Debbie Novotny

Debbie is the colorfully devoted mother of Michael. She's a PFLAG mom, very proud of Michael.

In fact, she's the mom of just about every other queer on Liberty Avenue. Besides joyously sticking her nose into the affairs of her queer folks, she spends her free time fighting discrimination, counseling gay teens and their parents, taking in runaways, caring for her brother Vic with AIDS, and dishing out turkey meatloaf and lemon bars at the Liberty Diner. She has a boyfriend, Detective Carl Horvath.

Debbie has known Brian since the first day Michael dragged him home from school, and she could see right away that her son was completely infatuated with him. She also knew he would be a lot of trouble. But Debbie also liked him a lot... she even loves him, but she's also wary of him. She knows he has power over Michael, and she doesn't like the way Michael will make stupid decisions just to suit Brian. But Brian respects a lot Debbie and listens to her advices. Sometimes she smokes joints with him, when she wants to have deep conversations...

She was a 2nd mother to Justin, since he ran away from home. She named him Sunshine.

She rides Brian about Justin, and forces him to take responsibility when he seems to just want to hide from the messes he makes sometimes.

"I've always said it isn't who you love, it's how you love. Genitalia is simply God's way of accessorising."

[Debbie] "You know, you really scared me, Brian. I thought, well, this time you've finally gone too far. Sold your soul for money and power. I know how important those things are to you, and I understand where it comes from. But each time you'd reach the precipice and were about to step headlong into oblivion, you always managed to pull back. Why is that?"
[Brian] "Winter sale at Prada?"

[Michael] "Ma, do you have to sit here?"

[Debbie] "I know you're uncomfortable hanging out in gay bars with your mother. But look at it this way. If you meet somebody nice, you won't have to bring him home to meet me, 'cause I'm already here!"

Debbie's (in)famous T-Shirts:

- coming soon -