Gay snog on "Eastenders" threatens to destroy UK!

John Partridge and Carl Ferguson's liplock

Gee, it's comforting to know that the U.S. isn't alone when it comes to mass hysteria and overreaction. On Tuesday's episode of the long-running UK soap opera Eastenders, the characters of Christian and Lee shared a medium-hot kiss, putting some viewers' knickers in a twist. (The Daily Mail also ran a similar story.)

Apparently, the kiss happened before the 9 p.m. "watershed", which, from the jist of the comments, is when the television becomes filled with indecent, filthy acts like ... gay snogging.

Some choice excerpts from letters sent to the BBC in complaint:

"This is disgraceful whilst young children are watching and sets the wrong example."

"I am appalled by the display of homosexual kissing before the watershed shown on EastEnders."

And my favorite...

"I had to explain to my seven-year-old son what was happening. He now thinks he is gay because he kisses his dad.”

Well, that's what you get for having children. I'm a bit confused, though ... Hollyoaks has gone much further in terms of showing gay affection, and it's a daytime show, so why aren't there riots in the streets about that?