Update on gay cop on “Southland”

NBC lags far behind ABC and cable networks when it comes to LGBT visibility on its shows but there is a lot of potential to rectify that some with its cop drama Southland which debuted last spring and returns to the airwaves next month.

TV Guide reports that gay cop John Cooper, played by Micheal Cudlitz will come out to his partner Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) So far, we’ve only been given glimpses of Cooper’s sexuality such as his visit to a gay bar after his shift and his doing some landscaping at home with his boyfriend.

“We’re going to find out a lot very soon about John Cooper’s past, present and future,” Michael tells TV Guide’s William Keck. “But his sexuality won’t be forced on viewers. That’s not what the show’s about.”

Keck writes that Michael suspects that Officer Sherman will be just fine with the news but will anyone have a problem with John being gay? Michael says yes “but not someone we’ve already been introduced to. It’s going to be somebody new we come in contact with.”