EastEnders Receives Complaints over Gay Kiss

[di marco]

BBC soap EastEnders has received 145 complaints from viewers concerned about a gay kiss in Tuesday night's episode.

The scene which has been called into question saw Christian Clarke (John Partridge) and his new boyfriend Lee Thompson (Carl Ferguson) sharing a kiss on the bench in Albert Square's gardens. As Dot Cotton (June Brown) walked through the Square during their embrace, she reminded them that "the Lord’s not the only one with eyes".

Writing on the Points Of View message board, one viewer said: "I am appalled by the display of homosexual kissing before the watershed shown on EastEnders. This is disgraceful whilst young children are watching and sets the wrong example."

Another viewer said of the scene: "I had to explain to my seven-year-old son what was happening. He now thinks he is gay because he kisses his dad."

One viewer, however, added: "I don't see what the fuss is about, given the context of their kissing and messing about and the way it was portrayed."

In a statement, the BBC defended its depiction of homosexual relationships, saying: "EastEnders aims to reflect real life, and this means including and telling stories about characters from many different backgrounds, faiths, religions and sexualities.

"We approach our portrayal of homosexual relationships in the same way as we do heterosexual relationships. In this instance, Christian is enjoying the first flush of romance and we've shown him being affectionate with his new boyfriend in the same way any couple would."

It continued: "We also aim to ensure that depictions of affection or sexuality between couples are suitable for pre-watershed viewing. We believe that the general tone and content of EastEnders is now widely recognised, meaning that parents can make an informed decision as to whether they want their children to watch."

At the beginning of the month, 110 people complained to the public broadcaster over its treatment of a recent Ramadan storyline, while the latest child abuse plot involving Tony King (Chris Coghill) and Whitney Dean (Shone McGarty) sparked over 200.

[di marco]

i really do think its getting to the stage now where these people are going to complain about everything shown on ee!

Another viewer said of the scene: "I had to explain to my seven-year-old son what was happening. He now thinks he is gay because he kisses his dad."

no offence to this woman but she obviously didnt explain it very well to her son if he now thinks hes gay cos he kisses his dad! does he then also think hes sexually attracted to his mum cos he kisses her?! its stupid!

We believe that the general tone and content of EastEnders is now widely recognised, meaning that parents can make an informed decision as to whether they want their children to watch.

i think thats very well said lol!

[Debs]

FFS, people will complain about anything!!

I agree eastenders has been running a long time and viewers should no by now it shows things that mayeb arent suitable for a certain age of child

Me i have no problem letting connor who is 6, see a man kiss a man or a woman kiss a woman.... he sees men and women full blown snogging many times in adverts etc and just says yuck! he knows that some men love men, women love women and to him its not anything wierd or different, maybe becuase when he first mentioned the whole gay thing coz hed heard it at school we sat and explained, like parents should do

I just think some people have no life and love to just sit on the phone or computer emailing, for something to do! get a life ffs

[Timalay]

Oh ffs it's the 21st century, these people need too educate there kids better.

[samantha nixon]

I think this is one of the stupiediest complaint ever, as its every day life there are same sex couples

people need to find something better to do with their time, rather than complain

[Kim]

It's legal to marry someone of the same sex now and they're only highlighting a real life issue here! Was there even that much of a fuss over the Sonia/Naomi storyline? I don't remember Corrie getting complaints over the Todd and Nick kiss and Nick is Sarah's brother!

[DaVeyWaVey]

The mother is ridiculous. she think it's ok to allow her seven year old son to watch Eastenders, but doesn't think to give him the facts of life and tell him what the term 'gay' means... deary me.

[Chris_2k11]

lmao when are these people gonna find something else to do with their time, its getting ridiculous.

I'd like to make a complaint.....i wanna complain about these whingers. we all up for that ey!!

[Kim]

I hope they sit down one day and are asked what they did with their lives by their grandchildren or something. "Oh, I spent all day emailing the BBC filing complaints about EastEnders!"

[alan45]

FFS

Much as I dislike Deadenders thats a stupid thing to complain about. The acting may be crap now but when EE was in its heyday they had the first Gay Kiss between Barry?? (Not Barry Evans) and Colin played by Michael Cashman.

That was at least 10 years ago