| Lesbian storyline on Home and Away still too much for Australia in 2009
Home and Away's lesbian romance angers conservative groups
Colin Vickery
March 11, 2009 12:00am
HOME and Away is set to divide audiences when it introduces a lesbian romance at the end of this month. IS THIS TOO RISQUE FOR FAMILY VIEWING?
The Channel 7 soapie has tough policewoman Charlie Buckton falling in love with Joey Collins, played by Kate Bell, who works on a trawler.
They share a dance and a kiss, and over the following five weeks their relationship blossoms into love.
IS THIS TOO RISQUE FOR FAMILY VIEWING? VOTE IN OUR POLL BOX BELOW.
Conservative family groups have reacted angrily to the plot in the PG-rated show, which boasts a large child and teen fan base.
"They (Home and Away) continue to market to kids and they continue to develop quite sexualised plot lines," Pro-Family Perspectives director Angela Conway said.
"The plot lines that young kids and teenagers should be presented with should be about really authentic relationships that are not just sexualised."
Actor Esther Anderson, who plays Charlie Buckton, talked to gay friends in the lead-up to filming.
Anderson said kissing another girl "wasn't that big a deal", and young viewers would accept the scenes.
"You learn pretty much everything at school," she said. "I don't think it's like I'm lifting the lid on something they don't already know about.
"To me there's no difference - love's love. The fact that your partner's the same sex is no different. You just want to be loved."
In 2004, Channel 10 soapie Neighbours was attacked by talkback callers and conservative groups when it featured a lesbian kiss between schoolgirls Lana Crawford (Bridget Neval) and Sky Mangel (Stephanie McIntosh).
Mark McCraith, of media communications company MindShare, said some advertisers would be nervous with the lesbian storyline.
"It depends on how it is handled. If it is educational, that's fine," he said.
"If it's handled in a way that is exploitative or sensationalised, some advertisers will be wary, especially those aiming at families and mothers."
Psychologist Dr Janet Hall has praised the lesbian love plot, saying it allows families to discuss the topic.
"Young audiences are basically aware of the whole gay thing anyway. All it's doing is reflecting society," she said.
"It sounds like it is being treated with sensitivity, and this is great for all."
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Seriously....what is wrong with this country?? We really cannot have come far at all if two women kissing still causes this much of a fuss....this was on the FRONT PAGE of the Herald Sun (Australia's most purchased newspaper) on Wednesday....and I find that embarrassing beyond belief. Does the rest of the world realise how much of a prudish nation Australia actually is?
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