A Brief History of LGBTQ+ Firsts On ‘Saturday Night Live’
Author: Rachel Shatto
In season 11, SNL added its first out cast member, Terry Sweeney. His partner, Lanier Laney, also joined that season as a writer. During Sweeney’s one-season tenure on the sketch show in 1985, his characterizations of Nancy Reagan, Joan Collins, and Joan Rivers were standouts. However, he left the show after his first season, reportedly having endured behind-the-scenes homophobic bullying by Chevy Chase, a former cast member who had returned to host SNL. It would be 27 years before another out cast member would join the show.
Original Article on The Advocate
Author: Rachel Shatto
