Support Michael Sam: Signorile Launches "The Great Facebook Kiss-In"

"Gay people need to be kissing more in public. There simply needs to be more queer smooching to desensitize the world. So with that, I hereby launch the Great Facebook Kiss-In, urging everyone -- whether gay, straight or bi --to change their profile pics to two women kissing or two men kissing. Maybe it's you and your husband or wife, or your partner or sweetheart, or you and a friend. Maybe it's your dad and your dad, or your mom and your mom. Maybe it's two other people you just like a lot or you think are hot. Just change your profile pic to a kissing same-sex couple, and urge others to do the same. And for that matter let's do it on Twitter, too. One day in the future we will look back on all this ridiculousness and laugh. But that's only going to happen if we do exactly this kind of thing a lot. So change those profile photos now." - Michelangelo Signorile, writing for the Huffington Post.  Here's the Twitter hashtag link.

Special Open Thread

The Chick-Fil-A national gay kiss-in takes place today. Towleroad quotes well-known activist and blogger Pam Spaulding:

IMHO, I’m not keen on this as an effective protest tool — it’s not about our right to love (ostensibly why gay couples will be there kissing), it’s about Chick-fil-As record of anti-gay discrimination and funding of groups that want us DEAD, endorse “ex-gay” therapy, and to deny LGBTs basic civil rights. The kiss-in seems more like a stunt for shock value that the fundies will try capitalize on by tying the action to sex acts that they abhor. The “ick” factor has been one of the major issues these folks cling to, like it or not. [snip]

I’m not saying that direct actions are useless; I just don’t think this particular one focuses on the vile business practices that are counter to equality under the law — and they are draped in religious bigotry that is funded by Chick-fil-A. It allows the framing of the issue to remain in the court of the fundamentalists. Gay=sex. Sex=icky. Remember, Chick-fil-A doesn’t mind firing adulterers, or non-Christians (the latter cost them a pretty penny for firing a Muslim that didn’t want to pray to Jesus at a corporate event). The world view is extremely narrow and discriminatory.

What do you think? I'm quite concerned about potential violence, particularly since some of our most ardent enemies might be returning to the franchises they could not patronize earlier due to the massive lines.

AUGUST 3RD: Kiss-In At Chick-Fil-A

A Facebook page has been launched calling for a national same-sex kiss-in at Chick-Fil-A on Friday, August 3rd. "In honor of their support for love, equality, and the real definition of family, we're holding a NATIONAL Same Sex Kiss Day at Chick Fil A's around the country. So grab a friend (or 20) and head out to your nearest Chick Fil A! And don't forget to post photos/videos of it here! For all the world to see!" The groups Twitter feed is @ntlsamesexkiss.

Photo Of The Day - Papal Kiss-In

Advocate reports: "Hundreds of LGBT protesters planned to kiss while Pope Benedict XVI was en route through Madrid, but police blocked the protesters before they could meet up. The activists had planned to join up on the major artery Calle Serrano, along which the pope later traveled in his bulletproof white vehicle for a welcoming ceremony in Plaza Cibeles Square."

At London's "Snog-A-Thon"

Although London's John Snow Pub locked their doors rather than allow gay protesters inside, the planned "snog-a-thon" went on in the street outside.

London Pub Locks Out "Snog-A-Thon"

The Soho pub that was to be the location of a "massive snog-a-thon" this afternoon has locked their doors rather than allow gay protesters inside. On Wednesday night two gay men were ejected from the pub after its landlady objected to their kissing. Hundreds of would-be snoggers had responded to a Facebook call for action. From the Guardian's live-blog of the protest:

It's become clear that the John Snow pub has closed its doors, presumably fearful of the avalanche of snogging that was about to descend upon it. One Twitter user, who works opposite, reports that a TV crew has arrived and is "filming the locked door whilst bar staff peer from upstairs window". The Press Association has managed to get a few words with Thomas Paget, the licence holder of the pub. He again refused to comment on the row. Asked whether the pub had been the victim of a "misunderstanding", he told PA: "I don't have anything to say."

(Via - Towleroad)

LONDON: Gay Couple Ejected From Soho Pub After Kissing

The UK's Guardian reports that two gay men were ejected by the landlady of a Soho pub after she complained that they had kissed.

Jonathan Williams, a journalist for a financial trade magazine, and James Bull, a charity volunteer, say they were ejected from the John Snow on Broadwick Street, Soho, by a woman who claimed to be the landlady and said they were being "obscene". Bull said he was physically sick after the incident, which happened at about 10.45pm on Wednesday, after the couple had earlier been for dinner on their first date together in Covent Garden. Bull said: "I felt so belittled, and to be made to feel so dirty and cheap over something like that – it's just wrong." The pair say that objections were first raised to their displays of affection shortly after they arrived at 8.30pm by a fellow drinker claiming to be the landlord, who was off duty. They refused what they described as his "polite request" to stop kissing. Williams, 26, and Bull, 23, insist they were not indulging in a "huge display of affection", but were merely kissing on the lips.

This Friday night local activists plan to stage a "massive same-sex snog-a-thon" at the pub, which is not a gay bar but is located in Soho's popular gay village.

(Tipped by JMG reader Oliver)

Paris Valentine's Day Kiss-In

No subtitles needed, really.

PERU: Cops Violently Break Up Anti-Homophobia Valentine's Kiss-In

Andres Duque of Blabbeando provides the subtitles to the below clip in which police in Lima, Peru violently break up a Valentine's Day kiss-in against homophobia.

Photo Of The Day - Barcelona Pope Kiss-In

Hundreds of homos staged a protest kiss-in as the Pope-Mobile passed in Barcelona today.


(Tipped by JMG reader Jimmy)

International Day Against Homophobia

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia. Around the world, unions, employers, activist groups, and others are campaigning to end discrimination against LGBT people. Have you taken part in any of today's observations? Tell us about it. And watch this wonderful clip of this weekend's Great Global Kiss-In.

This Weekend: Great Global Kiss-In

The Great Global Kiss-In takes place around the world this weekend as part of the International Day Against Homophobia. Hit the link for times and locations in your town.

May 14-17: Great Global Gay Kiss-In

Via IDAHO:

This year for the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia, we want YOUR help in organising kiss-ins like this in major cities around the world between May 14-17 -- that's the weekend before IDAHO2010! Gay, straight, black, white -- whatever you look like and whatever your political stripes are -- as long as you believe in love and equality for ALL people everywhere, we want you to join us in a kiss-in near where you are.

You've got about three weeks to find your kissing partner. Here's how a similar event looked in Paris last year.

Paris Gay Kiss-In Against Homophobia

The gays took to one of Paris' central shopping districts this weekend for a mass kiss-in against homophobia. Sweet stuff.

Paris Gay Kiss-In

Towleroad tips us to a gay kiss-in against homophobia held at underground shopping center in Paris. Beautiful!

Saturday: Great Nationwide Kiss-In

The Great Nationwide Kiss-In, an event created in response to a spate of anti-gay incidents that arose out of gay men being publicly affectionate, takes place this Saturday, August 15th. Activists across the country have signed-on to take part, check out this Facebook action page for times and locations in your town.

Laurie Higgins of the vile Illinois Family Institute has issued a warning to Chicago families, saying they should be alert and avoid accidentally running into kissing homos. Higgins adds: "We're also urging that pro-family organizations find out if this event is taking place in cities near them, and that they would issue the same warning to families [regarding] what time the event will take place and where so that they can avoid this public spectacle."

Charges Dropped Against Gay Couple In Salt Lake City Trespass Case

The gay couple whose arrest for kissing on Mormon Church property in Salt Lake City spawned protests in several cities, have had the charges against them dropped.

The LDS Church always has desired its Main Street Plaza to be an inviting, beautiful space for all to enjoy. That's the problem. The privately owned plaza, with its wide promenade and gate-less entrance, is too inviting and appears too much like a public passageway. Consequently, Salt Lake City Prosecutor Sim Gill said Wednesday he will not prosecute a gay couple cited for trespassing after they shared a kiss on the plaza. "The two individuals believed -- albeit mistakenly -- that they had the right to be there," Gill said. "Fairness requires that either that property be not open to the public or you condition that [openness] in a way that the person who comes on understands that it is private property."

The couple has vowed to avoid the Main Street Plaza in the future. A national kiss-in to protest their arrest will continue as planned on August 15th. Visit the Facebook page for the Great Nationwide Kiss-In for a list of cities and times around the country.

August 15th: National Gay Kiss-In

A nationwide kiss-in is planned for 15 cities on August 15th.

The Great Nationwide Kiss-In is scheduled for Aug. 15. Events are planned for at least seven cities, including Boston, New York, Houston, Portland, Ore., and three California cities -- Irvine, San Diego and San Francisco. A Web page and Facebook page promoting the demonstrations says more events are in the works. A pair of bloggers, David Badash, of New York, and David Mailloux, of Boston, are behind the plans. They say the events are not a protest against those who oppose gay rights. But they say people should be allowed to freely express their affection.

Visit the Facebook event page or the group's website for more information.