Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann respond to charges that "As The World Turns" forbid them to kiss at GLAAD Awards

Tom O'Neil who writes the Los Angeles Times blog The Envelope just emailed me asking me to join with him in calling on GLAAD to rescind the award the gay rights organization gave to the CBS soap opera last Monday. In his column on the subject, O'Neil says several interesting things including making the assertion that Van Hansis (who plays Luke) and Jake Silbermann (who plays Noah) were told by the powers that be they were not allowed to kiss at the GLAAD awards (something straight actors have previously done). Says O'Neil:

Not only are the program's gay lovers Luke (Van Hansis) and Noah (Jake Silbermann) forbidden to kiss on the CBS soap series, but they were, apparently, even forbidden to kiss at the GLAAD Awards where they were being honored for nondiscrimination!

I contacted the actors' representatives who gave AfterElton.com the following statement:

We were honored to have been asked to appear at the GLAAD Media Awards on Monday night. As actors, it is such a privilege to be part of this important evening. It was our choice not to kiss each other on the red carpet. While we love and support the characters we play, we attended the Award show as actors, not characters.

Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann