Gary Dontzig, co-executive producer of Murphy Brown and co-writer of an episode with a gay character (repeated June 15 on CBS), says, ``In terms of what's been happening in this country with homophobia, we felt it was important to show a healthy, well-adjusted, wonderful and openly gay character. ... When (people) see a gay-pride parade on the news, it's the guys who are overt. Why not put somebody on who the audience could see and say, `Hey, this is a person.' ''

The reception given a new syndicated weekly column on gay issues by Detroit News editor Deb Price underscores the changing mood. While her paper has received some negative mail, readers' reaction ``to me, personally, has been almost exclusively positive,'' she says. ``It's not just gay people excited about this column.'' It's also ``people who have gay children, gay siblings, gay friends.''

CUTLINE:THE AIDS FACTOR: Author [Eric Marcus] believes the gay community's response to the AIDS crisis has attracted mainstream support for such protests in Washington, D.C. CUTLINE:TV'S ROLE: Jo Anderson, left, and Yvonne Suhor played lesbian characters on CBS. CUTLINE:FRANK: Gay congressman says people think homophobia is `expected of them.' CUTLINE:DEB PRICE: Writes a syndicated column that addresses gay issues