Are you moved by the recent suicides of GLBT kids who've been bullied?

Maybe we should do something?

The other day, well actually night, on a thread here discussing the torment of people like me in our youth, I had an idea. I have noticed that I hardly ever see same sex couples holding hands here in Denver, outside of Capitol Hill. Capitol Hill is our local gay village, and to be honest, I hardly see it there either. On the other hand, I've been to pridefest, and there are tons of people doing that. I mean, I understand that maybe some guys/women aren't into hand holding, but it goes on there. I also understand that gay people are concentrated at such an event, but why not more public displays of affection?

I would like people like me to be able to love each other and hold each other's hands on more than two days year, without having to worry about being called names, beaten up, or even killed.

I understand that not everybody is like us, but I'm hoping that you all can kind of imagine what it would be like not to feel comfortable loving each other openly.

I also understand that in some places it's way more common, but here in Denver it isn't. Trust me, I'd definitely notice it. :-)

Denver is kind of in the middle of a rather red area, it itself is not red, but the rest of the state seems to be. I can imagine that places in the south are far less tolerant of this kind of thing. So I think this might be a big deal there.

OK, ANYWAY, I started a group on Facebook I was wondering if you folks might join it. My plan is to start having walk-ins where GLBT (or straight supporters) would go on walks throughout our cities holding hands. It probably won't work out, and like no one will join or go walking in fucking cold weather, but you never know.

Here's the group:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_160406663990714&ap=1

My idea here is that if people see male/male female/female public displays of affection, it will kind of get them used to seeing it, and make it less taboo and controversial. Maybe the kids who pick the gay kids in school will see this and think of it as an acceptable thing for people to be. And LGBT kids will see that they belong to something big.

It's something small, and I worry it may be to small to actually do anything, but maybe it would work. I don't see a lot of harm in trying it, right?

What do you folks think? Could it help? Or is it like chewing bubble gum to end nuclear war?

People who are persecuted for who they are, or the life they've chosen, and that doesn't stop with GBLT.

I'm cool with anything. And if anyone can come with a more powerful idea, that would be so helpful! :-)

I was born in Long Beach, CA... there have been gay pride parades and festivals here all my life, and the gay population is massive here. I've never NOT seen GLBT PDA! I literally grew up seeing it. That said, I've never known this to be an issue; therefore, I think it's a great idea. THAT said, not everyone has grown up with it, so please don't get carried away, and be careful. Not every town is Long Beach, CA.

for any reason.

As to the rest of your post, I see nothing wrong w/your idea. I hope it works out well. Ironically though, I was in Boston a couple of weeks ago and the only public display of affection I noticed that day was a gay couple. I wasn't exactly looking for displays of affection (by anyone) but know I would have noticed since I rarely see it all up here in the boonies. In fact, I seriously cannot remember when I last saw a hetero or gay couple openly display affection in public in my neck of the woods. I've no idea why.

I see nothing wrong w/either, but I'm just saying I rarely ever see it.

but outside of pride, I've only seen one gay couple doing PDA. It was during the DNC, so they were probably not from here.

It certainly sounds as if gay couples are feeling intimidated in some way based on what you've observed. Hopefully your plans will help address that. I wish you, and the gay community of your area well with whatever you choose to do. It's nice to see people being proactive.

What else could we do to be helpful with the problem?

is there are jerks who will over-react. I do not want to be stomped,hit, or even cause a shouting match. I get that if more do it it will be less "unusual", but I guess I'm just chicken - don't want to be the test case. So I hate it when straights "flaunt their sexuality". When do see gay PDA I try to catch their eye and give a nod of approval. Like I used to do back in the 70's when I'd see a inter-racial couple.

When we're in the city where we live, we behave as normally--holding hands, head on shoulder. Only when we are in the deep country in the South do we seriously check our behavior in public. BBQ joint in small town Texas? No hand-holding. City in Texas or suburb of city? Handholding whenever we feel.

We seem to be sort of split. I have done quite a bit of work with the gay community in Denver in the past. Which you would think would be a good sign but mostly it was because I was one of the few who was willing. I've done projection for the Starz film fest which has a number of GLBT films every year and I was the sound guy at the "Female Impersonation" stage at Pride Fest for 5 years running. I was sorry to have to give that one up. I mean, where else can a guy get hit on by Madonna, Cher, Liza and Diana Ross all in the same day?

As far as PDA's are concerned, well, when I see a couple making out(gay or hetero) my first thought is, "get a damn room" :)
Right now I'm not sure PDA's in a place where acceptance is limited is such a good idea, there are still a lot of vicious people out there and it could prove dangerous. Not saying it's right, just concerned for your safety.

However, small steps are as good as the big ones, and the sooner people get used to it the sooner we can move on to less important problems. If I were on FB I'd join but I'm not anymore so suffice it to say whatever the GLBT community needs I will do my best to help them out.

You're right.

I think I'll post a series of posts about why I want to do this, the philosophy behind it, and thoughts on dangerous things.