@SCruz-wi3wd Sending you good wishes to find your way through it. It can get better, yes.

[@TehDemonic]

The dialogue here was much better than what current soap operas write.

[@Savage.-_.Gamer1]

The reaction fits that time perfectly too! In 2024, the friend would just say" Okay... well I'm straight. You're good, bro." Or just ask a bunch of questions related to how long I've had these feelings or whether or not I liked someone in class. And then normal convo.

[@reneantoniorodriguez1979]

I remember Ryan Phillippe portraying Billy Douglas in OLTL. I was 13 and I could relate to Billy. This was when I first loved Ryan Phillippe. He's always been such a hottie and a great actor!

[@zandrokos]

this role of his doesnt come up very often anymore but it was huge for so many GLBTQ youth back then.

[@tpl608]

In an interview, RP admitted in cruel intentions that his butt turned millions of boys gay. Lol. It was beautiful.

[@williethomas9953]

I have to forever be grateful to OLTL and Ryan. They honestly saved my life.

[@lorenfay7010]

I love reliving these old scenes that were playing back when i was newly out... nice to see them on tv then and again now... thanks...

[@migbham1]

The dramatic music after, "Joey....I'm gay..." 😂

[@borderlineiq]

Was it not a dramatic thing?

[@kazy8029]

That very special episode music

[@Savage.-_.Gamer1]

@@borderlineiqIn the early 1990's maybe 😂

[@borderlineiq]

@@Savage.-_.Gamer1 In 2024, in more than half the population, a young teen would face the same risk of rejection and ostracizing that the kids in the 90's did. Just because some of the population has progressed greatly doesn't mean the majority of it has. Children correctly perceive that "gay" is still used by a majority of young people as an epithet.

[@Savage.-_.Gamer1]

@@borderlineiq I have never experienced that and the whole class knew my sexuality. The only thing was a couple ppl (Jamaicans in the US) either saying the patios equivalent to fa- or guys who look like freshmen talking about the word as unabbreviated as daylight in front of me with their backs turned to me.... Those were the only two occurrences within my entire senior year alone. I've never experienced anything similar before that. And I'm pretty sure the whole school and their grandma knew at the end of the year....

[@darleneshe3263]

Ryan’s biography is what brought me here. I never watched One Life To Live, so although this is my first time watching this episode I must say he did an extraordinary performance.

[@bicknell67]

Crazy how much has changed in 32yrs.

[@sagebrown7590]

Even crazier how some people have stayed the same 😭

[@joshua_hurtado]

and how much they wanna change it back to what it was…

[@twinkincarnate]

@@joshua_hurtado I will not live that way, no, we are not going back, I refuse

[@shanesmith-vn1ri]

​@@joshua_hurtado highly impossible lol. They don't want that fight. The powers that be would also not allow because they see how beneficial gays having "rights" is. All these corporations that profit from gays. They can't f around lol

[@velandraa5072]

This brings back sad memories for me, but I’m still here fighting for dignity, equal rights, and respect. So glad, so thankful for Ryan! (edited due to typo).

[@RoySATX]

I came out in '82, been working towards equality ever since. Just what rights do we lack? Dignity comes from within, and respect is earned, so simply living a good life and not being ashamed will bring those. As for equality, where are we not equal? Equality isn't being the loudest person, or being disrespectful or ungrateful, and it's not demanding other people call us confusing pronouns. It's not about remaking every show so that it centers around a gay character. Equality is when you and your partner are ignored, just like everyone else. Equality is not standing out and making people treat us differently. We were just about there, we had almost won. If equality was what we wanted all we had to do was accept it, instead we decided to be bitter and punish people. Now we are losing all the gains we made, we've earned the animosity of people. And rightly so. Lets be honest, was equality really what we sought?

[@michaelkline884]

⁠@@RoySATX. Wow! Had to read your comment twice before I responded because I have realized this is what’s happening I felt perfectly accepted when I came out in 1999 at age 43 I married a girl in 1978 who was a good friend and I loved her but by 1982 I was already in therapy because I was gay No one asked me if I wanted to be clumped together with transgender people which now seems to show up as 60 year old men in female fetish gear and a bad wig no wonder some younger gay guys would have trouble with respect! I think we as a community need a reboot because as a 70 year old gay grandpa I don’t like the current state of things

[@Team503]

All we ever want to hear is that we’re loved, we matter, and we’re valued. That’s it, just a little human dignity.

[@Capt-Intrepid]

The 90s were a horrible time for gay people. Discrimination and stigma were rampant, and the AIDS crisis continued to devastate the community while the government did nothing. Many faced rejection from their families and society, and legal protections were limited.

[@DDDY-kf3yv]

Be glad you didn't have to endure the eighties. Talk about a decade directly from hell!!

[@tpl608]

80's. 70's worse in some ways. Same with the 60's and before. But 80's had HIV to add to the pain.

[@iampermanent5891]

I’m a soap fan and Will Horton’s gay storyline on DAYS has always been the storyline I grew up with and helped me understand and accept myself better. This is my first time seeing anything from OLTL but this is quality and I’m amazed and in awe of everyone involved for creating something so special that clearly (from all the comments) literally saved people’s lives back then and resonates with so many folks. I know it’s old but thank you so much for uploading!

[@PJChgo1]

The Billy storyline was very well done. There was also Hank on ATWT, a character that came out a few years earlier. There was a long stretch after that before Bianca on AMC, Luke on ATWT and then Will on DAYS came out.

[@iampermanent5891]

​@@PJChgo1 I've spent the last 24 hours or so watching Billy clips on here and I'm thoroughly impressed with each beat this story takes, even the supporting characters are incredibly interesting and important to Billy's story. beautifully written. I didn't know about the character Hank on ATWT but I will check that out. i do know about Bianca (although i never saw AMC) and of course Luke Snyder on ATWT is another fave of mine.

[@stevencapsuto873]

@@iampermanent5891 The Agnes Nixon soaps generally had good writing and reflected all sorts of social issues.

[@stevencapsuto873]

@@PJChgo1 A few years before Bianca's coming out on ALL MY CHILDREN, the same soap had a story arc about a gay teacher, Michael, who nearly lost his job after he casually mentioned that he was gay during a lesson about (I think) the Holocaust, and a parallel story about a closeted gay boy who was a student at the same high school.

[@iampermanent5891]

@@stevencapsuto873 Yes I've had a read of Agnes Nixon's work since you mentioned her and wow. I've always loved how soaps were often ahead of the curve when it comes to social issues and I guess we have Agnes to thank for that! what a legendary impact she made on the genre

[@doggo2995]

so unfair that I'm still having conversations like this in 2024. I've been in this situation a few times. The other day I was at a party with my friend and I subtly mentioned I was gay. You see I made it a point to myself that I wasn't going to "come out" anymore, it was just going to be. Like if my friends were talking about people they find attractive I start talking about guys i find attractive and that would be it, that would be my way of coming out. Because in 2024 I think its really annoying how we still have to make it a big event but I understand that is the reality we still are in. Anyway I subtly came out to my friend at this party, and the demeanor completely changed. The vibe changed. In a negative way. After a minute he came up with an excuse to leave the room and go talk to some other people. I could tell he didn't take me casually saying I was gay well. It's a shame that this still happens.

[@twinkincarnate]

Is he still your friend??

[@doggo2995]

@@twinkincarnate Yup. He isn't homophobic in the literally homophobic way. He has had 1 or 2 lesbian roommates. He is probably just the kind of straight guy that is uncomfortable around gay men but not AGAINST them. Idk, i haven't been around him since the party so I guess we'll see

[@michaelkline884]

@@twinkincarnate I’m 70 and I have still had to clarify the point of me being gay because I have grown children I got more comfortable with it in my 50’s but as you said it’s still ridiculous! Heck recently my new apartment manager dropped off my new lease and as we spoke I could feel myself getting more uncomfortable because she started to flirt with me 😳 I was both put off and then pissed off that at 70 years old this still happens! Good luck and stay strong 😉

[@aliciabergman1252]

The acting and script was great, it feels so real compared to many other coming out scenes.

[@hephaestion12]

Awww man this is still so well done even today this chimes with my experiences in early 2000s

[@clumpybaker]

Lmao “Billy wait, wait!” He wasn’t going anywhere?! 😂 4:30

[@DavidEFarner]

Back then, we suffered like martyrs until we couldn’t keep it to ourselves in any longer. It was such melodrama. I didn’t come out until I was 22. That was 1983.

[@Smellythief]

I found that acting surprisingly not cheezy for a 90's soap opera. It was just the extreme close-ups and musical bursts that dated it.

[@obscurelyvague]

"@Smellythief" I think that is an important point. Even if some TV show takes on a controversial topic in the form of an episode, it should be presented without cringeworthy words, scenes and plot.

[@shanesmith-vn1ri]

I can't handle the musical bursts😂😂😂

[@inu3112]

Fast forward to brat summer. Damn we’ve come such a long way

[@leontoeides]

It's not the progress you think it is, it's quite the opposite. True progress hasn't been made and boys and men like him, you know, ACTUAL gay males are still oppressed.

[@Ebie_]

NEVER seen this show, just got recommended to me. I wanna let you know, whether you were alive in the 90's and got comforted by this show when it first came out because you felt seen, or if you're younger, gay, straight, whatever, you are valid, and I'm glad you're here

[@canny_linguist]

We stan Joey's allyship in this household 👑

[@zerekanthony2203]

It had major impact on me as a closeted teen at the time- there wasn’t a lot of that on tv at that time so it was huge for me, made me feel not so alone…

[@calboy2]

I came out 7 years before thus in 1985. It was hard

[@rnw2739]

The trick is to rub it, furiously, when it is hard.

[@mitchelllord3236]

I taped every scene I could of this storyline! By then I was already in my 20s, had already come out back in 1984 in high school and it was ROUGH, but I was still grateful for this representation on OLTL and Ryan Philippe's performance. Watching it now still brings some tears to my eyes.

[@andrewwerling1574]

I had just come out the previous autumn when this happened. I watched this show religiously during this storyline. Yeah, it's melodramatic like a soap opera should be...but I think it captures the pain and excitement and excruciating hell that is the closet, or was, at that time. I was a teen in the 80s. This resonated 100% with me. And they ended this storyline beautifully with an episode devoted to the AIDS quilt, which had me sobbing and sobbing. And sobbing. Thank you so much for uploading this. I never thought I'd see any of these scenes again.

[@unlikeavirgin]

I remember watching this every day in the summer while working out on my Soloflex. I was 25 and still closeted but I was fortunate to get out of my small town and find new family in the city.

[@michaelkline884]

@@unlikeavirgin I had a Soloflex! Damn I was hot for that guy that did the original video “infomercial” 😂

[@marka0014]

I knew I was gay at the age of 13 but didn't understand it. It was 1969 and no one to talk to and no Internet to research my feelings with. Totally taboo subject back then. I really didn't even come out to my close friends until I was in my early 30s. A secret 2nd life was terrible. I had to date girls at the age of 15 to 17 that my mother set me up with from her friends daughters etc. Horrible feeling. All she kept saying was "why don't you date that girl, she is pretty". I always had to find excuses. When I did come out to my mom in my 40s she did say she was sorry for pushing girls on me and that I felt I couldn't tell her.

[@obscurelyvague]

"@marka0014" Very typical of an "older" generation. But it probably goes on in these modern times. Being heterosexual and the culture that comes with it is the default social setting and a lot of people are so ignorant. I thought I would want to go into the ministry when I was a kid, not that I believe in god. Some people who you hardly know would try to put you on the spot and say things like "I have friends who would want to date; you want me to introduce them to you?" or "Are you still too young to start a family?" It is to get you to give them information and they act as if it is an innocent typical question asked to everyone so why would you get angry?

[@callanbailey8008]

That was a very understandable story, I'm only 22 and while we live in 2024, I live in the south so it's still pretty much taboo 😂

[@tpl608]

What took you so long? I was 5 and it was 1969

[@soberanisfam1323]

I found another boy attractive first day of kindergarten. Huge crush. Kept dreaming about him for so long

[@tay2229]

Ryan Phillippe's acting is very impressive, particularly when those guys are making those terrible anti-gay 'jokes'.

[@jesswise1863]

I know right

[@jesswise1863]

Yea he was impressive

[@davidbrown9136]

Great scenes. Very progressive at the time. Handled with terrific sensitivity.

[@loveilfe]

this was too cute. billy is over here having a meltdown (understandably) & joey is just like “chillax dude i rlly don’t care” hahahahahaha

[@clumpybaker]

Ehh 🫳 somewhat but I read it differently

[@SRM_NZ]

I've read many of the comments of those that were afraid of coming out in the 90's.....I'll tell you, I see just as many kids today who struggle with being open with their identities. When I came out...firstly I had to move half way around the world because it was still illegal to be gay in my country. I moved to a country where they had removed homosexuality from their criminal code just 3 years prior...I was a 'newbie' during the AIDS crisis of the 1980's. I have had a turbulent life even through this millennium...there is still alot of hate around. I won't be alive to see this but our community goal has to be..."No one should ever be forced into a closet, to have a need to come out of one"

[@talastra]

Yes. And it's sad that despite progress here and there, it's still such a struggle to come to terms with it.

[@dermunz]

That was actually and surprisingly well written and you feel someone wrote this who really knows about coming outs, why it is and isn't a big deal at the same moment especially '92 and how difficult everything is.

[@ehxjsjd4553]

The actor did a great job to. Just the shakiness in his voice when he said "I'm gay" felt so real.

[@BrianThrives]

Holy, that dramatic music 😂

[@Spook1234-e8i]

@@BrianThrives It was a must.

[@Smellythief]

And the extreme close ups.

[@keithss67]

Those buns coming out of the pool in that dangerous liaison knockoff he did was sure to make teen boys all over the world realize they were gay lol

[@kyle5555]

What are you referring to?

[@MiseryCherub]

Cruel Intentions

[@aziraphaleangel]

@@kyle5555 Cruel Intentions. 'Knockoff' is a bit harsh - it was a modern retelling of DL.

[@kyle5555]

@@aziraphaleangel thanks. I’ll have to check out the scene lol. Retelling of DL? Down low?

[@ShellyD1979]

@@kyle5555dangerous liasons - I actually like cruel intentions better than dl

[@wilsixone]

Things are more progressed than one might like to think.

[@KennyVert]

This really takes me back.

[@jason_v12345]

Same. For it to truly represent the early 90s, though, the friends claim that "nothings changed" would have to ultimately prove wrong, and the two friends eventually drift apart.

[@waynemasters]

All of us from the “class of 80 or 90something” have experienced this…

[@bluecheese7447]

Wow that was an amazing performance. The raw feeling of being tired of hiding is really on display here.

[@diamondsmusic6413]

Wow. That was an uncredited Jamie Harrold (from Too Wong Foo…, Erin Brochovich) as the jerky bully guy!!!

[@DanielSweeting-kt1ke]

I was in same situation ,we were still great friends

[@Queenalika85]

wow this is so good...I thought Joey was the gay one...

[@frajoladellagato]

The acting between Billy and Joey was amazing. By the end I just wanted them to kiss so bad. 😩

[@crimsonpearl4686]

More than just kiss though!

[@mason96575]

@@crimsonpearl4686they’re children…

[@crimsonpearl4686]

@@mason96575 They were 17 year olds, not 7 year olds!

[@mason96575]

@@crimsonpearl4686 I repeat: they’re children…

[@kirtwedel9275]

@@mason96575 So you don't have an issue with a boy and a girl kissing at that 17 right? Your homophobia is showing. Internalized or otherwise.

[@krzysztofpacholarz6071]

Fantastic acting and what a historic moment! :)

[@clumpybaker]

Agreed

[@jeranbrown82]

I came out to my mom in a Dollar Tree….in a mall…in Eureka, CA. 😆

[@beagie666]

cheers lol

[@michaeldennistooley4271]

Fabulous 🌈😂

[@marecku21]

Eureka!

[@kyle5555]

I came out to my parents as a was dressed as a bumble bee for Halloween. 🎃

[@warrenbowen6223]

​@@kyle5555that's very cool

[@truthteller8459]

How could Ryan be that good looking and talented and NOT be gay in real life.

[@robert8711]

GAY

[@kirtwedel9275]

IKR

[@kirtwedel9275]

@@robert8711 Thanks for comming out.

[@clumpybaker]

It’s always the handsome good looking and attractive guys that are never gay unfortunately

[@1970MPC]

I remember when this was on tv. It was really a big deal

[@CaboVerde777]

Billy was the first gay character I saw on tv...I watxmched OLTL with mom back when I was 11...When I watched that storyline I was so happy for him....Crazy enought though; I didnt come out to my parents until age 25...I faked it all through jr high & highschool...I came out to friends at 21..But Billy started it all for me....I saw myself on tv thanks to Billy.

[@jeffbryan4019]

Ryan's first role .

[@jerryfiore5818]

Many actors "first (and for some, most well known) roles" are queer roles - Kip Pardue in "But I'm A Cheerleader" (his appearance on 7th Heaven *aired first*, but the movie was filmed before that) and later as "Sunshine" in "Remember the Titans - where his sexuality was joked about / hinted at; Stephen Amell's in the US version of QAF (he'd do "Dante's Cove a year later).

[@leerucker8792]

I hate seeing young guys go through coming out. I was one of the lucky ones. I didn't get bullied or called names. I had no problems with what I was and it came easy telling my mom. Today, it's much easier for guys. I pray they find comfort with themselves and live happily

[@coltond2600]

I wish I could get this show somewhere

[@louis9945]

Kiss him....he's a big movie star now😂

[@StatusUpdates]

Why did I watch this on an airplane where everyone around me is now asking me if I’m ok?!! 😭😭😭

[@brady5006]

Probably wondering why you were watching this without headphones.

[@SebDan14]

its so sad how this is still a big issue for some, but it was worse back then. It shouldn't have been this way

[@everyman66]

Why did they always act like it was a life-threatening disease or something?

[@normalsaline8913]

Will somebody answer that goddamn phone. Jeez!

[@barefootanimist]

I remember struggling with my sexual orientation back then. Wasn't a soap-opera fan, but I was a Ryan Phillippe fan, because of his appearance on Due South. If I'd known this had been included in this show, I'd probably have watched. High-school was definitely tough for guys who were attracted to guys, because I even had religious teachers who made a big deal of my sexual orientation in front of the class.

[@joepugh678]

But not you personally I hope?

[@ShaiLysk]

Seeing the way he reacted that would not make me want to tell anyone!

[@rickemery7186]

This was a great segment. Ahead of its time in a sense. The Joey character was done perfectly. Frustrated because he wishes Billy wouldn't have had to hide it from him or be ashamed. Billy (in this time) had every right to be guarded. Joey is the type of friend everyone wishes they had.

[@gumrealiti]

they don't cast teens this good at acting anymore

[@musicorumformosus4274]

at 14yo here. Tough times, even thought about unaliving myself. Dark times.

[@stevencapsuto873]

I hope you won't do that. The good thing about being a teenager is you're just a few years away from having a lot more control over your life: who you'll spend time with, where you'll go, and just as importantly, who you won't have to spend much time with. As you get older, things definitely get better.

[@alangfp]

Never ever do that! It's not worth it. Life gets sooooo much better when you grow up and realize how great it is to feel free. But let life take its time, it'll all get sorted out and you'll have an amazing life. My tip is to surround yourself with people who love, understand and respect you for who you are. You can do that, I promise you, even if it takes some time and seems impossible now. It is just waiting for you, go after that!!

[@tiffanycurtis2264]

They seem like they kinda like each other tho😩

[@diorrboyyyy]

righttt

[@nalleinsowilo6268]

Did they ever get involved as couple

[@tiffanycurtis2264]

@@nalleinsowilo6268 I have no idea!

[@tiffanycurtis2264]

@@nalleinsowilo6268 I have no idea!

[@SeventhheavenDK]

They are just friends

[@ferroboy]

I like to write stories just for myself, usually about superheroes. After watching this I introduced a out gay teen superhero whose real name was Billy Douglas. He's still in my stories today.

[@chachak8978]

When we were younger, my best friend of many years developed these feminine traits and eventually identified as trans. When she told me she wanted to get the full operation I was worried I’d lose my friend. Needless to say she stayed the same person and we are still best friends now over 30 years.

[@ryanpatterson9526]

How odd, my coming out to my best friend was pretty similar.

[@daveb970]

I went to high school in Winchester VA in the 80's and there was no way I was coming out.

[@RADIUMGLASS]

9:30 That music is soooo 90s Super Nintendo

[@penboyasgod6103]

Don't know about any of you, but 'Billy's' (Ryan Phillippe's) mouth movements remind me so much of Corey Haim. [If you don't know who he is, look him up and look at some of his clips when he was about the same age as above.]

[@cantneygessner691]

True. I thought the dark haired boy was the gay one at first. But the blond guy you say has likeness to Corey Haim reminded me at first as the blond from Saved By The Bell.

[@danielsykes7558]

1:22 this is really good writing

[@chrismaxximus]

I love this here.

[@Ron-h1e]

Thanks for the heads up but this is old news. I remember watching you in the spirit taking Ruel to dinner.

[@ShawnDraven]

I never knew about this show until I was an adult and had already been an out gay man for years. I wish I had seen this when I was younger, it would have made things easier maybe to deal with. I had so much working against me that anything that would have made me feel even the slightest bit not so alone and disgusting would have been so welcome. That's why it infuriates me seeing people today hating on gay representation. Though the people representation aren't really doing a good job either still if I had seen pride merch in stores growing up it wouldn't have mattered that it was just to make money it would have mattered because i wouldn't have felt isolated. Anyway sorry for my rambling it just feels good to vent. Lol

[@rennydesu]

I hate how big of a deal this has to be. No one should feel the need to ever have to explain themselves because they love the same gender

[@Iamhimheisme11]

Were the two making jokes supposed to be high school kids lol

[@clumpybaker]

Haha 😂

[@fernrob2006]

I was 19 and still in the closet when this aired. I didn't realize it was Ryan Phillipe. I am glad LGBTQ teens have an easier time coming out now, well depending on the family

[@Spook1234-e8i]

Who can ever forget Vicki and Dorian.

[@EagleFang74]

Vicki, Dorian and Niki!

[@Spook1234-e8i]

@@EagleFang74 well don't leave out Tina. LOL

[@Pagliaccimr1]

I wish I'd seen this in 92. Would have helped me through my years in the closet, 92-98. I'm sure it helped a lot of people though, just like subsequent shows helped me. Representation matters.

[@nbkhmb5]

Ryan Phillippe is an icon and trailblazer #loveislove ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

[@graemep.1316]

5:44 was so sure he was gonna say hiv ...perhaps the network decided to dampen that too? Still great awareness 👍 edit: 😮ohhh wait it was commonly known as hiv yet huh... 🤔 eish! 😅

[@stevencapsuto873]

Yes, the name was changed from HTLV-III to HIV in 1986.

[@graemep.1316]

@@stevencapsuto873 😊 when I was born... My first awareness of being "different" was taking shape already in the 90s. . . I think living in a volatile society heightens one's awareness especially when they're young anyway I was already aware of the "gay cancer" when frieddie died and we had this show on dubbed in Afrikaans from America called - Môre's Nog n Dag - Tomorrow's Another Day - (which we had tune into a radio station to listen to in sync with when the show aired to hear it re-dubbed back into English) a character Beckie I think her name was, who was cast alongside a siblings who has Downs' Syndrome and her sexy biker boyfriend (wish I could recall his characters name) dies in the end from Aids. 🎵 happy ever after in the market place, Molly is the singer in the band... 🎶

[@Jilbreel]

Amazing.

[@readeratare]

So glad the topic has been brought up but I always felt it's never brought up in the right way. This did nothing for me.

[@stevencapsuto873]

This short clip was just the start of a complicated, well-handled months-long storyline. And I can't remember whether this was the first time viewers knew that Billy was gay, or if they already knew.

[@readeratare]

If I come away with anything, is the fact that the spotlight is always being put on the gay individual as opposed to it being shined upon the prejudice of the world.

[@stevencapsuto873]

@@readeratare This story does both very well.

[@graemep.1316]

...exploring matters and feelings of my gender, the last few years, feels like the same struggle as it did with my sexuality (though I'm aware how they're not dependent one another, necessarily...I'm sure 😅🙃) ... I feel both your views, deeply and personally, and it's that internal-external ambiguity and incongruous experience of the spotlight (this amazing clip that would never have been shown on any Old Apartheid South African "network" ((😅we had four channels I think 🤔...I was six in '92)) and the shadow or backdrop of hindsight i.e. your experience -ours too if I may- of the, almost expected, prejudice ... That's all 😊 I have nothing more. I just know we gotta keep 💯 all of it in focus and keep holding the space... for ourselves In isi-Zulu one of the 12 official languages of our country (the world's country in my humble opinion) there is a shared saying and African perspective... "umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu" tr. "we are people through other people" / I am because We are etc... That initself is a challenge to my more individualized English family but through acceptance, fully, as a communal then paradoxically my individual identity (gay, non-b etc) becomes an amalgamation of our society ... which can feel like its blended and then made redundant to "protest" or have to "advocate" for ✊✊🏼✊🏻✊🏾❤... but to reiterate I'm definitely aware, to say again, that the space need to be kept in focus... "Hold." 🫂 keeping holding the space🤗 👐 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏳🇿🇦🇺🇳🇺🇲💚ps excuse my not very eloquent whaffle 😅 💋

[@graemep.1316]

*an African perspective a communal *whole

[@drawnhere]

Where did you go after you were under that bridge for a few days? You left a lot out of that story. Just wondering....

[@garymitchell1229]

He should've hugged Billy at the end. The bro handshake was poor ending / writing.

[@LarsHendrik]

I respectfully disagree. Hugging him is what the ending would be in a perfect world. It's what a gay boy would hope for. This way things are kept real. People need time to process that kind of information. Please remember what year this is. Also: this way viewers can see the pain in the boy's eyes and make better decisions for themselves. Just because you feel it's painful for both of them doesn't make this a bad writing...

[@greenvortex7]

What is real? I told my brother I was gay in 1985 in Houston, Texas and is super straight lol. He gave me hug and said I still love no matter what and just hope you are safe if you do anything. We had a great talk on the regular. It was after the Tears for Fears Concert in my 15th bday! So real world is a relative term. I remember years later seeing German TV soaps and they were light years ahead of the U.S. In how the U.S depicted gay relationships. I mean I never understood soaps ..you had tape, lies and murder and scheming all so many wild things but even some soaps in U.S. did not even show their main gay characters kissing such a dismay​@@LarsHendrik

[@LarsHendrik]

@@greenvortex7 I did not say it never happens, when someone is coming out. The range is broad. From giving a hug and saying „nothing changes“ to abruptly ending the relationship and even evict your own child from it‘s home. In this case - given all the circumstances - a hug or something similar just would not feel right. Another reaction could be seen in „Love, Victor“. I prefer believable (= in alignment with the character) reactions over „politically correct“ reactions any time. And I do say this from a perspective of someone who had more than a hundred coming outs…

[@JonMacintosh-eh3rt]

​@@greenvortex7I think first gay kiss on a soap opera was Luke and Noah in As the world Turns around 2008.

[@greenvortex7]

@@JonMacintosh-eh3rt well yeah that was still very lackluster compared to many EU soaps at the time, which is what I meant with all the shenanigans that happens in soaps that even at gay kiss in 2008 was difficult to have even during their time on the show there many moments that were unnatural where they would hug instead when many couples would just do an involuntary kiss. By then I was watching "Verboten Liebe" the German soap that had Christian and Oliver aka Chrolli which had a much more realistic expression a gay couple and tried to give Noah and Luke a chance but it was so far lagging. Again with all the wild and crazy things that happens in soaps it just seemed so sanitized.

[@bishbosh4815]

He is gorgeous and still is 😍

[@michaelh8800]

I wanted to see how to episode ends

[@stevencapsuto873]

It's a soap opera, so the plot wasn't resolved in this episode (which was just the start of the story). Billy's friends and mom accepted him. His father didn't and generally became verbally and emotionally abusive (creating a crisis in the parents' marriage). And there were subplots about the impact of homophobia on gay teens. Billy's story intersected pretty much every plot on the series during the months the character was on the show. And he was given a pretty happy ending.

[@staubmon]

Who’s the actor who played Joey ?

[@MrJacobrabbit]

This episode won GLAAD award

[@zandrokos]

also billy was the first character to call joey "joe". fucking dorian was the next of all people.

[@johntoledo8965]

Young Ryan Phillippe looks like Ryan Phillippe as an adult. But young Nathan Fillion is totally unrecognizable.

[@MitchellBloom-uj2jj]

This is Chris McKenna Nathan Fillion didn’t play Joey until 1994

[@johntoledo8965]

@@MitchellBloom-uj2jj oohhh....

[@unlikeavirgin]

The black guy is ready to fly out of there with his wand.

[@er9779]

Could anybody tell me the name of the actor who plays Joey? He looks so familiar, I know I've seen him in stuff when he was older.

[@MitchellBloom-uj2jj]

Chris McKenna

[@er9779]

@@MitchellBloom-uj2jj Thanks

[@quincymagoo6134]

So Ryan was always cute and had a passion to push himself in any role he took. Does anyone know how this story ended, in just a summary I guess

[@stevencapsuto873]

This was the start of a plot that lasted a few months. Eventually pretty much everyone was supportive except Billy's father, who was kind of an asshole anyway.

[@quincymagoo6134]

@@stevencapsuto873 This was the start of a plot that lasted a few months. Eventually pretty much everyone was supportive except Billy's father, who was kind of an asshole anyway. But this story sounds pretty positive

[@hyperiondragon]

Teens weren't watching this show, adults were... And it was mostly only women watching back then. It came on while kids were at school and adult ppl were working. I'm just wondering who were the targeted audience?

[@stevencapsuto873]

The whole reason daytime soaps traditionally did teen plots all summer is precisely because that's when younger people *were* viewing. Once September arrived,, the focus shifted back to the grown-ups. This plot ran all summer in 1992, and was revisited briefly in December, when schools were on winter break. By the following summer, Ryan Phillippe was no longer available.

[@hyperiondragon]

@@stevencapsuto873 ohhh ok. I had no idea. Thank you for your insightful comment.

[@jeffrey8783]

WOW, I have never seen this before and never knew Ryan was in a soap opera. It might be because of the time, but this dialogue is so, so, so bad. If I was the writer and director, I would be so embarrassed.

[@WilliamPotts3]

It’s easier being gay when you look like Ryan Phillipe.

[@thisisntahandle]

?

[@markgordon5387]

I graduated college with my undergraduate degrees (BA/BA), that summer. I'm 55, with an Ed.D. and a Ph.D., and I'm still in the closet. I have three graduate degrees too.

[@The_Queer_Equivalent]

I'm 27 and I'm going to come out this year. If coming out is something you've longed to do, then let's do it together man. I believe in you. I don't know if you have a partner but I wish you a full life with complete and unapologetic permission to be yourself ❤

[@markgordon5387]

@@The_Queer_Equivalent It's safer in the closet. My parents never knew. My maternal grandparents did, but they told no one that I liked other boys...from early childhood. I wish you well, if that is what you want. Good luck.

[@The_Queer_Equivalent]

@@markgordon5387 I understand, sending love ❤️ and thank you

[@markgordon5387]

@@The_Queer_Equivalent Had my father known, he would have killed me, with his bare hands, even at 4 years old. He was an ex-Marine and hated gays...even if one was his son. My maternal grandparents told me not to tell my mother or father. My mother would have been upset, and blamed herself...for something. As if me being gay was her fault or because she had ice cream or a beef sandwich while she was expecting me. I hear all old wives tales in family conversations. I wish you well, and I wish you luck. May God follow you around, and keep you safe. Always.

[@rtjahyadi7868]

Ryan Philippe was so good looking!