More than 1 billion people are getting a glimpse at same-sex love and affection today as they tune in to the Summer Olympics.
The highly anticipated opening ceremony, directed by filmmaker Danny Boyle of “Slumdog Millionaire,” features significant pop culture moments in Great Britain.
Among them is the country’s first televised lesbian kiss, which occurred on the long-running soap “Brookside.”
The women engaged in the lip-lock are actresses Anna Friel and Nicola Stephenson, both of whom gained a lot of attention as a result. Stephenson happens to be the daughter of my Desert Sun colleague, Lynne Stephenson, who says her daughter is “absolutely thrilled” the kiss is featured.
Think about it. The Olympics hosts more than 10,000 athletes from over 200 National Olympic Committees, representing many countries where gay rights are nonexistent and there are laws against same-sex love.
Today those people and millions more will see gay relationships are a part of life that’s not only acknowledged in England, but included in one of the world’s most spectacular traditions.
If you missed the live stream of the opening ceremony, it airs at 7:30 p.m. EST today on NBC.