Soap star Van Hansis spills what’s in store for our favorite gay super couple, “Nuke,” on As the World Turns.

by Michael Fairman

As daytime soap opera’s only leading gay male character, Luke Snyder has fallen on hard times. First, he ran for student body president only to find his rival running a dirty campaign against him. So what’s a guy to do? Luke decided to take a turn to the dark side and fight back by stuffing the ballot box. Now, his own step-grandfather is hitting on him! And, he’s hit the skids with boyfriend Noah. It’s enough to make anyone’s world turn!

Actor Van Hansis, who plays the iconic soap role of Luke, has been heralded by critics and fans alike for his moving portrayal. In recent months there had been some concerned viewer backlash when the duo, known as “Nuke” (Noah and Luke), was receiving limited air time and seldom kissed on air. But as Luke heads into the new year, there’s plenty of story to tell. Here’s a preview of this important LGBT storyline.

Where do Luke and Noah stand at this point in their relationship as a couple?

Noah was asked by the dean if Luke had stuffed the ballot box. So Noah told the truth, thereby getting them kicked out of school. Luke blames Noah for that, and they fall apart.

When “Nuke” fans see the couple have limited air time, or pulled apart in story, some feel it’s because their characters are gay. Thoughts?

This summer when Luke and Noah were happy, we were not shown that much. There has to be some amount of conflict to tell an interesting story. So yeah, Luke and Noah are being pulled apart. Will it be forever? No, probably not. They are each other’s true love.

How is working with your on-screen partner, Jake Silberman (Noah), after all the hype and the publicity surrounding the pairing?

We don’t get sick of each other. Jake is one of the funniest people I have worked with. We work really well together. He is a really good guy and he is my best friend on the show.

You and Jake appeared together at the GLAAD Awards. Has that been important for you to be asked to participate in these ceremonies?

The GLAAD Awards are fantastic! We have done it three years in a row. I remember last year, it was the first year Luke and Noah had blown up and become bigger than just soap opera characters. It’s great when you have a role that means something to people and that you are doing something for the good of what is happening in this country. I really applaud GLAAD for what they are doing, and I am very excited to help their cause on daytime.

Noah’s ex, Maddie, is back in town and that spells disaster for New Year’s for Luke and Noah. What is going to go down?

On New Year’s, Noah is being a good friend to Maddie. Something happens at the New Year’s Eve party and Noah leaves with her without telling Luke. Luke sees them and assumes there is more to it.

For the second straight year, your fans have put together “Project Holiday Spirit” to help fight HIV/AIDS. Tell us about the charity.

The fans of VanHansis.net raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in Jake’s and my name. I used to have a blog and I wrote that the holiday season is not my favorite season. Sometimes I get a little depressed around that time, and this was to show the true spirit of the holiday season, which was to give back. So far they have raised $6,215!

What have fans said to you about Luke Snyder and the telling of his gay love story?

I think that people are really invested in the storyline, not just because of the sexuality of the characters, but because they care about them. I think that it is the most important thing to tell in this story. It’s the first time that daytime is doing this, and it’s about making the characters full characters, showing their faults and strengths, and that is what people are responding to.

In closing, in 2009, what can we tell “Nuke” fans to look forward to?

Keep watching. It starts out pretty crappy in the new year and they are kind of at their worst, so things can only look up. I think people will be very happy with the material that happens in 2009.

So Luke and Noah will kiss and make up? And really kiss?

They have had a peck at least, if not a kiss, in any episode they were in together, unless they were fighting and hating each other. When things are good, they are kissing

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