EastEnders and Emmerdale or following the drama over in Hollyoaks village, true soap fans will know that these long-standing shows represent more than just entertainment.When Coronation Street first aired back in 1960 it was unimaginable that two characters of the same sex could ever a relationship.Over the past six decades, serial dramas have continued to raise awareness of LGBT+ themes allowing people who may be experiencing such issues to know they are not alone.Soaps play an important role in shining a light on real-life experiences, including those of people within the LGBTQ community.Daily Star has taken a look at just a few of the ways soaps have broken LBGTQ+ ground over the years.Brookside introduced the first openly gay character.