Celebrating The First Same-Sex Kiss On The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The cast of Broadway's 'The Prom' on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

While cooking our Thanksgiving Day celebration meal this morning, I had the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on the big TV, pausing each time a current Broadway show offered a performance for the folks at 34th Street and across the nation.

This year, television viewers were treated to numbers from My Fair Lady, Mean Girls and the most recent addition to the Great White Way, The Prom.

And so it was that I put the stove on simmer and poured a mimosa to watch "Build A Prom" from The Prom.

The show is about a group of Broadway actors who swoop into an Indiana town to save a young teen lesbian whose high school won’t let her bring a girl to her prom.

The show recently opened at the Longacre Theater on Broadway to rave reviews.

Upbeat, lively and full of energy, the musical number closes with two female leading characters, played by Caitlin Kinnunen and Isabelle McCalla, kissing.

We’re pretty sure this is the first same-sex kiss in the parade’s history.

Whoo-hoo!

“Broadway’s The Prom is grateful to Macy’s and NBC for their acceptance and inclusivity of a community and a story that is about acceptance, tolerance and love,” the show’s producers shared with EW. “These are some of the themes reflected in our musical comedy and we are very proud to be the very first LGBTQ kiss on the Thanksgiving Day Parade.”

Here’s the number:

Of course, the Twitterverse went insane (in good and bad ways) over the historic lip-lock.

Celebrated out director and playwright Tina Landau tweeted:

Two girls. Just kissed. On live TV. On the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I suddenly cried. Lovely. Thanks given to @ThePromMusical. (& Macy’s/NBC.) & lesbians everywhere. & turkeys. For their sacrifice. But esp. @ThePromMusical.

— Tina Landau (@TinaLandau) November 22, 2018

And there’s more…

The first ever LGBTQ+ kiss on the Macy’s thanksgiving day parade @ThePromMusical rocked it! pic.twitter.com/w5xjNnW3L2

— Matt (@broadway_4me) November 22, 2018

I’m most thankful for the #MacysParade performance from The Prom. It just warms my heart thinking of all the homophobic family members are out there pissing themselves over it. This is a win for all the queer kids who can’t come out to their families this Thanksgiving

— ☼ lizz☽ (@lizzsoileau) November 22, 2018

Anybody in their feelings about The Prom, shut up and enjoy your turkey later. That was beautiful to see on national TV, and don’t blame your homophobia on being worried about what kids see. They only know what they are taught. Teach them love and acceptance. #MacysParade

— Joan Smith (@TVandSheetMasks) November 22, 2018

Just got chills seeing The Prom on the #macysthanksgivingdayparade so important to see that kind of representation, especially on a holiday where many people are turned away from their family for who they are

— nikki (@louispaladin) November 22, 2018

I can’t stop thinking about what watching The Prom’s performance meant to so many young queer people today #MacysParade

— Sarah Burney (@SarahBurbur) November 22, 2018

#TheProm kiss means even more to me because it's my first Thanksgiving with my LDR girlfriend of 6 years! I'm still crying and that kiss meant so much! #loveislove #pride Thank you @nbc and @Macys for showing that!

— Brigid (@BrigidWriter) November 22, 2018

So proud. So thankful. pic.twitter.com/DGTYNsJhxB

— Josh Lamon (@JoshLamon) November 22, 2018

I JUST WANNA DANCE!!! More dancing lesbians front and center please! Big cheers for @ThePromMusical! #MacysParade

— Filmed Live Musicals (@filmedliveMT) November 22, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! If you are queer, remember you aren’t alone. #macys #macysthanksgivingdayparade #queer #lesbian #gay #lgbt #lgbtq #trans #transgender #thanksgiving #theprom pic.twitter.com/toeGu9FbZs

— Melody Maia (@MaiaMonet) November 22, 2018

And then, of course, we have the haters - but who cares? :)

Wow #Macyday #ThanksgivingDayParade parade has totally went to the crapper with a #lesbian kiss on national TV while millions of children watch two women make out on a #Thanksgiving as parents DONT LET KIDS WATCH THIS STUFF!!!! Boycott #Macy's this was a total #abomination!!! pic.twitter.com/LmQVmTh11K

— Sonny Cardona (@extrmlifechager) November 22, 2018

We were watching the @Macys Thanksgiving Day parade as a family (always do) BUT that lasted all of 5 minutes when they announced the second musical,The Prom...could do without the agenda this early in the morning. Not the family friendly programming we’ve come to expect.

— Laura Slavich (@LauraSlavich) November 22, 2018

Absolutely ridiculous. Not shopping Macy’s this year! Changed channels!

— Liz Doyle (@lizrdld_liz) November 22, 2018

Here's wishing you all a fabulous Thanksgiving!