2009 may be remembered as the year same-sex marriage took hold in the United States. Sadly, it may also be remembered as the year gay couples were repeatedly arrested – for kissing. Recently, three couples have been arrested by police after simply kissing in public. In December, two women in San Antonio, Texas, were arrested for “making out.” Then, in El Paso, Texas, on June 29, at a Chico’s Tacos restaurant two men were handcuffed and subsequently threatened with arrest by police after one kissed the other on the cheek. And most recently, in a well-publicized case, two men were detained by security guards of the Mormon Church, then arrested by police on July 10, yes, that’s right, for kissing.
Have we had enough?
I’ll be honest, I’m not one to engage often in public displays of affection. It’s not a moral issue for me – I say if you want to give your better half a kiss, or hold their hand while walking down the street, go for it. Lord knows, this world could use a lot more love, and a lot more people seeing people display acts of love, affection, and kindness.
But I’ll be damned if someone – citizen, neighbor, or the police – thinks they can tell me I can’t hold my boyfriend’s hand while walking down the street, or kiss him in public. And yes, I’ve been called “f*ggot” while kissing him on a street corner.
Enough is enough. It’s time we call these “peace officers” out. It’s time we showed them love can’t be stopped. It’s time for a nation-wide kiss-in.
And it’s important we do it in an organized, public, non-confrontational, but well-publicized manner.
I’m calling on all people: not just gays, but ALL people to stage a “kiss-in” on Saturday, August 15, at 2:00 PM.
So save the date! Contact me so we can organize, and let’s show America that love – and civil rights – comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and yes, genders.
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{ 41 comments }
Aye, aye, Captain! *salute* I will head up the Boston group for you! I think Copley Square would be a particularly awesome spot for such an occasion.
Yes, let's do it! A Million Man Makeout!
Captain my Captain! I'll organize Albuquerque, New Mexico! Civic plaza is gonna be full of kissing people!!!
Who else is up for Union Square in NYC? Or, the LDS temple on the Upper West Side?
I can do union square!
LDS temple in Oakland? Or SF Union Square would be hot… lots of tourists!
I absolutely, positively could never make out with a random person. Public or no public. I went to a Kiss-In which was changed to be called an Affection-In and held someone's hand… that made me very uncomfortable. I wasn't particularly fond of that person. Maybe if I were fond of them it would've been different. And also… I go to a Catholic university. Even the "liberal," open-minded folks at the university are pretty up-tight compared to a lot of universities, and I really did not like the reactions I heard. I sympathized… I don't get why anyone would make out in public. It's not a moral issue for me either; it's more of a spiritual one… (and I'm Buddhist, not Christian) I do not see making out as "love," which was the point. I understand some people felt empowered because they're not comfortable holding their boyfriend's hand in public on campus… but I honestly think it would be more constructive if they just got up the nerve to hold their boyfriend's hand on campus and not just when 50 people come out to support them. Do it every day. That's how you change culture. Be brave.
In some places, holding your boyfriend's hand in public means you are risking your life.
Texas likely even has an exclusion in life insurance policies indicating it would be "suicide."
Random Texas bashing or do you likely have reason to make your assertion?
Chad Gibson, Ft. Worth – TABC bashed his head in for being in a gay bar.
El Paso: At Chicos Tacos, Told by police they would be cited for "Homosexual conduct"
San Antonio, Roling Oaks Mall: Lesbian beaten by police for resisting arrest for criminal trespass after kissing her girlfriend.
San Antonio, Private Residence: Lesbian couple told by police raiding their home that they really like "Freaky" girls and numerous other derogatory comments – including laying their underwear out on the bed.
San Antonio: "Faggot" walking his dog beaten to death with a baseball bat.
The list goes on and on and on.
I've lived in Texas almost all my life. I can relay personal stories of my own experiences involving threats to my life, police harassment and the like. No, not random at all.
On second thought, I could see how doing it with all that support might give people the courage to do it every day… however, I haven't seen that. I have yet to see a male couple being publicly affectionate on this campus other than at an LGBT event. I have seen a few female couples…
Is that 2pm local time? or 2pm eastern?
Could we please do the kiss in at the Moron I mean Mormon temple in Los Angeles on Santa Monica???
Wow, you're real mature. Never heard that one before. Grow up. The Mormon Church doesn't accept homosexuality. It's a sin. They'll never change that. You're so intolerant and bigoted to believe that your beliefs should be everyone's beliefs. Get over yourself.
Really, you're the type of person trying to make a 'difference'?! I guess that's what you have to expect coming from this group of people organizing a childish little 'kiss-in'. You guys are just doing yourselves more harm and embarrassment than you could ever do good for your 'cause'. What a joke, it must a take a real brain to come up with this idea! why don't you go pick up trash or mow someone's lawn or buy lunch for somebody less fortunate. Stop crying for extra special rights we all have the same rights, stop masking it. Go kiss, see what minuscule lasting effect it will have on anything. I'm going to go see if the neighbors need help moving in…
I'm hoping one will be organized in ventura county.
Just a quick note to say, "THANK YOU!" and you folks ROCK! The response has been far beyond what I had imagined! I know so many of you are working very hard to make this a success!
If you haven't yet, please read the UPDATE I wrote. We should keep the Mormon Church out of this. Let's be the bigger party, and focus on the future.
Well, aren't you being the bigger party. Ha. Unfairly targeted? The LDS Church believes that homosexuality is a sin. It always has and it always will. The only reason you feel "targeted" is because it's starting to become acceptable by the amoral country we live in. How can you even argue it was disproportionate? Everyone had their right to vote on it, but more people chose to vote against Prop 8, many of them not LDS. It's not just a religious thing. It's a personal thing. You can kiss in front of all the LDS buildings you want. Nobody cares. It's not going to change anything.
And those men that were arrested…do you even know the story?! They were on private property owned by the LDS Church. They, being gay, started kissing. Do you think it was really so innocent? You know the LDS Church does not accept that behavior and yet you do it right on their property? Do not even try to justify it. They were also drunk and became belligerent after they were asked to leave by security. When the resisted and became profane, they were arrested. The Church had every right to do what they did and don't even try to deny it. I don't want you kissing on my property and I have every right to make you leave and call the police to arrest you if you don't. The same goes for you, except I would never think that I should get to get away with that type of thing just because everyone has to walk on eggshells around the gay community. Why are you always so offended? You're not the only ones in the country, but you're sure acting like a bunch of spoiled, entitled princesses. Get over yourselves. No one else should have to put up with whatever you want to do.
If you want to be the bigger party, then don't even bother with the kiss-in. Show them that you respect the fact that kissing is a private thing and should be kept private. That would actually give credit to your cause. But I doubt you'd ever think so rationally.
My sense is that it makes all kinds of good sense to hold the kiss-ins on public sidewalks in front of Mormon chapels and temples. Especially for folks in smaller towns or those in cities with temples, it should be a no-brainer. The San Diego LDS temple provided a lovely backdrop for the ESF kiss-in last week. Why wouldn't you want to take advantage of the LDS investment in their church buildings to enhance the visuals of your kiss-ins? Giving that up is not being "the bigger party" it's giving up a convenient and useful national network of potential venues.
Hmm, and this coming from some kid named Chino! Prominent locations such as LDS temples and meeting houses, should draw some big attention to the goofball, idiots kissing. It might be more effective to just walk around with big signs that say, "Look how immature we are, we're kissing like a bunch of middle school kids".
The reason I feel this is an important issue is mostly personal. I'm tired of feeling insecure about holding my love's hand in public, or looking over my shoulder after we share a passionate kiss. I realize I can't hold others responsible for my own insecurities, but I feel the more mainstream America sees gay affection, the less they will fear it. And it IS fear they feel. People tend to fear the unknown and react with denial, anger and irrationality. I look forward to one day in my lifetime where love is accepted whether it's gay, straight, black, white… every color of the rainbow and everyone can feel free & safe enough to kiss their partner on the cheek in public. Anyways, that's my two cents.
No, it's not fear. It's disgust. I don't want to see that. I don't really even want to see straight people kissing, but I find the homosexual lifestyle disgusting and anything to do with it unappealing. So why should I have to put up with you getting down to business in public? No one should feel privileged or entitled to make out in public.
Sorry, count me out. Sitting in the street in 115 degree weather even if I'm kissing my partner of 20 years is out of the question. Could you stage another one in November?
My husband and I were discussing attending the event in Atlanta to offer our love, support and assistance. We would like to bring our children (who have friends with two mommies) but are unsure that this is going to be a strictly PG rated event. I don't object to my children seeing anyone kissing anyone else, but I do object to my children being confronted with overly salicious behavior (regardless of sexual orientation). Of course, my concern comes after taking my daughter to a Gay Pride parade one year and being horrified at what she witnessed before I could get her out of there. Perhaps there could be a separate area for families? I'm not sure what the solution is but I would love to offer my support and I know my children would too.
it's a tricky matter b/c i feel the same way- regarding kids and ppl who don't like seeing PDA btwn gay or straights or whatever in btwn. It can be done in a 'tasteful' way, no pun intended way, right?
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada supports you – does that help?
You people are pathetic. Do you really, honestly believe that this is all just innocent and should be accepted? I, for one, do NOT want to watch you kissing in public, whether you're gay or straight. I should not have to deal with seeing that. Kissing is a personal, private matter that should be expressed accordingly. It's something to be shared with a loved one, not the rest of the world. Seriously. Think about the other side for one tiny moment. Can you do it? Do you really think that the rest of world should have to put up with your affection? I don't care how polite/innocent it appears. It's not something that anyone wants to see.
And a kiss-in is just a juvenile temper tantrum. You can't have your way so now you're going to cry about it until someone gives you what you want. It ain't happening. The kiss-ins held in Utah did nothing (that's why they did a second one…because nobody cared about the first one…and that's why this is happening…because nobody cared about the second one either). The LDS Church is not going to change it's stance on Prop 8. They will never allow the definition of marriage to be changed to man/tree, man/dog, woman/iceberg or whatever. That's their beliefs. Who are you to say they don't get to believe that? Who are you to say what's right and wrong in this world? The LDS Church is find with gay people having their rights, but Prop 8 is about changing the definition of marriage. It's not about gay people themselves. Good grief.
You really need to take a good look at yourselves and figure out what it is you're really trying to do. Accepting every type of behavior isn't being forward thinking. It's lacking morals and any sort of code of conduct. It's allowing any depravity or questionable activity to become rampant. It's supporting chaos. One thing leads to another and soon everything will be acceptable in this country and that's not what it was meant to be. I know I'm way off topic here, but I'm so fed up with the gay community thinking that everyone has to accept them when they don't reciprocate. Tolerance is a two-way road. You need to understand that there are people out there that are not going to agree with you no matter what and you have no right to force them to do so. This is all this kiss-in is. You're trying to force your personal beliefs on someone else. Knock it off. Grow up. Get on with your life. Kiss all you want in your homes and in private. No one's stopping you. You're not better than the rest of us who don't agree with you, just more childish and outspoken.
Wyatt,
Despite the many arguments I could make against a lot of what you said, it pretty much boils down to this: there is a very fine line between "tolerance" and "legal equality." Learn it. I don't care if people think it's a sin that I fell in love, but I'm not about to live the rest of my life as a second class citizen for it.
Thank you! I agree with everything you said. Very well put.
Why don't you tell the whole story? The couple in Salt lake City were not arrested for "just kissing in public" they were drunk and being lude, not just kissing but groping on Private property , Church property. You want respect well it works both ways, Homosexuality is a sin thats the Churches belief ( and NOT just the LDS church) you should respect that and not stage "kiss ins" on sacred ground. That shows NO respect for our beliefs, it always seems to be your way or nothing. Do hat you want but don't tell me I have to tolerate your behavior.
Homosexualtiy has always been coinsidered a sin and not accepted by the majority of society in recorded history, what make you all think your something special. I know you just want to feel better about yourselves but sin is sin.
i agree with you all the way
Jayme and Jame:
Comments from everyone are welcome. I respect everyone's opinion, but not when they try to stack the deck. Your names are almost the same. You IP address IS the same. Your comments are unwelcome as they violate any essence of fair play. One man, one vote.
Comments and discussions are welcome. Commenting as more than one person, validating your own comments isn't.
"In my experience, people who get as angry as you seem really are angry about something else."
You mean, like organize 'kiss-ins"? Does that qualify as 'angry'?
However, any church or any person, for that matter, can say what will or will not be accepted on their own PRIVATE property. Drunk, lewd acts, whatever it may be. The property is PRIVATE, the people were asked nicely to leave. When they did not, they were arrested for trespassing. They broke the law!
go make out at home!
No one, no matter how many kiss-in's you do, is going to change their personal perspective or beliefs. It's just another way of saying "Look at me! Look at me! I'm gay!!" You don't see Mormons trumping around trying to get everyone to accept them, even though, they too, have been ridiculed, spat upon, and hated. They accept themselves for who they are and are happy with their lives. Why don't you get a clue and get on with your life without caring what others think about you.
"You don't see Mormons trumping around trying to get everyone to accept them …"
Well, that was good for a chuckle, Kye. I "trumped" around Brazil for two years as a Mormon missionary.
but when do mormons get arrested for doing their mormon things? and how exclusively gay is kissing?
Well, it has happened many times, in fact, go do some research on mormon history. And, it has already been said many times. They weren't just kissing, they were groping eachother and very very lewd. Even a man and woman doing the same acts as the gay couple would have gotten the same treatment. At first, they were asked politely to leave, and when they wouldn't and began to yell profanities, they were escorted off the premises and cited. They got the treatment they deserved, it had nothing to do with them being gay.
The couple at the Salt Lake City temple were not just kissing – they were heavily fondling and groping, which is disgusting no matter who you are – gay or straight! They claim they were "targeted". Yes, because they tried to be! They got exactly what they planned and wanted. I'm tired of everyone saying it was just kissing.
It was great planting that kiss in the middle of day on my husband's lips here in Indiana. Thanks for the suggestion.
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