Gay kiss on Saturdays Casualty, Offensive or Not?

[Chiccadum]

Did anyone watch Casualty on Saturday night, if so was anyone offended by the gay kiss between two nurses. Apparently the BBC have been swamped with complaints about this saying it was offensive. I watched Casualty and although yes it was a full on pash I was not in the least offended. I have some male gay friends and though I wouldn't want them kissing in front of me or the children I don't mind watching on TV. What gets me is that men and some women can easily sit and watch lesbian kisses, i.e. Brookside, Bad Girls, The Bill to name but three but when it comes to men it is no no. I can't understand why, after all who's to say that in todays society that a gay or lesbian couple doesn't find it offensive to see heterosexual couples kissing on TV or in public. Does anyone else think the same? I'd love to get an insight to peoples opinions.

I agree, it wasn't offensive at all. Short & sweet tonight I'm afraid!

I did see it and it was not in the least bit offensive.

I don't see why seeing a gay couple kissing should be any more offensive than a heterosexual couple.

I didn't even 'notice' it. That is, I didn't think, 'Gosh a gay kiss'. I didn't occur to me that there was anything ofensive about it.

If you look at the BBC Points of View website, you'll see it's got loads of complaints about this - mostly from people complaining about its showing when their young children were watching i.e. before the 9pm watershed. These people seem to think it is the BBC's responsibility to police what their children watch and I can't understand anyone who lets a young child watch a program like Casualty which is awash with blood and gore and goodness knows what else (not so long ago a sex scene in an alleyway).
To answer the question, I didn't find it in the least bit offensive and think that the two guys in question are being portrayed very well i.e. not as stereotypes.

It wasn't offensive but I did screw my face up at it though. I don't like seeing men or women snogging on programmes. It's just something I prefer not to watch. Sorry.

It didn,t bother me,but my dh said it was disgusting but then again its the usual thing that it wouldn't bother him if it was 2 women!!

Mears, i understand what you are saying that you prefer not to watch that i know some friends who are like that, but as leander says her dh wouldn't mind if it was two woman, and, my husband is the same.

I also agree that although Casualty is before the 9pm watershed I don't think it is suitable viewing for children, if anything some of the contents of this programme albeit it very good and accurate it could accidentally make a child frightened should he/she ever have to go to Casualty themselves.

In my opinion, the scene where Emily Bishop in Corrie got hit over the head by a crow bar was more disturbing than seeing two men kiss and that happenend well before the watershed.

Some parents seem to think that because programmes are aired before 9pm then they are suitable for children, this is not necessarily so, all programmes should be at the parents discretion, it is not the BBC's fault that parents are letting their children watch a programme which is not suitable for younger viewers

Agree with hmb in that I didn't notice it as a "gay" kiss. As I used to live in Brighton, I am completely immune to thinking of it as anything other than normal.

I don't think that I was offended, but I was surprised, and wouldn't have expected it to be shown before watershed, though apparently a number of soaps have shown similar scenes again before watershed, and are probably more likely to be watched by youngsters.

I think that the watershed issue is an interesting one. I would expect the purpose of the wateshed would be to provide a cut-off point ebfore which certain acts/language etc were not to be shown, rather than to say the everything was fit for family viewing. Persoannly I had expected that such a scene would have been shown post-watershed, but that was merely my assumption rather than a feeling of outrage that a "gay" kiss was shown. It did make me wonder where the cut-off point was these days though...

Didn't see it but why on earth should it be offensive? A few people have mentioned the 'watershed' of 9pm but I certainly wouldn't be offended by my children watching a gay couple kissing on tv any more than a straight couple.

Agree with Oxocube. Nobody bats an eyelid at a straight couple kisssing 'before the watershed.' Homosexuality is not dirty or seedy, or something that children should be sheltered from. Personally I'd have no more problem with my kids seeing a gay kiss than a straight kiss. The more these things are portrayed respectfully and sensitively and seen as being 'normal', the sooner society will become more tolerant of people's differences.

This particular kiss was a very slobbery, loud, wide mouthed job and I would have had the 'yuk' feeling whether they were male/female or male/male. I think a lot of things shown on casualty are not particularly appropriate for the time that it is shown and poor DS1 gets sent to bed early on a saturday night so I can watch it.

Personally, I find lesbian scenes more uncomfortable, mainly because I can't imagine myself being in that situation but TV lesbian kisses aren't usually as heavy going as the casualty gay kiss.

I must admit, that, although, I'm not in the least homophobic or bothered about gay or lesbian kisses i didn't like the fact that as you said PamT is was slobbery, you could blatantly see the tongues being used, I felt uncomfortable (not for the male midwife who is gay in real life) but for the other actor as he is not. I wouldn't have a problem with my children watching a gay kiss but so far have never been in that situation.

I didn't see it but dislike kissing on TV in general. I just feel uncomfortable about the idea people are "acting" out such real emotions.
I don't want to witness others' passionate kisses /intimate moments in real life or on screen.

Chiccadum, I am intrigued by your reaction - feeling uncomfortable for the actor. Would you feel the same way about a gay actor kissing a woman? Not having a dig, just interested.

At the end of the day he's an actor. He has chosen to accept a job as a gay man - he must have known the possible implications of accepting such a job. I don't suppose it was a big deal for him.

For what it's worth (probably not much...!)I think Ben - the gay midwife - is absolutely gorgeous

Anais, I'm glad you approached that subject. I would often like to know how Jeremy Sheffield (Alex) in holby felt about having to kiss women. (In case you didn't know he was the hunk in Natalie Imbruglia's TORN vidoe) He was always portryaed as a ladies man but came out of the closet not long ago. I don't know about you Anais but I personally could not be passionate with anyone other than my dh, male or female. (PS, I know u r not having a dig, that's why I broached this sensitive subject to get different opinions.

It doesn't apply to me Chiccadum as not only am I single, but I'm bisexual

I agree with Oxocube. I can't imagine what the problem is with seeing gay people kissing. I didn't see it, but why should a show of affection be considered inappropriate for children?