Like a warm slice of birthday cake, Debbie is the colorful, proud meddling mother of Michael. She's also the de facto mom of just about every other queer on Liberty Avenue. Besides joyously sticking her nose into the affairs of her queer flock, she spends her free time fighting discrimination, counseling gay teens and their parents, taking in runaways, caring for her brother with AIDS, and dishing out turkey meatloaf and lemon bars at the Liberty Diner.
See where everyone fits in Debbie's extended family.
From the time Michael was a little boy Debbie knew her son was special -- especially in the heart department. She also knew her son was gay from a very early age, and was more than supportive about it. In fact, as Michael grew up, she sometimes was more gay-friendly than Michael even wanted. She was always going to gay bars, and hanging with Michael's gay friends, and going to gay rights demonstrations and working with PFLAG. Of course, Debbie had to always hear Michael constantly talk about "wanting a regular mother." Blah blah blah. Debbie knows he doesn't really mean it. She knows he loves her just the way she is. And she loves him just the way he is...although she'd prefer that he'd settle down with a nice man like Dr. Dave, and stop obsessing about that Brian. And she also wishes he'd be more "out" at work, and relax and have a little more fun. But the thing she liked least about Michael was the time he and Dr. Dave were having the fundraiser for the Senator and didn't invite her or "the gang". Debbie knew this was because he was afraid that she might embarrass him in front of all that political snobs. But Debbie knew Michael would come to his senses - with a little help from her and the gang. And Michael did. He is a good kid after all, the best. Debbie knows that.
Debbie always wanted Michael to march by her side in the Gay Pride parade, but he always let her down...until now. Debbie practically freaks as her beloved Michael - dressed in fabulous drag - marches by her side under the PFLAG banner.
Debbie always wanted Michael to have a hero for a father...so she made one up. She told Michael that his father had died in Vietnam and that he had been a war hero. So when Divina Devore came to town, Debbie didn't want Michael to know the truth. She hated the idea that he might know she lied to him all these years. She also didn't want Michael to not have a hero for a father.
Debbie still feels she can't support Michael's relationship with Ben, but when Michael starts telling her who she can and can't date...well...that's a whole other story. It's none of Michael's business if she dates Horvath...and if he doesn't like it: the hell with him!
Debbie is not only Vic's sister; she's also his best friend and sometimes his caretaker. Together they've been through the disco era, the loss of lovers, the birth of Michael, and the worst of the AIDS crisis. When Vic almost died of complications from the disease, Debbie nursed him back to health. And when she didn't think he had long to live she took with him a dream trip to Italy. She was beyond happy that Vic made it through, even though she had to pay off his damn credit card bill for the trip. She swore that she'd do whatever it took to support her brother, she even worked double shifts at the diner...that is until she collapsed from exhaustion. Vic, not wanting to see his sister suffer, offered to move out or get a job, but Debbie wouldn't hear of it. Staying healthy was all she asked of Vic. And his health wasn't the only thing that would challenge their relationship. When Vic was wrongfully accused of exposing himself to an undercover cop, Debbie still didn't doubt him for a minute...and God help anyone who did. She not only confronted the desk sergeant at the police station for accusing her brother, but she almost took Lindsay's head off when Lindsay even questioned the possibility Vic might be guilty. Nope, no one messes with Debbie's brother...nobody.
Debbie has known Brian since the first day Michael dragged him home from school. She could see right away that her son was completely infatuated with the taller boy. She also knew he would be a whole helluva lot of trouble. But Debbie also liked him a lot... loves him even, but she was/is 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. She made this apparent when Michael wavered on his decision whether or not to move in with Dr. Dave. Debbie went right over to Brian's loft and confronted him, putting her cards on the table. She wanted him to let her son go, so he could have a real relationship with another man. Since Brian respected Debbie, he listened...unfortunately a little too well. But after the whole birthday party debacle, where everyone was hating Brian, it was only Debbie who saw what Brian was trying to do, and she thanked him for it. Debbie does love Brian after all, and also gets involved in his other relationships. She certainly rides Brian about Justin, and forces him to take responsibility when he seems to just want to hide from the messes he makes sometimes. For example, when Justin runs away to NYC Debbie makes Brian run after him. She also encourages Brian to visit his own father when he's dying and tell him the truth about himself, and also about the birth of Gus. It's a hard move for Brian, but he always seems to listen to when Debbie talks. He'd better...or else!
Debbie met "Sunshine" (her pet name for Justin) just after Brian and Michael met him. She could pretty much tell this young hunk was gonna get a lot of attention on the scene, and also get into a lot of trouble if he wasn't careful. Her mother hen instinct started to go into overdrive when she found herself having to take Justin back to his parents after he ran away to Brian's. It was the first time Debbie met Jennifer, and the start of her guiding both mother and son. Debbie also found her monitoring Brian's responsibilities when it came to Justin. Like when she made Brian follow Justin to NYC and bring him back to Pittsburgh. After that Debbie let Justin move into Michael's old room, and also got him a job at the Diner. Then when the harassment at Justin's school started to worsen for the teenager, Debbie was the one who helped him start the Gay Straight Student Alliance. She even brought cookies to the first meeting. And when the group was kicked out of the school, Debbie was the one who organized protests to force the school to allow it. All through her relationship with Justin she also tried to reinforce and encourage his relationship with his real mother, stepping aside when they needed time together, but also helping Jennifer to understand what it meant to be a gay parent. Hell, if she had her way she would have adopted them both.
Debbie and Jennifer are like kindred spirits...from opposite sides of town. Both are mothers of gay sons they adore, and both would do anything for those sons. At first that was where the similarity ended. After all, Jennifer wasn't a single mother...but that soon changed too. Suddenly Jennifer was also alone, facing the challenges of motherhood. But Debbie was there to take Jennifer under her wing almost as much as she took Justin under her wing. It was rough going at first, but Debbie saw the bravery of this woman who had never stepped on the wrong side of the tracks before. It wasn't long before Jennifer was helping Debbie out with PFLAG meetings and walking with Debbie on picket lines at Justin's school. Jennifer even trusted Debbie enough to let Justin move in with her. Regardless of which side of town they were from, they had become good friends.
When Debbie heard the old surly detective make a homophobic remark about the murdered young man, she wanted to rip his head off! How could he be so cold? Was this the Neanderthal who would be running the murder investigation? She's angry and wants to do something about it...but what?
Debbie knew that the homophobic cop wasn't trying hard enough to solve the murder of the young guy she found in the dumpster. Bastard! She went down to the station and gave him a piece of her mind...as well as some lemon bars to maybe soften him up and get him more interested in investigating the crime. It didn't seem to work...at first. But then the cop came knocking on her door. Thanks to some of Debbie's own detective work, he had discovered the young man's identity. It seems that Debbie had lit a fire under the old cop...but had she also lit another fire she hadn't expected?
When Detective Horvath asked Debbie on a date, she took no time in turning him down...at first. He was, after all, a homophobe! But the simple fact of the matter was that Debbie noticed that there was soft spot underneath Horvath's rough exterior that intrigues Debbie, so why the hell not! They go out... and he wasn't so bad. In fact, Debbie might take him on as new challenge and romantic interest as well!
Every time Horvath tries to get romantic with Debbie she shoots him down. She keeps using the "gay issue" to keep her distance from him. Finally, seeing that Horvath is a bigger man than she imagined, softens and gives in and in front of the entire gay community of Liberty Avenue she plants a wet one on her man.
Debbie and Danny had a whirlwind romance in high school. When she discovered
that she was pregnant with Michael, Danny had already moved away. He had gone to
NYC to become Divina Devore, a famous and fabulous drag queen. Debbie never told
Michael about Danny, and she wasn't thrilled when she found out Danny was back
in Pittsburgh.
Debbie couldn't accept Ben dating her son and made sure it was known even while serving Ben his breakfast, and even after Michael raised a fuss, she still stood firm! She just didn't like the idea of her only son dating someone who was HIV positive and having to deal with the possible pain and heartache that being with Ben presented. Debbie, as stubborn as usual, refused to act as if she didn't care--it just wasn't in her nature, damn it!
Debbie finally bites the bullet and goes to Ben's surprise party...trying to put her resentment towards him behind her. But when she sees Ben freak out at Michael she feels her anger towards Ben is justified. It's back to square one.
Debbie, finding out that Ben has been hospitalized, puts her emotional embargo to the side and goes to visit him. Ben apologizes to her for putting Michael through the anxiety of this illness. Debbie, finally softening, warms to him and feeds him chicken soup. Unbeknownst to either of them Michael sees this.
Despite what Debbie used to feel about Ben she now knows that he's the right man for Michael. When she finds out Ben might go to Tibet, leaving Michael...she attempts to talk him into staying...and it works!
DEBBIE NOVOTNY: "You boys can't get it up on an empty stomach."
Besides being Michael's mom, Debbie seems to be the defector mother of nearly all his friends as well. As a waitress at the Liberty Diner, she's an extra helping of everything, from gravy and desert, to her clothes, her wig, her queer-pride/AIDS activist buttons, as well as her support and love for her son. Michael may find her a little overly supportive sometimes, but like everyone, he knows this woman is pure of heart. She's also a she-lion who will stop at nothing from protecting the people she loves --- especially Michael and her brother Vic.
EARLIEST AMBITION: To own a beauty parlor.
FAVORITE COLOR: Who can have just one when there are so many in the Crayola box? Debbie likes 'em all...usually at the same time.
FAVORITE PAST TIME: Hanging out with the gay boys at Woody's.
FAVORITE OLD TIME TV CHARACTERS: Lucy Ricardo - who else?
FAVORITE THING TO WEAR: Her button-covered vest, scrunches in her hair, and a wicked t-shirt.
GUILTY PLEASURE: Snuggling up with a bag of chips, a liter of Diet Coke, and watching Oprah.
THINGS SHE HATES: Brie cheese - it tastes like cum. Popcorn without butter - it tastes like cardboard, for chrissakes! Her son not eating enough. Anytime Vic gets sick. Prejudice of any sort...especially against gays and lesbians.
FAVORITE JEOPARDY! CATAGORY: She never remembers categories, but that Trebek is a hottie
THE ONE ITEM THAT'S ALWAYS IN HER REFRIGERATOR: Velveeta
DEAD PERSON SHE'D MOST LIKE TO MEET: Montgomery Clift or Judy Garland.
IF HOSTING A DINNER PARTY, HER GUESTS WOULD BE: Michael, David, Brian, Ted, Emmett, Vic, Justin, Daphne, Justin's mom Jennifer, Melanie and Lindsay and Gus - and anyone else on Liberty Avenue that was hungry or lonely. She'd serve her famous spaghetti carbonara -- enough for twice the population of Pittsburgh.
WHEN DEBBIE MET BRIAN: Debbie met Brian when Michael dragged him home from junior high. They were both 14. She knew that Brian was going to be trouble...but she also knew that deep down he was a good kid who truly cared about Michael. It wasn't long before she recognized that Brian, just like her son, was a budding queer who was struggling with his sexuality. She also sensed that the taller, tougher boy would protect Michael, but might also break his heart someday.