Raise your hand if you still think of Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tommy Solomon on 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996-2001). A team of aliens is sent to Earth, disguised as a "typical human family," but their superiors get the ages and genders mixed up. The male security officer becomes a woman, Sally (played by Kristen Johnsten, who would go on to play Eli's estranged sister on The Righteous Gemstones). The middle aged information officer becomes prepubescent Tommy. Poor guy has to go through puberty twice.
There were no regular gay characters, and only two references, in "mistaken for gay" episodes, but Sally, as a male being presenting as a woman, has a queer aura in spite of her heterosexual interests. Plus John Lithgow, a vocal ally who has played gay and trans characters, imbued team leader Dick Solomon with a number of queer codea, explained as his lack of experience with human customs.
Joseph was a busy child star long before 3rd Rock, with guest spots on Murder She Wrote, LA Law, Quantum Leap, Family Ties, and Roseanne, and starring roles in the 1991 Dark Shadows reboot (as David Collins, heir to the vampire-ridden dynasty) and the 1992 Powers that Be (as the grandson of the unhinged Senator Powers).
I've already reviewed The Great Elephant Escape (1995), a buddy-bonding adventure set in East Africa.
Duriing and after 3rd Rock, Joseph appeared in several projects of gay interest:
On a 1998 episode of That 70s Show, about a group of high school friends in 1970s Milwaukee, focus character Eric befriends his chemistry lab partner, Buddy (Joseph), who thinks they are dating and kisses him. Eric struggles with the realization, but in the end decides to stay friends with Buddy anyway. Buddy was supposed to be an ongoing character, but homophobic fans objected, so he was dropped.
Some historians call it the first male same-sex kiss on tv, but it doesn't really count, since Eric didn't consent. The first kiss where both men consent aired in 2004.
Latter Days (2003) features a romance between closeted Mormon missionary Aaron (Steve Sandvoss, middle) and out-and-proud, heavily partying Christian (Wes Ramsey, left). They end up leaving the church and tthe party subculture, respectively.
Left: Wes Ramsey's butt
Joseph auditioned to play Aaron, but the directors thought that his aggressive manner was better suited to the homophobic missionary Paul.
Mysterious Skin (2004) features two boys, Neill and Brian (Joseph, Brady Corbet), who are abused by their Little League coach. When they grow up, Neil becomes a hustler (gay, but with a girlfriend), while Brian is experiencing "missing time" and believes that he was abducted by aliens.
Left: The butt of Joseph as an adult.
I didn't watch because I heard that it was homophobic, presenting the idea that the abuse "turned" the boys gay.
Then the gay content abruptly ends. Joe's character even uses a homophobic slur in Don Jon (2013). He explains, "that character would say that." So it's realistic to offend your gay fans?
In the same interview, he's asked about his gay fans, and replies: "I can't say it's something I really think about." Jerk!
Left: the jerk's butt.More after the break