This Gay Sailor Kissing His Husband Has Hilariously Outraged Several Sad Homophobes
Written by Stephan Horbelt on December 31, 2018
This post is also available in: Français ไทย
Homophobes are always looking for a reason to get outraged, ya know? This time it's a kiss by a sailor who'd been away from his husband for seven months. The gay sailor kiss was broadcast on the local news in Florida, and many residents were just furious, which we find hilarious.
It turns out that sailor Bryan Woodington was deployed in the Navy just a few months after he married his husband, Kenneth. And when his ship finally returned from the Middle East, the Woodington couple was lucky enough to win the ceremonial "first kiss" lottery, which allows one sailor to be the first one reunited with his or her loved one.
Basically, the "first kiss" lottery lets one lucky soldier and his partner re-enact the famous photograph above, titled "V-J Day in Times Square." It was snapped on "V-J Day" (Victory Over Japan Day) in New York City on Aug. 14, 1945 by Alfred Eisenstadt and was later published in Life magazine.
Woodington had plans to recreate the famous image when he stepped off the ship. "I was excited and I couldn't wait for it to happen," he told the local news. "I knew I was going to dip him."
"When he got off the ship, I lost all control. I just dropped everything and I just ran," Kenneth says.
The gay sailor kiss that sparked some people's outrage
Despite being cheered at the naval base, the gay sailor kiss resulted in backlash for the local news network, which claims it received negative comments, phone calls and emails from sad homophobes who couldn't believe they'd just seen a gay kiss on-air.
"How sad that your station has dropped to such a low as to show a gay couple kissing on your newscast," said one irate viewer. Another said, "I'll never watch your news again!" And another: "I thought this was a 'family friendly' news channel."
What a bunch of snowflakes, right?
Bryan Woodington (left) and his husband Kenneth
The gay couple has said they have received more positive feedback than nasty comments, but either way, they'll be fine. "It didn't really bother me," Kenneth said about some people's negative reactions. "Honestly, I'm the type of person who doesn't really care that much about what people say."
And his husband agrees. "My grandmother always taught me, she said, 'You know some people have a different life and this is how they are and you just have to treat them as such, and treat them with kindness and respect,'" the sailor says.
What do you think of the gay sailor kiss? Are you surprised there was a backlash?
From Coming Out To Holding A Protest, Here Are Five Gay Kisses That Made A Political Statement
Not Even Open Yet, This Gay Campground Has Been Slammed for Petty Transphobia
2021 Golden Globes Recap: Our Favorite and Not-So Favorite Moments
James Acaster Slams Transphobic Comedians, Becomes Our Latest Crush