FIRST it was Home and Away – now rival show Neighbours is to screen a same-sex kiss
The family-rated soap is poised to stir up controversy when it airs the risque scene in prime time on May 27.
Donna, played by Margot Robbie, has an “impulse kiss” with Sunny, played by Hany Lee Choi.
The episode comes just weeks after Home and Away endured a backlash from conservative groups for airing a lesbian storyline.
But Neighbours executive producer Susan Bower has defended the kiss, and said it was shot before the Home and Away controversy.
“Ours is a lovely tale about friendship,” Ms Bower said. “It’s very innocent.”
In the episode Sunny, who comes from a Korean background, reveals she has never been kissed by a boy and is nervous at the prospect. Donna impulsively kisses her on the lips, not realising she has just stolen Sunny’s first kiss.
Australian Family Association spokesman John Morrissey said he was concerned about TV “normalising” same-sex relationships.
But Ms Bower insisted: “If we were going to do a lesbian story – and Neighbours is not against lesbian stories – we would do it properly. This is a teenage romance story. There’s nothing sexual.”
Psychologist Dr Janet Hall has praised the episode saying it allows families to discuss the topic.
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