2009: The Year of The Gay Kiss

Check out Passport Magazine's awesome Kiss-In Against Homophobia footage from a recent event in Paris.



You know, it seems like kissing has been a really big theme for 2009, what with the Great Nationwide Kiss-In (above - Denver's 16th Street Mall on August 15) and Interactive Male's Big Gay Kiss promotion (below at Denver's PrideFest 2009).


I like it!

More pics from The Great Nationwide Kiss-In: Denver

Check out some more pics from The Great Nationwide Kiss-In: Denver from this past Saturday.

The Great Nationwide Kiss-In: Denver

The Great Nationwide Kiss-In was held on Saturday, August 15 across the country.

Here in Denver, the event took place at noon at the 16th Street Mall and which, according to organizer Sunnivie Brydum, drew more than 30 participants - including a number of straight allies.

Marjorie, attending the kiss-in with her husband and eight-and-a-half year-old daught Isobel said, "One of the organizers is a student of mine and it gave us an opportunity to talk about social justice with Isobel and to teach her to support the things you believe in and to be supportive as allies."

Chris Hubble, another of the organizers of the Denver event, said, "The reason we are here today is that over the past several months same-sex couples in Utah and Texas have been harassed and arrested for public displays of affection. Our goal today is a fun, light-hearted celebration and affirmation of the rights of all people to live and love openly. Denver's a pretty socially progressive town and we are hoping that our presence will remind people that gay and lesbian folks are all around them."

For more coverage of The Great Nationwide Kiss-In: Denver check out OutFrontColorado.com, Examiner.com, and this article in The Denver Post.

A message from of David Badash of The Great Nationwide Kiss-In

David Badash, an organizer of The Great Nationwide Kiss-In, sent this message for the gay community out yesterday:

If you had told me one month ago, that on August 15, 2009, thousands of people would come together in over 55 cities, across the United States and Canada, to stand together and kiss for equality, I would have said, "impossible!"

But, in fact, that's what you did. And now, the only thing I find impossible is being able to thank you enough. But I do thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

In just a few short weeks, you accomplished something almost impossible, changed hearts and minds, stood to represent equality for millions of people, spread love across the world, showed people that everyone has the right to kiss their loved ones, regardless of gender, and proved that peaceful displays of love can be farther-reaching, more powerful and meaningful than protests and hate.

To me, your hard work, your dedication to something so important and yet so simple, your desire to come together despite personal challenges, despite glaring heat, despite possible personal emotional discomfort, speaks more than words can describe. Yesterday, despite so many incredible challenges, hardships, and barriers, you made a decision to step outside of yourselves, and, for the good of all people, stand together, kiss, and say to the world, "A kiss is just a kiss" - but don't ever try to stop me from kissing the one I love!

You said to the world that ALL people are equal, and reminded the world that ALL people deserve the same rights.

You did something even I, just a few short weeks ago, would never have imagined possible.

You are the strongest, most beautiful, courageous, and important people I know.

And for all your efforts, you have my thanks and gratitude.

Congratulations for participating in The First Annual Great Nationwide Kiss-In!

Given the incredible success you just achieved, we definitely will make this an annual event!

Please, continue to find small ways, daily, to fight the homophobia you discover in the world. Use the amazing power you created yesterday to fight for truth and equality, as you travel throughout your lives.

And remember, if share your voice, and your love, you can make the world a little bit better, even with something as small and simple, as a kiss.

The Great Nationwide Kiss-In

'This Kiss' is the second promotional video for the Great Nationwide Kiss-In. More than 3,100 folks viewed the first promotional video so let's keep the momentum going for this event.

And remember to mark your calendar for the Great Nationwide Kiss-In: Denver on August 15. Taking part will be a wonderful (and fun) way to show the support and strength of the LGBT community.

Great Nationwide Kiss-In: Denver

The Great Nationwide Kiss-In: Denver is now scheduled for Saturday, August 15 at 11:40 am.

Location is still to be determined.

The Great Nationwide Kiss-In: Denver

Two gay rights bloggers have joined forces with the international grassroots LGBT organization, Join the Impact, to create “The Great Nationwide Kiss‐In,” to affirm the right of all couples – same‐sex and opposite sex – to publicly acknowledge their loved‐ones, with a kiss.

In response to recent events in three different U.S. cities, where gay or lesbian couples have been harassed, and detained or arrested, for the simple act of kissing in a public space, David Badash (of The New Civil Rights Movement and The Bilerico Project), David Mailloux (of DYM SUM), and Willow Witte (Co‐Founder and Director of Join the Impact) have partnered on this first‐ever coast‐to‐coast “Kiss‐In.”

The Great Nationwide Kiss‐In will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 12 p.m., Mountain Time. Badash’s original vision for the event will have hundreds of couples – gay and straight – showing this simple, innocent form of affection for one another in popular public locations throughout the United States.

“Both gay and straight couples should be able to kiss whomever they like, wherever they like,” Badash said. “If you want to give your better‐half a kiss, or hold their hand while walking down the street, you should be able to, without fear of intimidation or incarceration. Lord knows, the world could use a lot more love, and a lot more people displaying acts of love, affection, and kindness.”

Gay activists and bloggers throughout the country, as well as couples arrested, have said that the recent incidents involving gay and lesbian couples kissing in San Antonio, and El Paso, TX, as well as Salt Lake City, UT were entirely related to their sexual orientation.

Soulforce in Colorado has taken the lead for organizing the Denver event with the location to be determined.