I wasn’t going to blog about this week’s storyline. I wanted the work to speak for itself.

But I started getting the same questions over email and it’s always easier to address them in a blog than to respond individually via email.

Didn’t Max already come out to everyone?
Kind of. The first time the gang questioned Max’s sexuality was back in 2008 during Thanksgiving. But that storyline ended with Max feeling alienated and going home. When Cole went over to check up and apologize the question was asked directly. “Are you gay?” Max’s only response was to ask “Does it matter.” He never came out to Cole or anyone else.

Max has come out to you guys. We hinted at it when Sonya visited and now we’ve left no question.

Don’t you find this whole execution cliche? Can’t you write better?
Probably on both counts. What’s important to remember is that the message of this week is not “Max is gay.” The message is about how some people feel forced to compartmentalize their lives due to societal pressures and how unfair that is. And I want to get this message across to my audience because it’s very important to me. If you find it cliche, okay. So long as the message got across. I can only write what I know and I can only write to the best of my abilities. And this wasn’t about showing off how amazing I was at writing. It was about serving this character I love and giving him an avenue to share his whole life with his closest friends.

Max Powers started off as a foil. And his only fault was that he had no faults. Which made him insufferable to Cole and Brent who are riddled with faults. And over time, Max called them on that and eventually we find out that Max’s life isn’t as perfect as the guys thought. Nobody’s is.

I’ve known for years that Max was gay. But I was always reticent to just out him. Not for fear of a negative reaction, but for fear that Max would then be nothing but “the gay guy.” And I always saw him as more than that. Max is kind, handsome, and smart. He’s grounded. And he’s searching for happiness. He also happens to be gay. And I hope that over the years, I’ve managed to get that across.