The commercial below has stirred up a lot of controversy in the United Kingdom — this article explains why — but you have to see it to believe it. The ad has since been pulled.

Frankly, it’s no more shocking than most of what you see on prime time television these days (or, for that matter, on my own network, CBS, which has a popular daytime soap opera with a subplot involving two gay lovers who are not shy about showing their affection for each other.) But it does redraw the boundaries of just what constitutes “family,” and of just what is socially acceptable or “normal.” I can only imagine what would have happened if something like this were shown in the U.S.

What I’m wondering: why did Heinz think that this would make more people want to buy their ketchup??

See what you think.

More from Beliefnet and our partners