Should Gay Couples Kiss In Public?

Date: 5-May-2008

US current affairs program, 20/20 have aired a story that explores people’s reactions to viewing public displays of affection.

This time, however, the couples are gay and the reactions range from supportive to unreasonable.

A lesbian couple were set up in a park in New Jersey and a male couple did the same in Alabama. Watch the video to see where the 911 call happens!
http://www.dnamagazine.com.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=5354

Wesley, I'd strongly recommend against it in my neighbourhood!

Hehe why is that Wickerman?

But anyway, I think this depending on a culture of the place. For example, there is no way in hell public affection could be displayed in my country (be it muslim or non-muslim couple). Well, it's ok for holding hands, hugging and a peck on the cheek (or a quick peck on the mouth), but definitely NOT snogging lmfao.

But I guess, in this particular case it is more of a homophobic reaction rather than being socially inappropriate. Because I bet if they were a straight couple, the caller wouldn't even call 911.

How is this situation in Holland nowdays? Socially inappropriate or not, I don't think it's a public disturbance, unless of course ppl got into an accident from looking at them! Haha. But other than that, just look away, we all don't have to like everything and obviously we can't control ppl's preferences and behaviour... but we sure as hell can control what we want or don't want to see, it's so easy, just turned your head the other way (on the other hand, if you like it, you can enjoy and watch )

i'd strongly recommend not to do that in Ams these days!

i should try it in my regular pubs and see how they react any [soft/andro, half/queer/femme] volunteers?! ;-)

Because, despite all the wonderful ethnic diversity in my neighbourhood (with over 100 nationalities registered within Stadsdeel Zeeburg), the tolerance of the musilim community, the Surinamse communities and, in the Indische Buurt, a high proportion of working-class Dutch inhabitants towards open displays of gay/lesbian affection is not really too well documented.

That said, it's probably marginally safer in my neighbourhood attempting to show signs of man love than in the middle of Jedda or Riyadh!

From what I've also read, their has been a general rise of gay-hate attacks in the centre of town in the past few years. Even in the 'famed' Reguliersdwaarstraat neighbourhood.

I even read in Metro the other day that on Queen's Day (no pun intended) a gay model was pulled off a catwalk infront of a gay bar in Utrechtsestraat and beaten up by a bunch Moroccan kids.

Like many other aspects of Amsterdam's world-famous 'perceived' attitude of openness, tolerance and acceptance, things have been going downhill for sometime. It's no longer the same place I came to 9 years ago that's for sure. Or manybe the initial allure has worn off and I've become more cynical/realistic? Who knows.

Aaah.
My colleague did mention about that gay bashing on the Queen's Day. It's sad really but I'll leave my rantings on that for another day. We (my country) has many gays and lesbians and yet I never heard of any gay bashing incidents. Name calling and smirking faces yes... maybe Asians are known as being timid and not as out-spoken. And I agree, as a land that is known as being liberal and tolerant, this type of incident is indeed shocking.

Perhaps it's not cynical or realistic... more like immuned?

I'm about to venture into unchartered territory soon. We'll see how misreable I would be.
Or not. I shouldn't be pessimistic now... should I? Hahahaha.

There was a time when just a peck on the cheek was ok but I don't do that anymore even with my partner, usually, even in Amsterdam, I just don't feel comfortable (I never cared for this three kissy kissy thing anyway). Strange how the Netherlands has taken a backward step with regard to this.
I don't really care to see anyone snogging away in public either so... but that's not the same as a peck.

Seeing any sort of couples being overtly amorous in public makes me feel a bit nauseous to be honest.

Come on Mr Fook, is there anything nicer and warmer than two people so much in love that they completely forget where they are, look into each others eyes and kiss without even considering there are other people around them! When I see them I automatically start to smile! Please relax! Luckily, we are not living in the starchy Fifties anymore!

this is a minefield of a question. its as easy for a gay man or lesbian to say should we stand for seeing heterosexual couples kiss in public. regardless of religious or personal leanings gay people have the same rights and abide by the same rules as heterosexuals in this country. if we pay the same tax then we expect the same rights. to start wanting this kind of sensoring is going way back further than 50s i seem to remember there was a historical figure in the not too recent past that that had problems with gays, jews and a few other "minorities" to say the least and tried hard to get rid of them all. be careful where you go with this one as one step how ever small is still a step on the same road.

Where did ya get that tolerant,understanding attitude Emilio ? :o)
You'd make a very good diplomat.

I was joking ok?
On the other hand,only yesterday in the supermarket(of all places!)there was a young couple walking down one of the aisles snogging - hard at it!
Disgraceful,shocking behaviour and if I knew where they lived I'd go and inform their parents of this indecency !

Come to think of it,I might be just be envious cos I haven't had a shag for while LOL.

May be you're too scruffy!

Don't be cheeky now Wesley - I'll have you know laddie I have a shower and change my underpants at least once a week!
I'd do it more often but I have a clean,cushy,responsible doing a night shift job at the petfood canning factory.

I have no issue with gay couples holding hands or giving each other quick kisses or being affectionate in public.

I do not like to see people engaging in full on snogging in public - be they gay or straight. I generally tend to shout 'get a room' at straight couples kissing. The look of shock on their faces makes it worthwhile.

Oh, just right for a good sniffing then!

So, your a night dog then...

I tend to agree with you... I'd like to see the look on their faces too, but haven't the courage to say get a room.

A few years back on a Monday evening, my ex and I decided that instead of cooking in, we'd dine out at a local Grand Cafe (Het Badhuis in Javaplein) in the neighbourhood.

We found ourselves seated in a corner of the Cafe, besides a Dutch couple (M/F) of a similar age as us (mid-30's ... it was a "few years back"! ) who had just finished their meal. We ordered our meal and waited.

Next thing we know is the couple beside us are making out across the table, then we noticed arms are moving about between them under the table too! THEN ... the guy turns to me and asks us to move to a different table!!! Now anyone that has met me can imagine the instantanious response he received from me in English. It is a two worded response, one word starts with an "F" and the Other with an "O" *assumes a Rolf Harris accent* - can you guess what it is yet?

Well, the guy was obviously taken aback, but seemed unconcerned why myself and the ex would be preturbed pre-dinner to watching a couple a metre away rubbing each other's genitalia under the table. I just got up and spoke to the manager who knew us well, and he responded by removing the couple's drinks from the table and requested that they leave. They did.

Anyway. I have no issues if people; whether they be gay, straight, lesbian, hermaephrodite, transexual whatever, want to walk hand-in-hand down the street. Nor have I any issues with people showing outward displays of affection in a public place by kissing on the lips, etc. Or indeed, if couples, in the huge space of a park want to lie together in the summer and cuddle each other ... fair enough. But extreme making-out/basically mutual masturbation is not really something I relish either doing or seeing in an open public place. There are clubs where that can go on, without the affrontation of others. Certainly NOT in your local Grand Cafe on a Monday evening. IRRESPECTIVE of gender or sexuality.

I think kissing should be kept private. Not because I have a problem with it at all, personally, but because I think that it helps to build up a stigma within the minds of others - "Look at those fags kissing".

This is just my opinion - Why feel the need to draw unnecessary attention, sometimes just to make a point that we're 'equal', when it can adversely affect the whole community?