Lesbian kiss shown nationwide during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade performance draws cheers, jeers

A lesbian kiss broadcasted nationally during Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade performance — believed to be the first-ever same-sex kiss on the iconic televised event in New York City, the Huffington Post reported — drew its share of supporters and detractors.

Actresses Caitlin Kinnunen and Isabelle McCalla kissed during a song-and-dance routine from the new Broadway musical “The Prom” as NBC broadcast rolled, the outlet said.

Here's the clip. The kiss occurs at the 3:15 mark:



“The Prom” opened on Broadway this month and focuses on a girl in a rural Indiana town who's barred from taking her girlfriend to prom, the Huffington Post said, adding that a few famous New York City actors travel to Indiana to support the couple after hearing of their plight.

How did viewers react to the lesbian kiss?

The kiss between the two females, as you might expect, drew cheers:

• “Thanks to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade folks who did that open gay kiss," one Twitter user declared. "We are normal everyday folks who want to be accepted."
• "I finally live in a world where national TV isn't ashamed to show this..." another Twitter user said.
• "Two girls. Just kissed. On live TV. On the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I suddenly cried. Lovely. Thanks given to @ThePromMusical. (& Macy’s/NBC.) & lesbians everywhere," another Twitter user wrote.
• "So uhhhh can we just talk about the fact there was a queer kiss on live tv during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?" another added. "My gay ass is LIVING."
• "Good f***ing morning there was a girl + girl gay kiss on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and I am alive and thriving," yet another noted.
• "Two women just kissed in a performance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," another said. "This is LITERALLY a win for the gays oh my god."

Not everyone was pleased, though:

• "Why do these networks feel the need to make sure they show their support for the gay community," one Twitter user asked. "Not something kids need to see."
• "You really think a dance routine ending with a lesbian kiss is appropriate FOR A THANKSGIVING PARADE?" another user asked. "Thanks for all the unexpected, uncomfortable, INAPPROPRIATE conversations that now have to take place w kids before anyone can eat."
• "NBC and Macy's should be ashamed at this years broadcast," another user said. "Stunning[.] Children and families were watching this. No business on TV."
• "Perhaps next yr, Macy's [will] celebrate diversity by saluting gender fluid couples or polyamorous relationships," another user observed.
• "It is terribly sad," another user said. "We can't even turn on an iconic piece of Americana any more without having our children have this shoved down our throats."
• "My still fairly young children were all very excited to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," anther user opined. "We turned it on and within a few seconds the camera focused in on a prominent lesbian kiss in one of the dance numbers. My daughter's face fell."