Conservative Christian groups in Australia have reacted angrily to news that 'Home and Away' will include a lesbian relationship in its storylines.
The soap will feature tough policewoman Charlie Buckton falling in love with Joey Collins, played by Kate Bell, who works on a trawler.
They share a dance and a kiss, and over the following five weeks their relationship blossoms into love.
But conservative family groups are not happy as the show boasts a large child and teen fan base.
"They (Home and Away) continue to market to kids and they continue to develop quite sexualised plot lines," Pro-Family Perspectives director Angela Conway told the Australian Herald Sun.
"The plot lines that young kids and teenagers should be presented with should be about really authentic relationships that are not just sexualised."
Actor Esther Anderson, who plays Charlie Buckton, talked to gay friends in the lead-up to filming.
Anderson said kissing another girl "wasn't that big a deal", and young viewers would accept the scenes.
"You learn pretty much everything at school," she said. "I don't think it's like I'm lifting the lid on something they don't already know about.
