Damn those conservative lobby groups!

The Australian Newspaper reports that Channel 7 has caved in to pressure and edited a Home and Away lesbian kissing scene between policewoman Charlie Buckton and deckhand Joey Collins.

Intimate scenes of Charlie and Joey smooching were apparently toned down to appease church / homophobic lobby groups - who have been bitching and moaning about Home and Away's sexualized plot lines for some time.

Channel 7 denies the reports and claims a lusty kiss between the duo was cut solely for "artistic" reasons.

Aha.

The notion that thousands of Australian schoolkids would suddenly "turn gay" because of a dinner-time soapie is absurd.

And even if there was a flow on effect...who gives?

Media commentator David Knox nailed it on the head when he told The Australian Newspaper:

"It's sad that in 2009 a kiss is considered more threatening to advertisers and family values than stalkers, serial killers, and kidnappers, all of which sustain Summer Bay story-lines on a regular basis."

Backing down to these minority groups sets a disturbing precedent....

What happens if they turn their focus to the number of scenes schoolgirl Nicole Franklin spends in a bikini?!?