I remember when “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” was shocking. I mean, they were all gay! The subject of non-heterosexuality had largely been taboo on television and, for the most part, in the homes of Americans.

Now, a similar television milestone has been reached. Last week “All My Children” introduced a transgender character undergoing reassignment surgery to its cast, and ABC has pledged that it will treat the character with respect and tell her story with integrity.

I think daytime television is long overdue for a new type of character, and the transgender community has waited far too long to be represented on network television.

It is very hard to find reliable statistics on the number of sexual reassignment surgeries, since they are often performed outside the United States or in private settings. But it seems to me they are not declining, and the percentage of Americans who have undergone these surgeries, or are considering having it done, will only increase with time.

This character is pretty extreme, he is a rock star named Zarf, played by actor Jeffrey Carlson, who is transitioning from a male to a female, named Zoe. Zarf is in love with the show’s lesbian character, Bianca. I’ll forgive the names and that Zarf is a rock star because it is a soap opera, after all.

Regardless, an important hurdle has been crossed in transgender history. Whether they like it or not, viewers will be exposed to the transgender community, and the victories and problems one of its members faces on a popular, long-running soap opera.

“AMC” fanatics, stay-at-home moms, bored kids, and channel surfers everywhere may stumble upon the story of Zarf, and may see transgender people in a whole new light.

I’ve spent some time looking around “All My Children” message boards, since ABC announced that it will have a transgender character. I had expected to see a bunch of narrow-minded viewers expressing their disgust, because unfortunately that’s what I’m used to. But I was glad to find that Carlson’s character was well received. There were personal stories of husbands coming out of the closet, brothers having reassignment surgeries, and children asking their mothers if it was all right if they were gay. All were posted in support of Zarf.

Those who didn’t want “All My Children” to introduce this character were definitely in the minority.

This is the type of discourse we need, and have needed for so long. Accepting this character and her right to be a female is the first step toward acceptance of Zoe, and the transgender community at large.

After a steady downward slope in rights for those in the LGBT community, with gay marriage being banned left and right, and the president making it his personal goal to make sure they do not have the same rights as the rest of Americans, this is a refreshing victory, as small as it may be.

Once Americans accept Zarf, and other shows start adding transgender characters, we can be one step closer to tolerance.

I think shows like “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and “The L-Word” have helped viewers relate to the LGBT characters as people. And thinking about gays, lesbians, transgenders, queers, bisexuals, and everyone else as regular people is not far off from thinking of them as moms, dads, siblings, teachers and friends.

Zarf might not single-handedly make America change its mind on gay marriage, or gay rights in general, but maybe the transgender character another television show may add will. With every character we watch and accept, we are getting closer to accepting the everyday people who are going through similar problems, and victories and lives. We are getting closer to accepting all members of our society.