Why is Gay parade the only time when we can see gay people kissing in streets that are not in Le Marais, El Castro, Soho and other gay districts? How come only straight people feel they can kiss in public places without annoying anyone? For those of you who think this isn’t fair, let’s meet up for a kiss attack!
When a handful of students decided, in May 2009, to organize the first kiss-in in Paris Trocadéro Place on June 7th, only twenty people or so came to “kiss against homophobia” in front of surprised passersby. Despite their small number the word is soon spread out – efficiently broadcast by blogs and web media like Yagg.com – and a dedicated blog and two Facebook groups (general and coordination) are created to consolidate the movement. Since then, four “kiss attacks” were organized: the first one in Dijon, France (July 2009), a second one in about ten French cities (September 2009), a third one in more than twenty different places in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and Peru (December 2009) and a fourth one on the same scale on Valentine’s Day (February 2010). The next kiss-in will take place during the weekend preceding the International Day Against Homophobia.
We always follow the same process: events are created on Facebook and the news is broadcast throughout the web via LGBT information websites (GayClic, Veryfriendly, Zelink, Têtu.com, Yagg). On kiss-in day, the – volunteer – organizers go to the decided place, whistle in hand. When the signal is given, all participants start kissing, or otherwise hold hands, for 5 minutes.
The goal of this action is to encourage both female and male gays and bisexuals to stand for who they are without fear and to make affective gestures between homosexuals a common sight – in a friendly, laidback, natural, non protesting atmosphere. Straight and gay, single and happily partnered are all invited to this new kind of free hugs, against intolerance.
