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Top > Benchmark Lesbian Kissing Moments > Article
Lesbian Kissing between Roseanne Barr and Mariel Hemingway / Roseanne (Television show, 1994)
By Kaylee Larson, LesbianLoveNow.com
In 1994, lesbian kissing scenes had been rare. Such an act was rarely seen in movies, let alone on television shows geared toward the family. In this respect, the kissing scene that took place between Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) and Sharon (Mariel Hemingway) during that year in an episode of the television show, Roseanne, broke social barriers for many viewers.
The scene begins with Roseanne and Sharon dancing at a gay bar. The two then sit down at a table to take a break. Roseanne comments on how Nancy hadn’t thought Roseanne was cool enough for Lips, the gay bar they are in. Sharon then says that they really should hang out more often together, and Roseanne comments that next time, they need to “leave the wives at home” (in reference to Nancy and pregnant Jackie, Roseanne’s sister). When Sharon says, “You read my mind,” she kisses Roseanne on the lips and then hugs her. As Roseanne hugs Sharon, she wipes her tongue on Sharon’s sleeve.
In the meantime, pregnant Jackie wards off the women who are hitting on her by threatening them with her “butch girlfriend,” referring to her sister, Roseanne. Later, at home, Dan pretends to sympathize with Roseanne’s lesbian kissing experience, but he actually finds the story to be quite the turn-on. However, Roseanne kills the mood by relating her experience of seeing two men kissing on the dance floor.
The lesbian kissing scene was not received well among many lesbians in 1994, mainly because of Roseanne’s scripted negative reaction to the kiss during the scene. Before the episode even aired, the network also opposed the scene, in light of such controversial content in a family television show. In fact, Roseanne Barr herself had to fight and negotiate with the network to keep the lesbian kiss scene in the episode.
Despite the unfavorable reaction to Sharon’s kiss by Roseanne’s character, Roseanne’s efforts to air the scene opened doors for more moments in television that more closely depict the reality of lesbian relationships. Soon afterwards, more mainstream television shows, music videos, and movies began broadcasting more lesbian kissing moments.
Today, a public kiss between two women is an event that garners less negative reaction from society than it did in 1994. Of course, some will still take offense at seeing such a scene, but luckily, many of those individuals who might have been offended by lesbian kissing in 1994 now readily accept it today.
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