I think it's difficult for younger people to understand how different things were back then. When I was growing up, to the extent any movies or TV shows included a gay or lesbian character, it was as a one-note offensive stereotype to be openly mocked by the main cast. And I do mean offensive stereotypes, like "joking" about gay men being pedophiles, or about lesbians being too ugly to get a man but eager to "switch" if a man showed interest (as a cruel joke, natch).

I recall being perplexed at my parents' description of the blatant racism of the 50s and 60s. "How could things be so different such a short time ago?" I thought. And I now find myself in the same position as them, with regard to describing the rampant homophobia I remember in the 80s and early 90s.