I don't think the issue is so much 'compulsory equality' AOG, as trying to provde a reasonably accurate snapshot of modern city life.
Soaps are often quite moral, and keen to show that wrong-doing is mostly punished, and equally, not everyone is a heterosexual, and demonstrating that homosexual people have lives every bit as boring / exciting as heterosexuals aids in breaking down ignorance and tabboos.
I don't have a problem with it. Rather a lesbian than the amount of murders, adultery, catfighting and over the top psychopathic characters that are shown in soaps. I'm sure it will be done responsibly.
When are they gonnna bring in listenable voices .They seem to have cornered the market in terrible on the ear voices .butcher boy murdered connor to name but two, two too many.(notice two twos that nearly made sense lol )
Philtaz - I do have a blunt rusty old pen knife, if you want it :) but to answer your question Corrie does have a single Polish character, She is called Wicki (although obviously pronounced Vicki) she works in the factory as a machinist, although she has recently had to return to Poland in the storyline as in real life she has just had a baby.
But Sophie is dating the young Christian lad and really had the hots for him. I agree, they're taking the gay thing too far. Next it will be Eccles who starts chasing other b itches!