General
As one of the few lesbian romances depicted on daytime television, Bianca and Maggie's romance gave lesbian viewers a pairing they could relate to, and inspired closeted lesbian viewers to reveal their sexuality. In addition, the romance was appreciated by heterosexual fans. In 2005, the couple's second kiss (their first having taken place the previous year) was ranked #4 on TV Guide's list of the best same-sex kisses on television. The kiss was also listed as one of television's most "unforgettable kisses" in Andréa Demirjian's 2006 book Kissing, with the rating of "Really Good". In October 2008, Soaps In Depth named Bianca and Maggie one of soap opera's 100 greatest couples.
Bianca being brought back to the series in 2000 made her the first major character on a soap opera to come out as gay or lesbian. All My Children was consistently nominated thereafter by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) for its "fair, accurate, and inclusive portrayal" of a lesbian teenager and her mother's process of coming to terms with her daughter's homosexuality. However, until recently, Bianca fell exclusively for perceived straight or unattainable women, which prevented her from having an on-screen girlfriend. GLAAD Director of Communications, John Sonego, contends that "Many young, newly out lesbians fall for a close friend, only to discover the friend is straight" and that on television "unrequited love...and heartbreak are what keep the viewers tuning in — and learning". Initially, Maggie, who continually asserted her heterosexuality, seemed to be a continuation of this trend.
Read more about this topic: Bianca Montgomery And Maggie Stone, Reception and Impact
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