Tonight, on ‘20/20′, ABC reporters go into Alabama and make their way to New Jersey to explore people’s reactions to gay and lesbian public displays of affection. Real-life gay couple, Kaolin and James, and lesbian couple, Ashby and Leslie, sat on benches throught the U.S., and hugged, and kissed. And people reacted. 

Responses varied, of course. In New Jersey, one man said,  ”When I see a gay couple, if they want to kiss or whatever, I really don’t mind as long as they’re happy.”

A woman said,  ”I’m in support of displaying public affection. I think [it's] great. Spread more love in the world.” But interestingly, she said about a gay male couple, ”I think if I saw two males doing the same thing, I might have a slightly different reaction. I might not think it was as cute or charming.”

It seems that people who were strolling through Verona Park, New Jersey, during the filming of the social experiment were either indifferent to, in support of, or slightly bothered by the PDA they witnessed. There were no extreme reactions. 

Kristin Kenneavy, from New Jersey, aid, “I would actually want our kids to grow up in a place where they would see various types of people engaging in behaviors that [are] loving. As I walk by, I’m thinking ‘Oh, that’s sweet,’ you know, that people are in love. I would have absolutely not a problem with our children seeing something like that.”

The reaction in Birmingham, Alabama was… a bit different. One woman called the cops, others gawked, some questioned their sense of god. 

or Watch the clip at ABC here. 

Source: ABC News