Five Things That Happened On May 9 In Soap History

In 1995 on General Hospital, Michael "Stone" Cates (Michael Sutton, pictured with Kimberly McCullough as Robin Scorpio and Jon Lindstrom as Kevin Collins) learned of his HIV-positive diagnosis. In 2023, Sutton recalled of the landmark storyline to Soap Opera Digest, "I was 23, and most 23-year-olds aren’t thinking about death. I remember going to hospices and meeting patients and seeing all of the repercussions, emotionally and physically, that come with [HIV and AIDS]. That helped get me to a place where I could imagine what it would be like to be facing death. I really immersed myself and I’m forever grateful for that experience, and we have to give General Hospital credit because the storyline helped shape the narrative and beat down stereotypes. People felt connected to Stone in a way that helped take away the stigma of the disease.”

In 2006, Luke Snyder (Van Hansis) came out as gay to his parents, Lily (Martha Byrne) and Holden (Jon Hensley) on As the World Turns. Sensing his mother's upset, Luke said, "It's not like I just woke up this morning and decided to be gay. This is something I've carried around for years. And now that it's out, I've got to talk. I've got to talk. It hurts too much to just keep it in like it's some sort of contagious disease or something. I lied because I didn't want to hurt you. But I ended up hurting you anyways and hurting myself, too. I guess I was just so afraid — I was so afraid of seeing this look on your face, and the disappointment in Dad's eyes — and not just for today, but for the rest of my life."

In 2007, Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) and Lucas Horton (Bryan R. Dattilo) wed on Days of Our Lives. Lucas interrupted Father Kelly as he began the recitation of the vows. "I've been waiting an awful long time for this, so if you don't mind?" he smiled. "I, Lucas, take you, Samantha, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you... in good times and in bad... in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of our lives." After they were pronounced husband and wife, Kate asked her new daughter-in-law's permission to attend the reception, which Sami granted.  

In 2012, Florencia Lozano made her first General Hospital appearance as Téa Delgado, the role she originally played on One Life to Live. In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, Lozano said of the crossover, “It’s been a great, exciting adventure, but there are times that I’ve been struck by how strange and new and unfamiliar everything is, so it is wonderful to see Roger [Howarth, Todd] and Kristen [Alderson, Starr] and Michael [Easton, John, pictured], Frank [Valentini, executive producer], and some of the producers who have come out. It feels like there’s a little nucleus of Llanview out here and it makes a big difference.”

In 2023 on Young and Restless, Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters, far r.) faced an angry brigade of Abbotts at the family home after returning from the dead. Huffed Ashley (Eileen Davidson, seated l.), regarding herself and daughter Abby (Melissa Ordway, l.), "If you had your way, we’d be in prison right now, serving time for a murder that you faked." Insisted Diane, "I wouldn’t have allowed that to happen." "Oh, really?" shot back Ashley. "You would’ve come to our rescue? Before your 'death,' you were blackmailing my daughter and me, threatening to have us arrested."