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Glee creator Ryan Murphy has defended his decision to broadcast an episode focussing on gay teen sex.

The First Time sees Rachel (Lea Michele) lose her virginity to Finn (Corey Monteith), but in a more groundbreaking way, will also show gay couple Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Blaine (Darren Criss) do the same.

Murphy told Entertainment Weekly: "We were talking about it like, 'Why shouldn’t [Kurt and Blaine] lose their virginity at the same time?

"Everybody sees a straight couple losing their virginity, but has anyone dovetailed the gay and straight stories and given them equal weight? That seemed like an exciting choice and a new thing."

Criticism has started pouring in, most notably from the Parents Television Council who issued a statement that read: "The fact that Glee intends to celebrate children having sex is reprehensible. The gender of the high school characters is irrelevant."

Murphy though refuses to budge, and hopes the show can send out a positive message at a time when gay bullying and teen suicides has been brought to international attention, adding: "I think what it says to a lot of young gay people who are confused and ashamed is that you can get love and are worthy of love."

Colfer admitted that he had been nervous when first told of the plotline, but said: "We got a little scared when we first found out, but when we got the script of course it was fine. Everything that I thought would scare me and make me cringe was sweet and emotional. I think it's a huge deal that this is the first time something like this has been shown on television, but I think it's handled so delicately and sweetly that I don't think it will have quite the shock factor that people are thinking."

The First Time airs in the UK on Sky One on November 10 at 9pm.

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