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TV's First Romantic Gay Kiss: A Dawson's Creek Landmark
8 Feb
Summary
- Dawson's Creek aired a landmark romantic gay kiss in its Season 3 finale.
- Showrunner fought network to ensure the kiss was depicted intimately.
- The scene aimed to normalize LGBTQ+ representation in primetime.
In a pivotal moment for television history, the Season 3 finale of "Dawson's Creek" showcased what is believed to be the first romantic gay kiss on primetime. Showrunner Greg Berlanti, who is openly gay, championed the scene, aiming to give LGBTQ+ characters equal romantic weight to their heterosexual counterparts. Berlanti emphasized that if the character were to be openly gay, he should also be able to kiss another man romantically.
This commitment led to a confrontation with the network, which demanded the kiss be filmed from a great distance. Berlanti refused, threatening to quit if the scene was not filmed intimately with close-ups, as was standard for heterosexual romantic moments. Writer Gina Fattore recalled Berlanti's unwavering stance, indicating there was no backup plan; the scene would be done right or not at all.
The kiss, depicted as Jack driving to Boston to kiss Ethan publicly, aimed to be a powerful and romantic statement. Prior instances of same-sex kisses on television had been relegated to jokes or quickly cut away from, such as on "Melrose Place" and "That '70s Show." "Dawson's Creek" sought to change this narrative, offering a genuine romantic depiction.
