Boston’s observance of the Great Nationwide Kiss-In (events in 52 cities around the country) got going when we repositioned the banner and the sound system out of the sun into a shaded area on the Common behind Park St. Station and alongside Park St. The upbeat music blasting in the direction of the Park St. Station plaza drew in the attendees. Our gay-inflected disco and pop selections were competing with a melifluous Mennonite choir about a 100 yards south of us. (They lasted longer than the batteries on our sound system.)
The crowd totaled about 100 people, including a family who turned out in support of their gay son. Madonna’s Vogue set the tone as the 2 o’clock hour drew nigh, when simultaneously same-sex and allied heterosexual couples nationwide were scheduled to join in displaying affection. David Mailloux, the lead organizer, opened up to welcome the crowd and talked about the troubles of same-sex couples in other cities like Salt Lake City and El Paso, TX who had been roughed up by security personnel and police for public displays of affection. Freedom of self-expression was the message. We were striking a blow for LGBT people everywhere, to be who we are whereever we are. No more hiding our lights under bushels.
At 2 o’clock everyone stopped what they were doing to kiss. After the pause, UMass Boston student Keegan O’Brien gave a rousing speech in which he touted the emergent national grassroots LGBT movement. He urged attendees to stay involved, and promoted the National Equality March set for Washington on Oct 10-11. Join the Impact will be organizing buses to make the trip down. Board member David Siegel also spoke to describe Join the Impact’s ongoing activities, and invited folks to come to our regular weekly meetings on Thursday nights in Cambridge. Planning for the March on Washington will be a central focus going forward into the fall, with a community meeting tentatively scheduled for Sunday, Sept 20.
A lot of attendees were turning out for a gay rights rally for the very first time. Many represented college and high school LGBT organizations, giving the crowd a youthful look and feel. That 100 souls braved the hot August weather speaks to the surge in interest in gay rights organizing at the grassroots level since the passage of Proposition 8 in California last November.
Join the Impact MA and the national organization are committed to keeping up the momentum. For more information, go to www.jointheimpactma.com .
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…
can be a powerful thing! I had not heard of the Kiss-In before. What a creative way of celebrating love and promoting equality!
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p>Thank you for posting this!
This sounds so 1990.
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p>However, because it is mostly young people. High School, college, and younger 20s then it’s cool with me.
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p>Stick It to The Man!
although he does include a link to an explanation:
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p>There’s also a Proposition 8 tie-in, but you would never know that from the article, which seems more appropriate for People magazine than a political blog.
This is MA. Ain’t gonna make a difference in Tex or Utah. Probably just re-enforce their feelings because we are Massachusetts.
I didn’t say I endorsed it, just trying to explain why. These kinds of protests (including taking over straight bars for a night) just seem foolish in Boston. Why do something shocking when no one is shocked?
A gay guy who really wants confrontaton but can’t find it, no matter what he does.
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p>Why don’t you story board it huh and get back to me?
is, to me, is about far more about just protesting. I think, honestly, it’s more about having a fun night out, claiming rights to drink at any bar. I’ve never done it before (I don’t really drink), but have friends that have gone to the Guerilla Bar nights before. I actually think it’s a neat idea.