Was Katherine Chancellor one of the first characters on a daytime soap to have a lesbian storyline? According to sources (linked below), the answer is yes! Because I started watching Y&R in 1993, I don’t have direct knowledge to contribute to this discussion. However, since Katherine and Joann’s relationship has been referenced to me by fans in the past, I thought I’d do my best to present the (little bit of) information I could find online. WeLoveSoaps.net reports:
Katherine Chancellor and Joann [Curtis] were friends. After her divorce, Joann moved in with Kay. Katherine became possessive of her house guest Joann. Katherine, lonely after the death of her husband, started to develop romantic feelings for her friend and roommate, Joann. At one point, Kay touched Joann’s hand and they kissed.
In a 2009 interview, Jeanne Cooper does make reference to her “fling” with Joann as it related to a current storyline about Phillip Chancellor III, played by Thom Bierdz, returning to Genoa City and sharing with the family that he is gay.
Interviewer: Recently, Thom Bierdz has brought back Phillip Chancellor III on Genoa City. Fans have mixed reactions because it rewrites the history of the show. What do you think of this storyline? Do you think Kay’s own lesbian fling (with Joann Curtis in the late 70s’) should have been mentionned?
JC: I think the storyline with Thom was unnecessary. I don’t believe that Kay’s fling with Joann needed to be mentioned because there was no real story development.
Since classic episodes of the show are hard to find these days, are there any veteran Y&R Chatters who would like to contribute their memories about this storyline? Feel free to leave your comments below!
References:
WeLoveSoaps.net: History of Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Television Characters
SoapOperaNetwork.com: Interview with Jeanne Cooper
TheYoungAndTheRestless.Wikia.com: Minor Characters, Joann Curtis
Joann was either a waitress or hairdresser who was post Jill and pre Esther as Kay’s housekeeper/companion. She struggled with her weight and then lost a great deal of weight later on. Her storyline was a few years ahead of Tracy Abbott’s own weight struggles. She was either separated from her husband played by Anthony Herrera who As The World Turns viewers will remember as James Stenbeck, a character who came back from the dead more often than Adam Newman for sure. Like many characters outside of the core families, Joann either reunited with her husband or disappeared and was… Read more »
Joann was no hairdresser with that Shirley Temple mop, but I forgot that maybe she was a waitress! I can see a Y&R still in my mind where she is serving in an apron at THE ALLEGRO! As for being Kay’s housekeeper/companion, trust me, she did not dust or do dishes! Maybe she had worked as an accountant as she helped Kay with a lot of paperwork, (I think.) She was referred to as Kay’s (new) paid companion, but the thing about those two is they were very back-burner as far as airtime. The duo were more character pieces than… Read more »