How has "As The World Turns" handled its gay storyline?

As already noted, months have gone by with no more kisses between Luke and Noah (not counting a peck on the cheek last week). When it was pointed out that it seemed by not showing any more kisses, the show was treating the characters differently, Cahill said, “As I mentioned, the Luke and Noah story is one that we are all very honored to be able to tell. We are focusing on developing Luke and Noah’s relationship and presenting it in an entertaining and engaging way to our audience.”

One of the moments that most offended fans of Nuke was the Christmas episode, which was ironic because for most of the episode it was quite gay positive with the Snyder family accepting Nuke as a couple and treating them just like any other. Emma, Luke’s grandmother, even made a toast to them at dinner.

But then came what is now being infamously referred to as the "mistletoe moment" when the camera panned away just before Luke and Noah kissed.

When asked about why the camera cut away, Cahill answered, “Since Luke and Noah became an on-screen couple several months ago, we’ve heard from numerous loyal viewers of the show – many of whom support the storyline and some who do not. We continue to tell Luke and Noah’s story in an authentic way that engages our entire audience. The decision to focus on the mistletoe at the end of that scene was an artistic decision.”

“My take on that pan was they chickened out,” Logan said. “It looked like something out of the old Hayes code of the thirties. They didn't go there and they easily could have. If I saw a lot more of that, I'd think they were getting a lot of pressure [not to].”

In fact, Logan said much of the way the Nuke storyline is being handled reminds him of the way soap operas used to treat romantic relationships.

”What’s going on here is almost reminiscent of how romances used to happen on soap operas. They were stretched out. It was when romance was important and it’s not so much anymore. We’ve gotten away from romance which used to be done much more slowly and subtly. It used to be folks were desperate to see couples get together. This is kind of retro, intentionally or not intentionally. Wrenches were thrown into relationships and it enhances the pleasure, the longing to see two people be happy. It’s different from the jumping in the sack.”

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