Moving to the head of "The Class"

If you caught the series premiere of "The Class" Monday, you would have seen that the new CBS sitcom has one of the few gay characters (as a lead character) on network television. He's Kyle Lando, played by straight actor Sean Maguire. The sweet-natured and cultured is a teacher who is one of the eight people reunited when one of their third-grade classmates (Jason Ritter) throws a party to mark the day he met his fiancee, which was the first day of first grade.

Maguire told AfterElton.com this week that he is grateful for the opportunity to add some much-needed diversity to the fall lineup. “I think it's important to see that kind of diversity,� he says Maguire. “You don't have to be gay or black or whatever minority to appreciate seeing a character on TV who's that minority. It's nice to see the real world reflected in what we watch for entertainment.�Maguire starred in the three-year run of UPN's Eve as Donovan Brink. According to the actor, he performed that character with tha idea that he might actually be gay but the show limited him Brink to being, at best, just metrosexual.

And, get this, Kyle actually has a stable relationship with boyfriend Aaron (Cristián de la Fuente): something that took Will Truman on "Will & Grace" more than seven seasons to do.

I'll give you even more reasons to watch this show, which has received mostly strong reviews from crtiics: The very appealing (and straight) Ritter - who played gay in the indie film "Happy Endings" last year with a great kissing scene - and the presence of openly gay performer Sam Harris, one of the best singers in show business. Harris won the male vocalist competition more than two decades on the very first season of "Star Search" and looks even more handsome now.
Ironically, Harris plays a "straight" man who is married to the woman who has her heart broken by Kyle in high school. Harris' character, Perry Pearl, is immaculately dressed and fits a lot of gay stereotypes which suggests he might be in some deep denial but we'll have to see how it plays out. Harris (pictured, left) says Perry defies expectations about what is expected behavior for gay and straight men. “It's nice to have this presence on TV, but you have to ask what they are saying about gay people when you see it.�