7 Thanksgiving controversies: Date change, mentions of God, ‘Day of Mourning’
Macy’s Parade lesbian kiss
In 2018, at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade garnered controversy for featuring what was reportedly the first ever same-sex kiss during one of the performances that was part of the event.
During a performance celebrating the Broadway musical "The Prom," actresses Caitlin Kinnunen and Isabelle McCalla were seen romantically slow dancing together and ultimately shared a kiss.
“Dear Macy's and NBC,” stated one critic, “There is a time and place to make lifestyle choice statements and the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade wasn't the time and place. Please consider my opinion for next year."
“Millions of small children just watched two girls kiss and had their innocence broken this morning. @nbc and @Macys just blindsided parents who expected this to be a family program, so they could push their agenda on little kids,” tweeted the conservative group ForAmerica.
Others, among them actress Alyssa Milano, applauded the decision to include the kiss, believing that it was a triumph of inclusion and acceptance.
“My small children’s innocence was broken by active shooting drills in school. Seeing two girls kissing just solidifies what they already innately know. Love is love,” said Milano at the time.