Hollyoaks is aimed at a teenage audience though, an audience that would be much more comfortable with depictions of gay sexuality or relationships.

I'm surprised by those who are surprised that there might be an issue with two men snogging passionately in a soap. Such scenes would nearly have been unheard of even ten years ago in a soap (particularly an old fashioned one like Corrie), never mind thirty or forty years ago. You can't just introduce something into mainstream popular culture that hasn't really been depicted before and not even expect a reaction.

I've been reading this thread with intrigue. My opinion is that anyone who has no problem with a straight couple kissing but then objects at the notion of two guys getting it on does suggest you have an issue with the gay aspect. So that does read slightly homophobic. Whether intentional or not.

The joke was regarding my dislike of the character and nothing to do with his sexuality. I have made plenty of posts on the subject of his lack of characterisation.

Yes, but soaps like Corrie need to move with the times and not just pander to a section of their audience that are uncomfortable with something simply because they're not used to it. Sure, a reaction is understandable but reactions are not necessarily indicative of what is right and wrong. And people CAN change their reactions over time. My mum, who is sixty, used to come out with some pretty homophobic stuff when I was a kid (I remember watching EE with her when Simon and Tony kissed and how disgusted she was by it) but as she broadened her horizons due to her job requiring her to do so, and got to know people from all walks of life, she must have realised that a lot of her views weren't acceptable because now she has no trouble watching gay people kiss on screen.

Also, I'd argue that soaps have a moral responsibility to challenge people's perceptions and to evolve with modern life, not present an antiquated view of life in Britain which would lead to stale, uninspiring writing and bored cast and crew members.

There's nothing wrong at all with soaps trying to move things forward by testing the boundaries. Some of the reaction to the reaction so to speak has sounded rather intolerant though. "Anyone who has a problem with these scenes is a homophobe, end of story" etc. Gay people can be just as intolerant as any other section of society, it's not the exclusive preserve of straight people.

BIB: Straight people aren't routinely (or even non-routinely) discriminated against as a result of their sexuality, though. Sure anyone can be intolerant, but a straight person is never going to be made to feel that their sexuality is incorrect.

I think if people are willing to discuss why they're uncomfortable with gay scenes, and not set out to offend gay people with the words they're using about them, then most on here would be up for a discussion about that. But if people simply say 'I don't like it' without expanding why then yes, gay people and gay allies may be confrontational. Until you've been in a position of being discriminated against as a result of your sexuality, you really don't know how it feels to be told that your lifestyle makes others feel uncomfortable. It's incredibly hurful and as a result people ARE going to get emotive when they respond to it.

I don't have an issue with the scenes and that is how I am being labelled.

But the thing is what comes across is that folk are quick to label people without even reading what has been said

I agree. It's quite sad to see that there's still some out there that are homophobic. I'm talking about the ones who have a problem with it because it's two men kissing.

That has no relevance to what i said

But through personal experience, bigots are high class when it comes to twisting and deflecting the argument back to others. It's in their blood. You are no exception

except I haven't said anything even near being classed as offensive?

have you evenbothered trying to look at my point of view? or actually understand where I am coming from? It seems to me you would rather be nasty and label me as something that I am not rather than have a proper discussion

but just in simple terms for you.

I have absolutely no problem with gay men kissing on tv.
I think there should be more of it as it will educate people and make them see its just as natural as a man and a woman. It will also one day not be used as a shock value or anything else
I didn't give two hoots about Billy and Tood's kissing scene other than Billys sudden morals (I did a thread on it) but then his morals kicked in BEFORE that scene apart from Seans broken heart this is a good storyline.

All I have said is that given a choice I would choose to see a man and a woman kissing. As I am 100% sure given the choice you would choose to watch two men kissing.

Not anywhere in any of my posts in this thread have I once said that two men kissing should not be shown on tv.

I was just about the first person who posted to this thread and I will be honest I thought the mirror was having some kind of Joke or fake outrage cos the comments they posted were laughable in that they were so pathetic. I was people saying things for effect a bit like you keep doing.

so yes, given a choice I would plump for a man and a woman but unless i dont watch any soaps with same sex couples in I am choosing to watch them have their storylines and whatever that involves. If I didn't want to see it I wouldn't watch programmes with gay people in and if I did I would switch off. but that is not who I am. I don't give a rats arse what sexuality anyone is, people should be allowed to be who they are and not put in a pigeon hole with a bloody label on it (esp when it is wrong and slanderous).

Just in case thats not clear little monster. I am saying that Billy and Todd can do whatever they want and I will still watch it

Indeed

and let's be honest, straight people have it easy. They haven't had to fight for decades to get married and adopt children. In fact, being straight was never classed as a crime or an illness.

170 complaints. I thought 50-60 tops.

It has every relevance.
You seem to believe that I should enjoy seeing 2 people of the same sex kissing on the screen. I don't for the reason i stated. Do learn to read please.
Since you misconstrued what I posted, I am simply setting the record straight.
I have not deflected or twisted any argument.


I have never been accused of being a bigot before and I hope not to be again. Nothing I have posted is in any way bigoted.

Keep your vile comments to yourself.

Thank goodness there's at least one person on here who talks a bit of sense!

I know a few gay people - both genders - but I find it very hard to watch gay men kissing on TV. In fact I don't watch, choosing to look away until the scene changes .. can't help it, it's just the way I am and I'm damn sure I'm not alone.

That's what I've been trying to say, but obviously badly as I've been criticised a couple of times. You put it perfectly!

When I read over some posts regarding the actors' sexuality, I realised that I only ever feel slightly uncomfortable seeing same sex couples kissing is when I know for a fact that one or both is straight - how weird is that?!

What does this make me?!

You are applying the same treatment to both gay and straight lidding scenes so that's fair enough. You don't like seeing kissing or anything to graphic as regards both gay and straight characters.

That's not bigoted.

It's when people complain about gay kissing but don't bat an eyelid at straight kissing scenes that's unfair.

It's about equality.

True. Most young people don't give a hoot about sexuality.

Its a lot different in schools than it was pre the 00s. Gay kids still have it hard but not as hard as it was.

Hurrah for OFCOM! Justice against all these bigots who think there was some sort of agenda or deliberate button pushing when the fact is, that scene was a tender depiction of love.

If anything the scenes didn't go far enough. When the nation's grannies settle down with a cuppa and packet of chocolate bourbon biscuits to tune in to their favourite soap they've been watching for five decades, they deserve to be challenged by nothing less than a good solid five minutes of a man of the cloth receiving an unsimulated anal creampie.

THEN, and only then we'll be getting somewhere.

That is all

OOOO Matron.

I was gonna say something too but I thought it might have been inappropriate

Nice to see that someone has put some real thought into this and bought some reasoned argument to the debate instead of just name calling.

Ha ha, thanks

Despite me not liking watching snogging scenes, they're not going anywhere fast so in the interests of balance, tolerance and equality, sexually charged scenes between gay characters (particularly men as I believe a lot of lesbian scenes are viewed as titillation by straight men) I wouldn't dream of complaining about them as the more gay characters there are on mainstream telly, the more people will wake up and realise being gay is a perfectly ordinary existence for about 20% of the population and needs to be represented as such.