HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Sometime in May, CBS soap "The Bold And The Beautiful" will launch a lesbian romance plot, and TV Guide got the scoop.

Joanna Johnson, who plays Karen Spencer on the popular soap, will be coming out of the closet as a longtime lesbian who is happily married to newcomer Danielle. Crystal Chappell has been cast as Danielle, and her character debuts on May 16.

TV Guide spoke to executive producer-head writer Bradley Bell about the lesbian plot line.