The media has historically underrepresented and stereotyped gay and lesbian characters. One of the first TV shows to depict a gay character was All in the Family in 1971, but it was a non-regular role. Soap in 1977 was among the earliest to have a regular gay character. In the 1980s, the AIDS epidemic led to greater stigma around gay men and portrayals often focused on AIDS. It wasn't until the 1990s that more nuanced gay characters began to appear regularly on TV and in films like Philadelphia, though stereotypes still persisted. While representation has improved in the 2000s, true representation of the gay community remains a work in progress.