Kissing for Equal Rights

categories: LGBT Rights and Law Enforcement, LGBT Rights and Politics, Stonewall 20

Published July 21, 2009 @ 07:50PM PT

Kiss-in

So far in 2009 there have been four states that have legalized same-sex marriage, several historic LGBT appointments to the White House, one additional LGBT member of Congress added (Rep. Jared Polis), and an Oscar-worthy celebration of one of the biggest heroes in LGBT history.

Sadly, there have also been two ridiculous police raids targeting LGBT folks (Fort Worth, Texas and San Diego, California), and three incidents where LGBT people were harassed and detained by police or security guards simply for kissing. In Salt Lake City, San Antonio and El Paso, LGBT women and men were targeted simply for kissing in a public space. Two men or two women kissing is not illegal of course, but that still didn't stop police from detaining folks.

Now, activists are fighting back, and they're doing so by staging a nationwide event - The Great Nationwide Kiss-In. Organized by bloggers David Badash and David Mailloux, as well as Join the Impact organizer Willow Witte, the event will take place on August 15, 2009, at 2:00pm EST. The gist? Here's the scoop from their Facebook page:

On the suggested date and time, in a public place - whether it's a park or plaza or popular thoroughfare in your city or town - you'll bring your husband or wife or partner or boyfriend or girlfriend or good friend, and at 2 p.m., you'll kiss. It's one of the simplest things in the world to do!

Why, you ask? Why are you doing this?

After incidents in El Paso, TX and Salt Lake City, UT - where two different gay couples were harassed or detained by law enforcement or other people for the simple act of kissing in a public place - we need to make a strong statement to everyone everywhere: kissing is not a bad thing, nor has it ever been. It's not vulgar or inappropriate. It's a sign of affection that is as old as time itself. And it's a beautiful thing that we share with our loved ones every single day.

Sounds like the type of direct action that will not only send a message, but also nab some powerful images to spread the message that LGBT people can love and express love as meaningful as anyone else. As of today, more than a half dozen cities will be hosting kiss-in events, including Boston, New York, Irvine (Calif.), Memphis, Philadelphia, Northhampton (Mass.), and San Francisco. For my part, incidentally, this will happen right in the middle of Netroots Nation, which for me means kissing in the middle of Pittsburgh, PA.

Check out the Facebook page for more information, or to start your own kiss-in event in your own community.

(Photo originally published in the Cornell Daily Sun.)

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Comments (29)

It's unfortunate that police officers arrested or harrased LGBT people for kissing and the police officers were wrong for the arrests. The nationwide kissing event will be powerful in showing that police officers arresting LGBT couples for kissing is unjustified. Police officers must apply the laws equaly on LGBT people as for other people because the intolerant selective policing on LGBT people is a shame. With the event, a message of equality for kissing will be sent in every state.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 07/21/2009 @ 08:10PM PT
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Michael, thanks for the great press. We REALLY appreciate it. I'll see if I can find someone in Pittsburgh to put together an official event in which you can participate. We'll keep you posted.

Posted by David Mailloux on 07/21/2009 @ 10:30PM PT
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Absolutely awesome idea - up there with "Day Without A Gay"

http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/day_without_a_gay

Posted by Ben Rattray on 07/21/2009 @ 10:39PM PT
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Now THIS is awesome! Way to make a statement and have fun doing it. :)

Posted by Kate F on 07/22/2009 @ 07:13AM PT
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Just the sort of non-violent civil disobedience-type (even though kissing ISN'T illegal despite the police enforcers of our elected officials lack of understanding) of protests that will push forward equality for everyone. A fantastic idea made even better by not being exclusively gay - promoting not only freedom, but unity. Count me in.

Posted by Fred Frankenberg on 07/22/2009 @ 07:23AM PT
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All I can say is that everyone has RIGHTS and those RIGHTS should be RESPECTED - none of us are here on this planet to live up to what other's idea's of what should and should not be done!!! LIVE AND LET LIVE -

Posted by J on 07/22/2009 @ 06:39PM PT
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Public display of kissing is uncalled for whether Gay or not. People do not respect others but are self centered to do what they want regardless of offending others. Onlookers supposedly should have rights too

Posted by Otto VonAuchvetter on 07/24/2009 @ 09:43AM PT
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One person's trash and another's treasure??

With tolerance comes respect and the notions of "self-centered" and "offense" fade away.

Posted by Phillip Perry on 07/24/2009 @ 11:49AM PT
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I'm not a fan of excessive PDAs either, but c'mon.

Nobody should ever kiss anyone anywhere in public?

Not under any circumstances?

Not even to say "goodbye" or "welcome home" at a train station?

Really?

Posted by Jenifer Lewis on 07/24/2009 @ 12:19PM PT
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Even if PDA is rude, inconsiderate or in poor taste, it's hardly a cause for the authorities to get involved.

Nobody needs more prudes.

Posted by Bryan Schultz on 07/24/2009 @ 04:13PM PT
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I don’t see how kissing in public disrupts the "rights" of onlookers. If you really have THAT much of a problem with PDA then avert your eyes. But really, a kiss is a gentle sign of love and compatibility which has long been expressed publicly. Take weddings for example, where the newlyweds kiss in front of hundreds of onlookers. The human body is a beautiful thing man, enjoy it.

Posted by matthew walsh on 07/25/2009 @ 12:15PM PT
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The intention of this kiss in isn't to publicly display agressive kissing which borders on the "R" rating. In fact, organizers are encouraging people to keep it as close to "G" Rated as possible.

While I can understand reservations over severe PDA - a simple kiss should always make people go "awwww" not, "You have the right to remain silent..."

Posted by Jay Says on 07/29/2009 @ 09:28AM PT
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If thys eyes offend the pluck them out !

Posted by Bernard Iscla on 08/09/2009 @ 12:05PM PT
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I can kiss my dog any time; no harassment, only "awwwww." But of course she's cute and I'm a guy.

I've been asking people this, for years now, without getting an answer:

I married my dog 15 years ago - - HOW has my marriage affected YOUR marriage IN ANY WAY in all those years???

Posted by John Goeckermann on 07/24/2009 @ 10:31AM PT
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please every one and anyone go to Digg and "Digg" this story its in arts and culture, please spread the word!

Posted by rosasharn joad on 07/24/2009 @ 11:17AM PT
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This is wonderful and great ! Continue in this way.... Gays are humans, and have the same rights !

Posted by Térésa MASIA PERALES on 07/24/2009 @ 12:53PM PT
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Regarding the el paso Incident. The couple was not kissing it was making out. And yes it was a family restaurant, so yes it was very inappropiate. Hopefully on that day there wont be excessive amounts of PDA that people have to put up with,just becuase they are gay.

Posted by laura Gonzalez on 07/24/2009 @ 02:28PM PT
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Great Idea. We need more Days like this.

Posted by Martin Martinez on 07/24/2009 @ 04:32PM PT
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since heterosexuals are kissing every day and nobody ever makes problems to them nor out of it, why souldn't gay people allowed the same commodity? Of course I support Kiss-In for gays just to let America know that double standards of allowing heterosexuals everything and to gays nothing, won't pass.

Posted by Velibor Santic on 07/24/2009 @ 05:44PM PT
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I'm only re-posting this, this time without any typo errors:

since heterosexuals are kissing every day and nobody ever makes problems to them nor out of it, why shouldn't gay people be allowed the same commodity? Of course I support Kiss-In for gays just to let America know that double standards of allowing heterosexuals everything and to gays nothing, won't pass.

Posted by Velibor Santic on 07/24/2009 @ 05:47PM PT
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You need to pick one state to ignore and pursue a 49 state strategy, then let all the hardcore opposition move to the one state. It is possible that Utah should be that state and that gays should evacuate Utah rather than challenging oppression there. But if South Carolina, destination of Christian Exodus, is the one state then go ahead and fight for Utah. You need to Decide, should you concede Utah or South Carolina, becaus at least one state must be conceeded.

Posted by Alan Ditmore on 07/24/2009 @ 05:54PM PT
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While the media focuses on the arrest of one black man, there are no mainstream media stories about queer profiling, where cops (American Basij) attack LGBT Americans from Provincetown to California.

Posted by Planet Spinz on 07/25/2009 @ 02:43AM PT
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I agree with Matthew that the body is beautiful, LOVE is beautiful, it's not an exhibition, it's a proof of real love.

Thanks for all the people who respond to this discussion ! Here in France, there is much Homophobia (more than the other countries in Europe), I don't agree ! Freedom and Democracy are the necessary things in the world, THE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE TOLERANT !

Posted by Térésa MASIA PERALES on 07/25/2009 @ 12:56PM PT
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I think that if kissing in public is offencive to on lookers, Don't look!!!I'm so tired of people complaining about what other people are doing especially when it has nothing to do with them being in someone else's personal space...People are offended at mothers breast feeding in public, gays and lesbians kissing in public...Ok so I'm sick of boys with their pants below their ass and seeing their underwear or girls with shorts so short, you can see their ass cheeks and ass crack...I don't have to look at them...I don't smoke, if someone is smoking near me and they were there first, I move to another spot...People need to stop all of this crying and bitching and get a real life of their own

Posted by laura garnett on 07/25/2009 @ 04:28PM PT
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Doesn't it mostly depend on what kind of kissing? Rolling each other's tongues in their mouths or exchanging gum is distasetful in public places. As the song goes "A kiss is just a kiss" but that doesn't mean "A kissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss is just a kiss."

Posted by Otto VonAuchvetter on 07/25/2009 @ 06:14PM PT
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if your that close to see that you must be a voyer !

Posted by Bernard Iscla on 08/09/2009 @ 12:13PM PT
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where is the fine line what to accept and where to look away? Call me old-fashioned - most certainly a showing of affection and love in public is beautiful - especially to the people involved but what happened to holding hands, Arms around the waist or shoulder, a kiss on the cheek, nose, forehead etc without the hazardous saliva exchange ignoring the very real threat of so many pandemics around?

Posted by Veronika Thananan on 07/26/2009 @ 09:46AM PT
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how many heteros get arrested for making out?

Posted by Planet Spinz on 07/26/2009 @ 05:58PM PT
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PDA in public is for the most part inappropriate; but, it will depend on the type of PDA. A kiss hello, goodbye, thank you of course should be acceptable to anyone. BUT....the 'get a room' type kiss is inapporpriate whether you be gay or straight. Even if you are attending a 'gay' activity PDA is inappropriate when you are 'making out.' Still, there is no reason for the police to be involved unless it becomes obscene. A kiss is simply a kiss. Everyone should, however, remember there is a time and a place for anything else.

Posted by helen cochran on 07/27/2009 @ 07:01AM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.