Leon Carp

Leon Carp was a recurring character played by Martin Mull on the American sitcom Roseanne from seasons three through nine.

In the show, which aired from 1988 to 1999 on ABC, Carp comes across as an uptight stickler who always wants to enforce rules and schedules. But as the show progresses, his softer side shines through as he marries his life partner Scott and adopts a little girl. Originally, Carp is introduced as an antagonist to the main character Roseanne, as her boss at the fictional restaurant The Rodbell’s Luncheonette. In time, however, the two develop a close friendship and confide in one another. In an episode titled “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, which aired in 1994, Carp is revealed to be bi.

This was the first time that bisexuality was explicitly mentioned on national television in the US, marking a monumental moment in the history of bi representation.