Tessa Hartmann: John Barrowman’s gay kiss at Commonwealth Games was ‘inappropriate for children’
A fashion columnist has attacked John Barrowman for a kissing a man during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, branding it “inappropriate for children”.
The opening ceremony yesterday evening, which is estimated to have reached a global audience of several hundred million, featured a kiss between actor John Barrowman and a male dancer, in celebration of equality in Scotland.
A heterosexual couple were also seen kissing during the ceremony, during a ballet portion of the ceremony.
However, Tessa Hartmann, editor of fashion magazine Caledonista, condemned Barrowman’s kiss while appearing on BBC Breakfast this morning, claiming it was inappropriate.
Her comments were picked up on Twitter, with users ridiculing her claim.
@TessaHartmann I don’t think your opinions are ‘appropriate for children’ – BBCBreakfast is not the place to push your ‘political message’
— Ffion Lindsay (@Dedaleira) July 24, 2014
I, for one, question the appropriateness of “brand strategist & fashion publicist” @tessahartmann being asked for her opinion on anything
— Daniel (@DMCSarf) July 24, 2014
Does @TessaHartmann really think the best response to her homophobia is defensiveness? Don’t tell me, she has lots of gay friends…right?
— Ty Kendall✡ (@TyKendall) July 24, 2014
@TessaHartmann You wouldn’t have asked the question had it been a hetero kiss. That makes it, by definition, homophobic. Do you not see?
— Jon Macqueen (@jonmacqueen) July 24, 2014
Tweeting afterwards, Hartmann said: “I answered a question with a question @BBCBreakfast, no offensive was intended, lets stop this diatribe & celebrate the games as I stated.
“It’s a shame that my comments on @BBCBreakfast have been totally misconstrued, I’m anything but homophobic which u can see IF you watched it.”
The Commonwealth Games has been subject to controversy already as human rights campaigners have called on Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond to speak out against countries with anti-gay laws.
Homosexuality is currently punishable with prison sentences in 42 out of 54 Commonwealth nations.
Marriages between gay and lesbian couples are expected to begin in Scotland in 2015.
