Last night on Wheel Of Fortune (why I was watching is for another post), our host, Pat Sajak, introduced the contestants to the studio and TV audience. As he does every other night.

But this was not every other night.

When it came time to chat with the third and final contestant, Mike, this is what transpired:

Pat: So Mike, I hear you’re married.

Mike: That’s right, Pat, to my wonderful husband Jared.

My wife and I just stared at each other in amazement.

Wheel Of Fortune, favorite of middle America and the Bible Belt, had an openly gay contestant who (legally or just emotionally) declared that he had a spouse.

Now, this could not have come as any surprise to the producers of the show, and likely not Pat either, given that these shows are taped. Therefore, Wheel Of Fortune was making a conscious decision to bring on an openly gay, ostensibly married contestant.

Which is real cool in my book. And hopefully, a harbinger (what is that?) of things to come.

Unless it came as a result of an anti-discrimination lawsuit.

But either way, I wonder what the backlash will be from viewers. You know, for airing disciples of the Devil and all.