Isn't it romantic?: Gay love on a classic soaper

Spring, 1978. Around the country, LGBTs are glued to the popular daytime soap text. After weeks and weeks of a slow-building attraction to each other, divorced roommates Joanne Curtis (Kay Heberle) and Kay Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper) are forced to face what viewers can plainly see: their attraction to each other. Joanne dramatically packs her bags, preparing to move out. As thunder and lightning rage, Joanne turns to Kay and asks, "Can you honestly tell me that you're not a lesbian?"

The music builds as Kay turns away from her friend. It's the show's Friday cliffhanger. On Monday, the scene is replayed before the story continues. As the storm builds to a crescendo, Kay falls to the floor, screaming, "Yes! Yes! It's true!"

"Oh, my God!" shouts Joanne. "I'm leaving!"

This silly, over-the-top exchange marked the introduction of homosexuality to the world of daytime drama. A few weeks later, the two women met for coffee to discuss their "misunderstanding." Fortunately, the soap world has improved considerably since then.

Since its premiere in 1956, CBS' As the World Turns has been a staple of daytime TV. It set the standard for the slow-moving, intimate family dramas that kept housewives riveted for years. For over two decades, World Turns was daytime's top rated attraction. But in the 1980s, the show began a gentle slide downward. In 1988, the soap introduced Hank Elliot (Brian Starcher), daytime's first gay male character. CBS would not allow Hank to be seen in any situations suggesting intimacy, but he was given an off-screen lover. Though this was the height of the AIDS crisis, head writer Douglas Marland insisted that Hank be established as an HIV-negative character.

Hank didn't remain in the town of Oakdale for long. Due to pressure from right-wing groups, the character quietly left town, and was never heard from again.

Times have changed. Nearly 20 years later, teenager Luke Snyder (Van Hansis), a character in World Turns since birth, came out. For several months, Luke struggled with his feelings for Noah (Jake Silbermann), a close friend and co-worker at WOAK-TV. Noah, who'd been dating Luke's female best friend, had secretly been struggling with his own sexual identity.

On August 17, 2007, Luke and Noah looked into each other's eyes. Without warning, and in close-up, they kissed full on the lips. This was the first gay male kiss in soap history. This time, there was no negative outcry. As viewers cheered the daring storyline, World Turns' ratings soon caught up with stalwart General Hospital, even overtaking it a few times. "Nuke," as the fans have dubbed Luke and Noah, are an undeniable hit.

"I don't see it as that big a deal," says actor Van Hansis, who recently took over the role of Luke, in a recent phone interview. "I was just stoked to get a steady job as an actor. I think it's kind of cool to be the first actor to do something."

Adds Jake Silbermann, "I was excited to get the role. It sounded unique to daytime television."

The press for their storyline has been intense. Both actors have said that the on-set presence of Entertainment Tonight paparazzi was far more daunting than actually kissing each other. The young stars were delighted to attend the GLAAD Media awards together, where World Turns was nominated for Best Show two years in a row.

"The GLAAD Awards were fun and exciting," says Silbermann. "It's meant a lot to me to know that this story has been part of something." Both actors report that the feedback to their love story has been overwhelmingly positive. They've received letters from viewers around the world, including in countries where World Turns does not air. In the age of YouTube, Luke and Noah are speaking to a generation of gay youth hungry to see themselves portrayed onscreen.

Now, as Luke and Noah prepare to move in together, their portrayers have said they're committed to the show, and their characters, for the long haul.

"I've had a great time bringing Luke to life," says Van Hansis. "I'd like to play him for a long time to come."

As the World Turns airs Mon. through Fri. at 1 p.m. on most CBS stations, including the Bay Area's KPIX-TV 5. Episodes can be viewed online at www.CBS.com, where you can also read Van Hansis' blog.