YEAR IN REVIEW: Logo’s ‘A List’ among TV’s gayest moments

Rodiney Santiago (left) and Reichen Lehmkuhl in Logo's 'A List: New York,' the gayest reality show on TV this fall. (Photo by Ana Veslic; courtesy of Logo)

This year has been one of the best for LGBT visibility on television.

“Glee,” with two openly gay actors, Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer, and some compelling storylines for Colfer’s character Kurt, led the pack.

Kurt’s storyline this season has rung true. Almost sounding like it was ripped from the headlines, Kurt has had to deal with bullying from one of the football players, leading up to his bully kissing him and then threatening his life.

Kurt changed schools after this incident and has finally found a possible love interest of his own, with whom he sang “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” in the Christmas episode.

Lynch’s Sue Sylvester is still the woman you love to hate, but has shown a more human side this season which couldn’t have been portrayed better than when Sue dressed as the Grinch in the Christmas episode and k.d. Lang sang “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” in the background as she tried to steal Christmas.

There’s also Brittany and Santana, the two Cheerios who said they had sex and were shown making out this season. The extent of their relationship is unknown, with Brittany dating fellow glee clubber Artie.

FOX’s “Modern Family’s” Cam and Mitchell had their first on-screen kiss this season and the series brought home several awards.

ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Callie and Arizona had their share of ups and downs this year, breaking up over whether they’d have kids then getting back together until they broke up again when Callie wouldn’t go to Africa with Arizona, while spin-off “Private Practice” had an episode about the “down low.“

HBO’s “True Blood’s” Lafayette got a love interest this season with a witch named Jesus and a there was little fantasy flirting between Sam and Bill.

The show also featured three female lesbian and bisexual characters with Sophie Anne Ancleq, Hadley Hale and Pam, the last of which was so popular, actress Kristin Bauer was signed on as a series regular.

One of the most surprising lead, queer characters was Dr. Elanore O’Hara, played by Eve Best, on Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie.” This year it was revealed she was bisexual when her on-again-off-again girlfriend made an appearance.

CBS’s “The Good Wife” started off a little slow with character Kalinda Sharma’s sexuality. Hints had been dropped, but Kalinda’s first kiss scene left a lot open for interpretation. The show’s producers have been quoted as saying that having the characters kiss behind a door was not out of “fear,” but so the storyline could be developed more.

“Glee’s” Kurt isn’t the only gay teen on television. ABC Family’s show, “Pretty Little Liars,” which returns in January, featured closeted bisexual Emily Fields, one of the four main characters.

Reality television was all about the gays too.

Ilene Chaiken’s “The Real L Word” premiered on Showtime and while it was controversial, it was also popular and a second season has already been announced.

TLC’s “Police Women of Memphis” featured newly married lesbian officer Virgina Awkward, CBS’s “The Amazing Race” showcased lesbian couple Carol and Brandy and Jordan Pious and his straight brother won in May. Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters” featured lesbian chefs Susan Feniger and Monica Pope and Yigit Pura became the first gay chef to win a “Top Chef” crown when he won Top Chef Just Desserts.

And if “Glee” gets the “gayest show” distinction for a scripted series, Logo’s “A List: New York,” the series that debuted in April and followed the lives of six gay and bi men in the Big Apple over last summer, surely gets the “gayest reality show” distinction. Though it was met with mixed reviews, the show was undoubtedly a guilty pleasure of the highest ilk. The drama between clueless “Amazing Race” champ Reichen Lehmkuhl, his boyfriend Rodiney Santiago and boat rocker Austin Armacost made for some engrossing reality TV.