'The Simpsons' to host Homer-sexual wedding

A long-time character on The Simpsons is to come out of the closet as the creators of the show send their own message about the controversial topic of gay marriages.

A long-time character on The Simpsons is to come out of the closet as the creators of the show send their own message about the controversial topic of gay marriages.

The news was leaked by the show's producers, Matt Groening and Al Jean, at a comic convention in San Diego.

"We have a show where, to raise money, Springfield legalises gay marriage," Mr Jean told comic book fans. "Homer becomes a minister by going on the internet and filling out a form. A long-time character comes out of the closet, but I'm not saying who."

Speculation in the US yesterday was focusing on the nuclear power plant boss Montgomery Burns' assistant Waylon Smithers, whose sexuality has long been the subject of speculation among Simpsons fans.

Others guessed that one of Marge Simpson's chain-smoking sisters - Selma and Patty - could be the gay character.

The gay marriage episode is scheduled to be shown in January.

Mr Groening said that he still planned to make a Simpsons feature film, but production would not start until the television series - in its 16th season - came to an end.