Color television.

Somewhere in the Land Where Television Is Made, we are only slightly visible--and then woefully out of focus. "What us?" you ask. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people of color who look and act like anyone we know. We have sat by, apparently content with the queeny, quipping white males who pop in for humorous asides on quite a few sitcoms or the occasional sardonic transvestite or the "Surprise!" lesbian or the one black gay man (who at least has a political consciousness) on Spin City.

Is it enough? I, for one, think not.

We've made strides, there's no doubt. Will of Will & Grace, the bisexual detective on the late Homicide: Life on the Street, and, of course, our bold Ms. DeGeneres paved the way for others to dare to move toward a less flamboyant caricature of life on our own side of the street. Not to forget NYPD Blue last season, in which Bill Brochtrup's John Irvin was gentle, loyal, spiritual, and brave enough to punch a murderer in the face--and, later, to take a bullet from a bereaved father as he tried to stop him from hurting others.

But every one of those heroes is still white as snow.

Now it's time for the Second Wave. In the year before the turn of the millennium (which begins, I'm sure you all know, on January 1, 2001), let's work together, both creators and viewers, to see the broad panoply of us portrayed on network series.

Bring on the African-American hero of an action hour, the Latina lesbian who balances career with lover, the transgendered person who is not the butt of jokes but, finally, comfortable with who he or she is.

How do we do it? For the creators, writers, and directors, I humbly suggest these guidelines:

* Define the character first. Create characters as you always have, and then examine what a difference another race and sexual orientation might make--how might it color their decisions, the way they do their jobs, the relationships that may be developed among the cast. What new stories might it open up that haven't been explored on television, making your show fresher and more interesting?

* Fear not the advertiser revolt. Advertisers want numbers, and well-crafted characters in solid shows deliver viewers (with higher per-capita income and more disposable cash, I might add). The audience is primed to accept three-dimensional gay characters, particularly when their function is not as representatives of a "lifestyle" but as strong, emotionally balanced humans working in the same world as everyone else.

* Find a homosexual ear. If you have no gays or lesbians on your staff, find some in your lives and ask their opinion, frequently. Better yet, in a city filled with talented lesbian and gay writers, hire one or two. And if you're fortunate enough to be gay, ask yourself, "Who would I like to see on television? How can I bring a truer depiction of the world as I see it, through the mouth of this fictional person?"

* Don't be afraid of offending people of color. Some of us won't like the people you bring forth; that's a given. But do it anyway. I don't like Andy Sipowicz, the racist, homophobic detective on NYPD Blue, but the depth of the writing of his character (and the skill of actor Dennis Franz) has made him one of my favorite characters on television. The same can be true if you explore the racism and sexism of a black gay cop, for instance. Or the way an Asian lesbian doctor might hide her orientation, only to reveal it in later episodes.

For the viewers, these guidelines:

* Support shows that depict you. When you see an LGBT person on a series that you recognize, let the network know about it. If you have Email, use it. Watch who advertises on the show and write them also.

* If you work in the media, promote them. Write articles, print photos, interview these Second Wave heroes whenever you can. Let the world know we care about them, that they add to our view of ourselves and our view of the world.

* Talk amongst yourselves. The more your friends and friends' friends hear about something they're missing, the more they'll want to see it.

Stay tuned. And help us bring on the Second Wave.

Barclay has directed episodes of ABC's NYPD Blue, for which he won an Emmy last year, and is the co-executive producer of CBS's upcoming City of Angels.