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Will You Lock Lips for Gay Kiss-In?by Kilian MelloyWednesday Mar 11, 2009 Some say you have to fight for your rights.
For America’s GLBT citizens, who cannot access federal marriage benefits even if they are granted marriage, domestic partnerships, or civil unions in their home states, Tax Day (April 15) is seen by organizers of a new event as the ideal time to strike a blow for equality... or at least plant a big wet one on a friend, spouse, or partner for the cause.
Same Sex Kiss Day is all about having fun while making a statement, the event’s Web site says.
Text at the site outlines the basic plan: in a symbolic protest of gay and lesbian families being excluded from the federal legal and financial protections that are afforded straight couples, gays, lesbians, and straight allies are invited to show up at Starbuck’s on April 15 at designed times, buy a cup of something, and participate in a mass public display of affection.
The site lists kiss-in times as 7:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m., and 8:15 p.m.
The kiss-in follows in the wake of a carefully orchestrated, but spontaneous-seeming dance display, the so-called "Liverpool Street Station Silent Dance", an event organized via Facebook that took place in London’s Liverpool Street Station at 7:00 p.m. on February 13, when a large group of people--in imitation of a T Mobile advertisement--simultaneously began to dance, surprising and delighting onlookers.
Reads the text at the site, "LGBT couples have yet to be granted the same rights to file our taxes jointly on a Federal level, and we can still be fired for being openly gay in the workplace.
"That’s why you’re encouraged to be seen on Tax Day, April 15, 2009, spreading your love with a KISS!"
The site provides a link to a Facebook event page to help spread the word and enable would-be participants without a kissing partner to find someone suitable.
The site also listed an array of FAQs.
Read one, "But I’m not out! I’m scared of being shamed and outcast by my community!"
The site answered this concern with, "Now’s the time, Gays. And we’ve made it as safe and silly for you as possible by choosing the most gay-friendly,corporate spot in the world. Starbucks!
"Starbucks has been committed to LGBT rights since the beginning of time offering domestic partnership insurance, quoting gay artists on their coffee cups and funding our pride parades," the text continued.
Another FAQ read, "I’m not gay, but I like kissing."
The response: "Perfect. Straight allies, never fear! Come support your committment [sic] to equality and public displays of affection, and smile at your neighbor to let them know its 2009 and that you’re happy we’re able to live our lives.
"It means a lot to us when you tell us, especially when you’re our friends and family."
"Is kissing REALLY going to solve our problems?" read another FAQ.
The one-word answer: "Yes."
Noted the text at the site, "People who vote against gays do so because they don’t know us and they’re not used to us. But that’s changing as we live our lives openly like they do.
"Once they see that we’re just like them, and unafraid, they come around. Didn’t you see the Oscars?
"C’mon!" added the text. "One small kiss for us, one giant leap for equality!"
To the inevitable inquiry of, "Tongue or no tongue?," the site’s text provided the directive, "Welcome to America. Be creative."
Objections to the event have already begun from anti-gay quarters.
Right-wing talk radio personality Kevin McCullough posted an item about the event at his Town Hall blog, Musclehead Revolution.
Read the Mar. 11 blog posting, "As much as many of you may be absolutely addicted to that cup-o-joe in the mornings, on April 15, I would strongly advise you not to take your kids in or near a Starbucks.
"Otherwise you might be stuck explaining a few things that you probably believe they are not yet ready to be confronted with."
The item went on to say, "Note that the organizers tie this effort directly to Prop 8 and President Obama. Note also that President Obama lied to the American public by saying he supported [heterosexual-only] marriage, but has supported all measures necessary to overturn the constitutionally established Prop 8..."
The conversational participants at conservative chat site FreeRepublic.com also made the event a cause celebre.
Opined one chat participant, "filthy disease ridden starbucks queers!"
Another wrote, " I avoid caffeine and queers.
"So now I have two reasons to never go to into Starbucks."
Noted a third, "STBX is not doing this, the homosexual community is."
One individual admitted, "I didn’t read the article.
"But i bet a dollar this is the day that college boys go to starbucks to watch barely dressed dumb girls make out with each other just for the hoots and hollers," the posting continued.
Another, evidently not understanding the ground rule of "bring your own date," wrote, "I feel for some poor man who doesn’t know about this, wanders into a Starbucks at the wrong time, and gets kissed by some strange man who thinks he’s there looking for action."
Posted another, "I honestly couldn’t give a rat’s rump who’s kissing whom, especially before coffee.
"If it happens to be me, though, it’d better be held on ’Brain Surgery With A Tire Iron’ day."
Some blamed Starbuck’s for not intervening to stop the event from taking place in the company’s stores.
Wrote one chat participant, "STBX is facilitating this if they permit it to occur on their property - thus, they are complicit at the very least. Just another of many many reasons to not patronize STBX."
Replied another, "If two people order coffee and sit down and kiss, what do you want them to do?
"Do you want them to put a sign on the door that says no kissing?
"How do you suppose STBX stop homosexual kissing in the store?"
Added the response, "It is another example of in your face homosexual activity."
Stormed another, "There’s something truly wrong with these people. They’re sex obsessed.
"It no longer matters if a person has character, is honest or law abiding. Everything is centered around sex (and color)."
Continued the posting, "These people are mentally unstable. Why does everything have to be a show? Why not act civil? Why not be accepted for who you are and not what you are?"
Wrote another participant, "Does that mean they’ll be fornicating in the bathroom stalls??"
Others debated the chances that any lesbian couples showing up would be attractive, with one individual posting a photo of two pretty girls holding hands and writing, "What guys fantasize lesbians are like."
Unflattering photos then followed, with the caption, "And this is the reality".
Wrote one contributor, "Lets admit it, these kinds of threads are pretty fun :)"
Kilian Melloy reviews media, conducts interviews, and writes commentary for EDGEBoston, where he also serves as Assistant Arts Editor.
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