Close Stay up-to-date with
Observer.com Newsletters
Sign up for Observer Newsletters!
RSS Feed
The New York Observer

Soap Protestors Advocate for Gay Kiss

View Story On One Page View Story On One Page Print This Story Print This Story Share This Story Share This Story
March 3, 2008 | 10:20 a.m.

As the World Turns had the first gay male character in daytime drama in 1988. Last summer, the show hit another milestone when the first two gay men on a soap, Luke and Noah, kissed for the first time. But the lovers haven't locked lips since September, when the Noah character was still coming to grips with being gay. But since officially becoming a couple, their lips have been sealed. Fans are wondering whether it's a sign of squeamishness by CBS or show sponsors Procter & Gamble Co, according to the Associated Press. They've been writing letters, signing an online petition and even have a Web site that counts the days, hours, minutes and seconds since Luke and Noah last locked lips. "We totally support this show and applaud the show for doing this story line," said Roger Newcomb, a computer worker from New York's northern suburbs and the man behind the campaign. "We just don't understand why they have to be censored or treated differently."

There's no kissing ban, said Jeannie Tharrington, spokeswoman for Procter & Gamble Productions, although she wouldn't say what will happen in future shows. She explained the mistletoe shot (when the gay couple first kissed) as a "creative decision."

"It's always hard to please a diverse audience," Tharrington said, "and we have a diverse audience."

Webber recalls reading a handful of letters in soap opera publications after last summer's first kiss along the lines of "I don't care if Luke is gay, but I don't want to see it."

Barbara Bloom, CBS senior vice president for daytime, said there was a "minimal" negative reaction from viewers about the story line, although she couldn't define what that meant. There was apparently no organized campaign by conservative or parent advocacy groups that monitor television content.

"It's entirely new to me," said Tim Winter, president of the Parents Television Council. "I hadn't heard anything about it."

The American Family Association Web site has a "take-action alert" against Procter & Gamble, calling the company the "top pro-homosexual sponsor on television." The group bases its determination on the number of P&G products advertised on prime-time TV shows with gay or lesbian characters.

"As the World Turns" isn't even mentioned.

Post a Comment The Discussion

Uiklyolip

buy propecia - propecia buy zithromax - zithromax buy xenical online - xenical order levitra - levitra ultram online - ultram buy fioricet - fioricet buy valium - valium buy acomplia - acomplia prozac online - prozac ativan online - ativan

Gerilo lfruticulo

buy lexapro - lexapro buy cipro online - cipro celebrex - celebrex nexium - nexium buy butalbital - butalbital buy doxycycline - doxycycline codeine - codeine order valtrex - valtrex buy zoloft - zoloft buy clomid online - clomid

Thank you for the information

www.observer.com is very informative. The article is very professionally written. I enjoy reading www.observer.com every day. I was looking for the for the following services bad credit loans canada payday loans canadian payday loans cash advance loans faxless payday loans loans online payday loan online payday loans online payday loans canada payday payday advance payday loan payday loans pay day loans payday loans canada payday loans in canada payday loans online
online payday loan
and discovered that payday loans can help in times when your credit sucks, but you urgently need cash.

Post a Comment
Not a registered user? Register here.
Don't have an Observer.com account? You can use your Facebook account instead.