Amidst the Tartan and Scotties, Scotland had a surprise up her sleeve for the millions of viewers around the globe, who tuned in to watch the Glasgow Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.
Actor and singer John Barrowman grabbed a guy and gave a full on lip smacker during his stint in the opening ceremony. It is thought the kiss was done as a political statement. 40 of the 53 countries of the Commonwealth criminalise homosexuality.
Watch the moment John Barrowman kisses a guy in the crowd below.
The kiss mirrors a number of other same-sex kisses that have happened during a live TV broadcast. In 2012, the Eurovision showed two same-sex kisses and during the London Olympics opening ceremony, the first lesbian kiss ever on British television was replayed.
Barrowman met his husband Scott Gill in 1993 and entered into a civil partnership in December 2006. In 2013 the pair married in the state of California after the United States Supreme Court overturned Prop 8.
Speaker John Bercow MP said in a statement earlier this week that the Commonwealth ‘must to do more’ for the LGBT community. He said, ‘Sadly, there might be world-class athletes who will not be able to compete in the Games, as they will have been discriminated against on the basis of their sexuality; shamefully, it is estimated that 4 out of every 5 countries in the Commonwealth criminalise homosexuality. Surely, it is time for the Commonwealth to do more to support lesbian, gay, transsexual and bisexual people, to ensure they are not discriminated against, no matter where they live?’
